The Montessori Toddler: A Parent's Guide to Raising a Curious and Responsible Human Being

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She begins with a brief summary of the five ingredients for curiosity, trust in the child, a rich learning environment, time, a safe and secure base and fostering a sense of wonder. Which made me have some interesting conversations with some of the adults when I asked, “Which areas are not being fully used in your own homes? Further, the way teachers were trained and the way materials were used was also a major source of conflict.

You listed The Very Hungry Caterpillar as a book suggestion, but in the book the caterpillar eats cupcakes and lollipops and such, so wouldn’t that be considered fantasy, as caterpillars don’t really eat those things? Gaining these skills helps to develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination and also begins to expose the child to the process of selecting, setting up, completing, and cleaning up an activity (Marshall, 2017). Teachers observe each individual child’s characteristics and tendencies and watch out for when a child is particularly receptive to learning a new skill, such as writing.Just as the learning materials themselves are specific to the Montessori method, the ways in which students are to engage with these materials are unique. But it already feels like the cosiest new home and I’m so grateful to all the families who have been so supportive and patient and open to trying something new. Montessori education is a child-centered approach that encourages self-directed learning through hands-on activities and collaborative play. For me personally, it is a question of degree – a caterpillar eating sweets in a book that is otherwise factually correct is something different than a book about unicorns. Parents already feel under a lot of pressure and the break down of community and village support means that a huge increase in load has been placed on parents.

Known for individually paced learning and fostering independence, the Montessori Method encourages empathy, a passion for social justice, and a joy in lifelong learning. Maria Montessori did not develop learning materials for infants and toddlers, some have subsequently been designed in the spirit of her work. The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a modern classic by Eric Carle that should not be missing on any child’s bookshelf. The materials go far beyond plastic squeak toys for chewing on and plastic blocks for banging together.I’m sure Davies has more information and experience regarding these areas and maybe this needs a separate book!

While allowing children to have fun and be creative, the puzzle gives children a sense of what wood feels like, help them identify shapes as well as improve their maths and motor skills. However, what I really like about this book is the realistic practical suggestions at the end of each chapter telling you what you can do about it given the facts. This approach places significant emphasis on independence and freedom of choice within the classroom, differentiating it from more traditional methods of teaching.After having her first child, her passion for the philosophy grew and she qualified as a Montessori teacher and managed a preschool.