Book Review: The Montessori Toddler
Nov 26, 2019
The Montessori Toddler: A Parent’s Guide to Raising a Curious and Responsible Human Being by Simone Davies
At Amherst Montessori School WE LOVE TODDLERS and, if you don’t already, you will too when you read Simone Davies’ brand new book, The Montessori Toddler: A Parent’s Guide to Raising a Curious and Responsible Human Being.
In this comprehensive look at Montessori parenting, Ms. Davies (a Montessori teacher and a parent) offers practical ideas alongside Montessori theory in an illustrated, user-friendly format for busy parents and teachers. She invites us to change the way we view toddlers.
She covers topics ranging from practical advice about how to set up your home environment to the importance of accepting your children for who they are. How do we encourage curiosity in young children? How do we support the difficult feelings our children express, even if we weren’t encouraged to express our feelings when we were growing up? How do we Montessori-ize an activity? How do we encourage cooperation? And that all-important question, how do we successfully set limits? These are just a few of the questions the author addresses as she navigates her way through the parenting journey.
And it’s not all about the children. Ms. Davies speaks honestly about the amazing opportunity that being with young children offers, to parents and teachers:
“Who knew that parenting would become an almost spiritual journey? And what a journey it is… I think of how I've grown up alongside my children. They see me trying and getting it wrong and trying again and getting a bit better, constantly learning and growing.”
So I invite you to increase the happiness quotient in your home by checking out The Montessori Toddler which is available in your local library or bookstore. And then try this at home: GO SLOW and enjoy walking with your child at a toddler pace, enjoying the cracks in the sidewalk or the raindrop on a blade of grass that captures your child’s attention. Share this precious moment with your child and enjoy the gift of time together.
Written by Gretchen Courage, Assistant Head of School for Education