Parent Workshops & Resources
“The secret of good teaching is to regard the child’s intelligence as a fertile field in which seeds may be sown, to grow under the heat of flaming imagination.”
MMS Links and Manuals
MMS Parent Workshops
Information on diverse books from scholar Rudine Sims Bishop
Her seminal work, “Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors”
This book list is an excellent jumping-off point for building a diverse children’s book library in your home.
Social Justice Resources from the Children’s Community School
7 Things to Do When Your Kid Points Out Someone’s Differences, by Rachel Garlinghouse
Talking With Children About Racism, Police Brutality and Protests, by Laura Markham
6 Things White Parents Can Do to Raise Racially Conscious Children, by Bree Ervin
The Conscious Kid recommends books and resources for talking to children about social justice topics. You can also follow them on Instagram @theconsciouskid.
social justice resources
“A response to 'Chapter 11, The Call of Language, The Absorbent Mind' by Maria Montessori", written by Catherine MacTamaney
The National Wildlife Federation is helping families start a food garden that also helps butterflies and bees: Butterfly Heroes
This list of chores young children can complete independently can be a good jumping-off point for choosing your child's jobs at home.
This is a wonderful article on communication, language, and the absorbent mind.
We love kinetic sand, and children do too! It is a sensory material that is fun to play with and can be very calming. If you're seeking new sensory experience in your home, you can purchase kinetic sand here.
Small one-person trampolines can be an excellent way for children to expend their energy! We enjoy this trampoline with a handle that is designed especially to be safe for young children.
The Child Mind Institute has countless research-backed resources available to support parents through challenging scenarios and behaviors, from sibling conflict to transitions and tantrums. We also like this article from CMI on the power of positive attention.
During our Montessori in the Home talk, Tara suggested the short film Edison's Day. You may rent it here or view it by clicking here.
We enjoyed this article on the absorbent mind, an important concept in Montessori education.
We enjoyed this article featuring activities for learning shapes at home.
We enjoyed this article on the positive impact in later life of children having contributed to their home environments by completing chores or daily jobs.
This article talks about the benefits of dot stamp markers and has many activity suggestions using these fun art supplies.
We enjoyed this post on the meaning of practical life in late toddlerhood/early childhood. This site has many thoughtful suggestions on introducing Montessori into homes.
We loved this article from PBS on helping children handle change.
We were provided this sample handbook for parents on Learning from Home from the Montessori School of Tokyo, and thought it might be a useful additional resource for MMS parents.
For a huge list of toddler-appropriate activities, check out this list from a former early childhood educator. Her Instagram is also updated regularly and has incredible at-home activities for young children.
This is an amazing article on the importance of analysis of movement and practical life. It speaks about so many of the skills we emphasize at MMS - take a look!
I loved this article on the importance of teaching rhyming to young children, which includes links to some classic and new rhymes for you to enjoy with your families!