Montessori at Home
Tamara Sheesley Balis, Head of School at Greenspring Montessori School, speaks to parents about the importance of a prepared environment at home and raising children the Montessori way.
Toilet Learning the Montessori Way
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Toilet Learning the Montessori Way
Danuta Wilson, Toddler Guide and Team Leader at Greenspring Montessori School, presents on toilet learning at home the Montessori way.
Recommended Reading
Diaper-Free Before 3
By Jill Lekovic, MD
Toilet Awareness
By Sarah Moudry
Montessori from the Start
By Paula Polk Lillard and Lynn Lillard Jessen
Supporting Your Toddler’s Independence
Watch on YouTube | Subscribe to us on YouTube
If you are interested in learning more about how to support your toddler’s growing independence at home, take a moment to watch this webinar with Greenspring Montessori School Toddler Guides, Allie Alexander and Michelle Donohue. Allie and Michelle have over twenty years combined teaching experience and they both have Montessori toddlers at home. They offer practical advice that is easy to impliment, as well as suggested products to aid in your child’s independence.
For a full list of products for your child, please take a look below:
Drinkware
We recommend that you wean children off of bottles and pacifiers once they are twelve months old. Current research suggests that bottles and sippy cups can be damaging to your child’s oral development, so we recommend starting with an open mouth cup, or if you are on the go, a straw cup with a lid or a child’s water bottle.
Cups with Straws
Children’s Water Bottles
Most water bottles found in the children’s section (not the baby section) will work well.
Ikea is also a great place to find inexpensive child-sized open cups, silverware, plates, etc. for when you are eating at the table. We recommend that parents avoid plates and bowls that suction to the table after 18 months.
Footwear
Soft-soled shoes are best for children learning to walk. Once your child’s dexterity begins to improve, we recommend shoes and boots that are also easy to pull on and off.
Target, Carter’s, and Kohl’s have soft-soled booties as well.
Many of these items can be purchased used on sites like Facebook Marketplace or at your local consignment shop if you are looking for some less expensive options.
We also recommend searching the For Small Hands website if you are looking for something specific for your child. They have a variety of child-sized materials for every area of the home.
Take a look at our Montessori in the Home series for more tips for toddlers and infants:
- Raising Resilient, Responsible, and Independent Children
- Introducing Your Family to the Idea of Independence
- Your Toddler’s Daily Routine
- Developing a Sense of Order
- Nutrition in the Formative Years
- A Montessori Kitchen
- A Montessori Bedroom
- A Montessori Bathroom
- A Montessori Play Area
- Montessori in the Home for Toddlers
- Age-Appropriate Chores
Montessori Discipline for the Home
Watch on YouTube | Subscribe on YouTube
This webinar provides parents with strategies for implementing Montessori discipline and connection in the home. Led by Tamara Sheesley Balis, Head of School at Greenspring Montessori School, this webinar draws on strategies from the book No-Drama Discipline by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson, psychologist Ross Greene, and Hand in Hand Parenting.
If you have questions or would like to suggest topics for future events, please contact us at learn@greenspringmontessori.org. To learn more about the Montessori Method, please visit our Research and Resources page.
Recommended Reading
Throughout the webinar, we recommend several books also listed below.
No-Drama Discipline by Daniel Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson
Listen by Patty Wipfler and Tosha Schore
The Power of Showing Up by Daniel Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson
How to Talk so Kids Will Listen and Listen so Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, Greenspring Montessori School will earn a commission if you click through and purchase an affiliate resource. We take special care to recommend resources that worked well for us or came highly recommended. If you would like to increase the amount your purchase impacts our school, please make sure to select the Montessori Society of Central MD Inc. as the charity you are supporting when using Amazon Smile.
Empowering and Partnering with your Child Through Adolescence
Whether you have a five-year-old or a fifteen-year-old, you can find easy ways to create partnerships at home. During this webinar, you will learn steps to implement structures around family meetings, active listening, and allowances – all designed to support you and your child or adolescent in your partnership at home.
Resources for Empowering and Partnering with your Child
Empowering and Partnering with your Child Through the Adolescent Years Powerpoint
Family Meeting Album from positivediscipline.com
Recommended Reading
Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World by Kristen Welch
Duct Tape Parenting by Vick Hoefle
Have Questions? Suggestions? Let us know!
If you have any questions about this webinar or suggestions for future topics, please let us know! You can email us at learn@greenspringmontessori.org or comment below.