"It's precisely because children don't understand what death is about that they need help from loving adults in talking about it."—Mr. Rogers, www.fredrogers.orgIn one of his 1970s children's television episodes, Mr. Rogers gives a beautiful example of how to talk with young children about death. He looks into the fish tank... Read More

We often take for granted the natural growth of children that happens without our direct involvement. Just think of the physical changes that take place in the first year of life. We do so many things to encourage and support our children's growth, but often without knowledge of what we do or how we do it.We help children l... Read More

Maria Montessori urged us to "give the child a vision of the whole universe..." so that children might better understand Earth's place in the cosmos. Books, card materials, and star charts take children only so far - no photograph can replace the awe-inspiring vision of millions of diamond-bright stars twinkling overhead.Wh... Read More

Do you find pastry intimidating? Children don't! Any child who has played with modeling dough will be eager to use the same techniques to create a pastry-based snack. And any parent can make it happen, with ready-made pie crust, realistic expectations, and Montessori-style step-by-step skill-building.Fiddling with scraps of... Read More

"It is just as degrading to the young child as to an adult to have someone constantly doing everything for him."—Elizabeth Hainstock, Teaching Montessori in the HomeIf you want to have strong, confident, and independent children, let them help! Recently we've heard from a variety of sources about the importance of teaching ... Read More

"During the pandemic I learned to let go a little and it worked. Imagine that!" —Parent of three young children How we are looking forward to getting back to normal! Now that things are beginning to open up, many of us are embracing a better normal. We have struggled to fulfill the new responsibilities created when school ... Read More

"If you want children to keep their feet on the ground, put some responsibility on their shoulders."—Abigail Van Buren (the original "Dear Abby")It's still July, but it's not too early to think about the beginning of the school year. Taking a hint from the stores filled with school supplies and back-to-school specials, we c... Read More

According to E.M. Standing, in Maria Montessori: Her Life and Work, Montessori Grace and Courtesy activities are a natural expression of communal life. They teach children how to interact with people in a respectful way. Learning how to politely greet others, interrupt respectfully, open and close a door quietly, sit and st... Read More

"Music matters. Encourage your child to listen to all kinds of music and to clap, dance and sing along."—Tim Seldin, How to Raise an Amazing ChildFrom the soft chimes inside their soft, furry toys to the full orchestration of "Carnival of the Animals, " children learn how to distinguish different sounds, rhythms, and melodi... Read More

"Children of three years already know how to count as far as two or three when they enter our school. They therefore very easily learn numeration, which consists in counting objects."—Maria Montessori, The Montessori MethodMaria Montessori wrote the above over a century ago. Today children entering pre-school or kindergarte... Read More