The Montessori Toddler: A Parent__039;s Guide to Raising a Curious and Responsible Human Being

Cover......Page 1
Title Page......Page 2
Copyright Page......Page 3
Dedication......Page 4
Contents......Page 5
CHAPTER 1: Introduction......Page 10
Let's change the way we see toddlers......Page 11
Why I love toddlers......Page 13
What we need to know about toddlers......Page 15
Parenting the Montessori toddler......Page 17
Getting the most out of this book......Page 19
CHAPTER 2: Introduction to Montessori......Page 20
A brief history of Montessori......Page 21
Traditional education vs Montessori education......Page 22
Some Montessori principles......Page 23
CHAPTER 3: Montessori Activities for Toddlers......Page 31
Montessori activities for the whole child......Page 33
What makes an activity Montessori?......Page 34
How to show the child an activity......Page 35
General principles to keep in mind......Page 36
How to set up an activity......Page 40
01 / Eye-hand coordination......Page 43
02 / Music and movement......Page 46
03 / Practical life......Page 48
04 / Arts and Crafts......Page 53
05 / Language......Page 55
An extra note on the outdoors and nature......Page 69
What about non-Montessori toys?......Page 71
CHAPTER 4: Setting Up the Home......Page 73
Setting up Montessori-style spaces......Page 75
Living room......Page 76
Kitchen......Page 77
Bedroom......Page 78
Arts and crafts area......Page 79
Outside......Page 80
Tackling the clutter......Page 82
Setting up our home to save us work......Page 83
Small spaces......Page 84
The importance of the home environment......Page 85
Home tour......Page 87
CHAPTER 5: Raising a Curious Child Who Feels Seen and Heard......Page 93
1. Trust in the child......Page 95
4. A safe and secure base......Page 96
1. Follow the child......Page 97
2. Encourage hands-on learning......Page 98
3. Include the child in daily life......Page 99
4. Go slow......Page 100
5. Help me to help myself......Page 101
6. Encourage creativity......Page 103
7. Observation......Page 105
Give toddlers significance, belonging, and acceptance for who they are......Page 108
Be their translator......Page 109
Allow all feelings, but not all behavior......Page 110
Give our child feedback instead of praise......Page 111
Roles and labels......Page 113
CHAPTER 6: Nurturing Cooperation and Responsibility In Our Child......Page 115
Why the Montessori approach does not use threats, bribes, or punishments......Page 117
Problem solving with our toddlers......Page 119
Ways to involve our child......Page 122
How we can talk to help them listen......Page 123
Managing expectations......Page 125
Bonus—Write a note......Page 127
It's okay to set limits......Page 129
Be clear on the limits......Page 130
Follow through with kind and clear action......Page 131
Acknowledge negative feelings......Page 134
Dealing with tantrums......Page 135
Helping them make amends......Page 137
Tips for setting limits......Page 139
A handy checklist for limits......Page 142
CHAPTER 7: Putting It Into Practice......Page 143
Daily rhythm......Page 145
Rituals......Page 147
Getting dressed and leaving the house......Page 148
Eating......Page 152
Sleeping......Page 156
Brushing teeth......Page 159
Toileting......Page 160
Saying goodbye to pacifiers......Page 163
Siblings......Page 164
Sharing......Page 170
Learning how to interrupt an adult......Page 171
Skills for introverted toddlers......Page 172
A hitting/biting/pushing/throwing phase......Page 174
Building concentration......Page 177
Dealing with frustration......Page 178
When our child is clingy......Page 179
Screen time......Page 181
Bilingualism......Page 182
CHAPTER 8: Being the Adult......Page 185
Preparation of the adult......Page 187
Physical self-care......Page 188
Start and end the day right......Page 189
Practice presence......Page 191
Fill our emotional bucket and our child’s......Page 192
Slow down......Page 193
Be the child's guide......Page 195
Use our home as a helper......Page 196
Take responsibility for our life and choices......Page 197
Learn from our mistakes......Page 198
Self-awareness......Page 199
Keep practicing......Page 200
CHAPTER 9: Working Together......Page 201
What about everyone else?......Page 203
Preferring one parent......Page 204
The key to working together as a family......Page 205
Getting family on board......Page 206
Grandparents and caregivers......Page 208
When there is conflict in the family......Page 209
Divorce does not have to be a dirty word......Page 210
CHAPTER 10: What's Next......Page 212
Getting ready for preschool/school......Page 213
The coming years......Page 214
It's time for peace......Page 218
Real Stories: Home Tours and Quotes from Montessori Families......Page 220
AUSTRALIA: Kylie, Aaron, Caspar, Otis, and Otto: How We Montessori......Page 221
MONGOLIA: Enerel, Bayanaa, Nimo, and Odi: Mininimoo......Page 222
CANADA: Beth, Anthony, and Quentin: Our Montessori Life......Page 223
USA: Amy, James, Charlotte, and Simon: Midwest Montessori......Page 224
MY FAMILY: Simone, Oliver, and Emma: Australia and the Netherlands......Page 225
MY CLASSROOM: Jacaranda Tree Montessori: Amsterdam, the Netherlands......Page 226
Further Reading......Page 227
Thank-Yous......Page 229
Appendix......Page 232
Instead of this, say that......Page 233
Where to find Montessori materials and furniture......Page 235
What to look for in a Montessori school......Page 237
What does a typical day at a Montessori school look like?......Page 238
Is Montessori suitable for every child?......Page 239
How does a child transition to a traditional school after being at Montessori?......Page 240
Feelings and needs......Page 241
Play-dough recipe......Page 243
List of Montessori activities for toddlers......Page 244
Index......Page 255