01/07/2019

This graceful guide to parenting toddlers within the Montessori educational philosophy teaches adults with the same spirit of gentleness, presenting a coherent, attractive system while simultaneously breaking its instruction down into small, understandable chunks that seem reasonable to master. Davies, a Montessori teacher in Amsterdam, presents a “new picture of the toddler” as an engaged, forgiving, and highly capable young human being. She begins by explaining Montessori principles, which encourage independence and practical skill-building in children within a carefully prepared classroom, then moves to an extensive list of typical activities. A section on applying these principles to make one’s household child-friendly stresses uncluttered simplicity, to ensure go-to items aren’t buried in the back of a closet. But the heart of Davies’s teaching lies not in home decor but in encouraging toddlers’ curiosity while helping them feel validated, and setting limits without making threats. Perhaps most importantly, Davies guides parents toward calmly “being the adult” without arbitrarily exercising power. Regardless of whether the family chooses a Montessori preschool, Davies’s primer, bolstered by her deep belief in the Montessori approach and respect for young children as they are, will be highly valuable for parents. (Mar.)

This graceful guide to parenting toddlers within the Montessori educational philosophy teaches adults with the same spirit of gentleness, presenting a coherent, attractive system while simultaneously breaking its instruction down into small, understandable chunks that seem reasonable to master.”  —Publishers Weekly

“With every page chock-full of plans for how to make one’s home a haven for a youngster’s intellectual and emotional growth, this valuable manual fills a gap on a topic not as frequently addressed in the literature on toddler development.” —Library Journal

" This is a down-to-earth, accessible book that makes Montessori at home doable. She provides clear ideas for discipline and parenting, and it’s written in a friendly, parent-to-parent way." —Book Riot

02/01/2019

Toddlers are a misunderstood population, according to Montessori teacher and blogger Davies (The Montessori Notebook), who facilitates online workshops for raising responsible, curious children, modeled after the work of Italian physician and educator Maria Montessori (1870–1952). Montessori posited that education, not medicine, was the answer to improving the health of children with emotional and mental disabilities and went on to develop successful schools that have produced graduates such as Jeff Bezos and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Davies lays out the basic principles of Montessori child-centered learning, in which students work at their own pace within a prepared environment using hands-on concrete materials. Alongside photographs and Imai's charming illustrations are ideas for setting up a learning-friendly environment and addressing self-care for adults as well as daily care for toddlers. VERDICT With every page chock-full of plans for how to make one's home a haven for a youngster's intellectual and emotional growth, this valuable manual fills a gap on a topic not as frequently addressed in the literature on toddler development.

03/01/2019

Toddlers are a misunderstood population, according to Montessori teacher and blogger Davies (The Montessori Notebook), who facilitates online workshops for raising responsible, curious children, modeled after the work of Italian physician and educator Maria Montessori (1870–1952). Montessori posited that education, not medicine, was the answer to improving the health of children with emotional and mental disabilities and went on to develop successful schools that have produced graduates such as Jeff Bezos and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Davies lays out the basic principles of Montessori child-centered learning, in which students work at their own pace within a prepared environment using hands-on concrete materials. Alongside photographs and Imai's charming illustrations are ideas for setting up a learning-friendly environment and addressing self-care for adults as well as daily care for toddlers. VERDICT With every page chock-full of plans for how to make one's home a haven for a youngster's intellectual and emotional growth, this valuable manual fills a gap on a topic not as frequently addressed in the literature on toddler development.Julia M. Reffner, Richmond, VA