Parenting Advice
Ready For School!
When my 18-month-old daughter walks into that Montessori classroom, she seems to stretch up taller,” an astonished Forest Bluff parent once told me. For sure, many children do exhibit pride and self-confidence when they are supported to be appropriately independent, from both home and school. We talk a lot about how and why Montessori’s approach…
Read MoreParents, Take Charge! August 7, 2022
“Jerry, it’s time to get out of the pool. Time to go now, please.” A father stands at the edge of a hotel pool in summer, clearly exhausted, as his wife walks past him carrying a crying baby girl, a floaty, a diaper bag, and two huge towels. “NO!” The boy in the pool, who…
Read MoreReturning to Our Montessori Values After Two Years of Screens
We are more grateful than ever for the technology in our lives! During the pandemic, being physically separated from one another was painful, especially for our children who crave social interaction. Out of necessity, we learned inventive ways that computers, iPhones and iPads could connect us–to one another and to information about the world.
Read MoreHave Faith in the Children
December 2021 By Paula Lillard Preschlack Maria Montessori often asked us to have faith in the children. What did she mean by this, and how and why can parents do this? It makes all the difference.
Read MoreAdolescents Find Strength in Nature and Community
October 2020 by Paula Lillard Preschlack On the Secondary Level outdoor work trips at Forest Bluff School, Montessori adolescents find strength in nature and community life.
Read MoreReturning to School with Resilience, Creativity, and Courage!
Seek to Understand; Educate for Peace
June 2020 by Paula Lillard Preschlack Dr. Montessori showed us that peacefulness comes from children feeling at peace, valued and respected.
Read MoreMontessori Classroom Principles Work at Home, Too!
May 2020 by Paula Lillard Preschlack Children need time, choice, grace and courtesy as part of their daily lives to develop inner calm. Here Paula shares ideas to cultivate these themes at home.
Read MoreTalking to Children About the Uncertainties of Life: Updated for Coronavirus (March 2020)
March 2020 by Paula Lillard Preschlack By respecting children’s feelings and experiences by asking questions and listening, adults can prepare to talk to children about the inevitable, but unfortunate, events that occur in their lives.
Read MoreGetting Your Children to Read at Home: Building a Family Culture
November 2019 by Paula Lillard Preschlack Reading to our children and creating a culture of reading is increasingly important to their success in academia and in life. Here Paula makes suggestions on choosing reading content for children and give ideas to make your home more welcoming to reading and family time.
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