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 has this effect at school. But what about the support from home? As your family makes the transition from summer to fall, and returns to the school routine, there are important ways to support your children to get the most from their educations (and from this stage of life).