The Montessori way of life is calling to you.
Maybe you’ve already heard about the benefits: calmer behavior, a fantastic education, independent and joyful little bodies doing their “work” and learning how to concentrate.
Maybe you’ve also seen some of the spaces that others have created for their own families: pretty shelves with carefully chosen toys and uncluttered, peaceful playrooms designed to perfectly suit the children they were cultivated for.
There is no denying that using Montessori philosophy in the home gives your children the solid start in life that they deserve. That’s fact!
The question, rather, is how do you get started?
And further - once you do start, how do you know you’re doing it right?
Maybe you’ve already heard about the benefits: calmer behavior, a fantastic education, independent and joyful little bodies doing their “work” and learning how to concentrate.
Maybe you’ve also seen some of the spaces that others have created for their own families: pretty shelves with carefully chosen toys and uncluttered, peaceful playrooms designed to perfectly suit the children they were cultivated for.
There is no denying that using Montessori philosophy in the home gives your children the solid start in life that they deserve. That’s fact!
The question, rather, is how do you get started?
And further - once you do start, how do you know you’re doing it right?
Maria Montessori once proclaimed, "A child's needs are simple, and a happy childhood needs only simple surroundings."
She was absolutely right! You do not need to spend enormous amounts of cash (or rack up your credit) in order to provide a nurturing, developmentally-aligned, child-friendly, Montessori-focused home spaces! You also don’t need to have ample square footage. Whether you’re in a big suburban house or a small apartment in a high rise, you can do this!
We’re aiming for that “happy childhood”, not perfection, and there are so many unique and wonderful ways of making it a reality once you have a strong grounding in the philosophy and the right kind of community support.
In our online course, Cultivating Spaces for Children, we will help you affordably and effectively create a Montessori-focused home environment catered to both the developmental needs of your children and one that accommodates the lifestyle and hobbies of all other family members.
Through interactive, hands-on, live instruction you'll learn all about the important qualities of a Montessori home and take active steps to make changes in your daily life.
Learn how to...
- Evaluate your spaces from a Montessori lens
- Create spaces that meet the developmental needs of your children
- Recognize your child's sensitive periods
- Increase your child's participation in practical tasks
- Cultivate a spirit of independence in your child
- Minimize your spaces to maximize your child's activity
We've got 4 weeks to make it happen. Each week, you'll get a series of informational videos, a weekly live Q&A, daily reading materials, challenges, and discussion topics.
Then, we've got another 2 weeks to hang out, chat, problem solve and take action.
By the end of this course, you'll have a solid plan for making changes in your home that will lead your children to calmer, happier attitudes and more independent activity in their daily lives.
Are you ready to join us on this life changing, home changing journey?
Here's everything you need to know:
When: Course begins January 18, 2020.Who: this course is for parents and caregivers of children between ages 0 and 5
Where: this course takes place entirely inside in a private Facebook group
Mark your calendar and join us for our sixth session of this exciting and revolutionary course.
HOW IT WORKS
When you enroll in the course, you will receive instruction on how to join the course. Our online classroom will be inside a private Facebook group. You'll download your Toolkit PDF and get the links to weekly assignments within this group.
Each week Aubrey and Nicole will release a series of informational videos for you to watch at your convenience on the week's topic. On Friday, we'll devote the entire Live video to a Q&A. (Yes, you can ask questions ahead of time!) We want to provide real-time support based on your own needs, so we will be active and engaged in the group.
Our course is designed to work well in any time zone. If you miss the Live videos, you'll be able to watch the replays at your leisure. Throughout the course, you'll check into the group forum to see inspiring quotes and participate in thoughtful discussion questions about the week's topics.
Each week Aubrey and Nicole will release a series of informational videos for you to watch at your convenience on the week's topic. On Friday, we'll devote the entire Live video to a Q&A. (Yes, you can ask questions ahead of time!) We want to provide real-time support based on your own needs, so we will be active and engaged in the group.
Our course is designed to work well in any time zone. If you miss the Live videos, you'll be able to watch the replays at your leisure. Throughout the course, you'll check into the group forum to see inspiring quotes and participate in thoughtful discussion questions about the week's topics.
The Course Schedule
Getting Started Weekend
The first weekend before class starts, we will be getting to know each other, learning how the Facebook Live videos work in context of the course, and settling into our new community setting.
Week 1: All Spaces Play
During this week, we will be talking about where your children mainly play - whether it’s a playroom, family room, living room, or basement. We’ll talk about how to select nurturing toys and we’ll give you steps for decluttering and decorating.
Week 2: All Spaces Eat
In this fun-filled week, we talk about the spaces where your children prepare their food and eat. From the kitchen into the dining room, through the chopping, the pouring, and the clean-up, we’ll design your food-related areas for success!
Week 3: All Spaces Sleep
A good night’s sleep starts with a soft, peaceful nest upon which to close one’s eyes and dream! No matter whether you cosleep or settle your child down in a separate room, we’ll be talking about the best ways to help ease your child into a nice and consistent naptime, bedtime, and wake-up routine by focusing on the sleeping environment.
Week 4: All Spaces Bathe
Rub-a-dub-dub goes the toddler in the tub, but where do all the bath toys go? In this week, we’ll be talking about self-care areas in your home, including hand washing, toileting, and bathing.
Week 5 & 6: Working on All Home Spaces
But wait, we’re not done, yet! You will use these two weeks to accomplish your goals, ask each other questions, and discuss your challenges and successes. We will be available to offer support and answer questions. Videos and course discussions will remain available in the group for you to review anytime.
Why We Created This Course
We are both passionate about child development and Montessori-inspired living, but more importantly, we are parents of our own delightful, independent, messy, and inquisitive children! For many years, we've been on the receiving end of kind words and solid advice, and we look forward passing on our knowledge, experience, and support to you.Meet Nicole
Hey! I'm Nicole, I write here on The Kavanaugh Report sharing how my family incorporates Montessori into our daily lives and sharing resources for Montessori parents. I also have the joy of sharing Montessori directly with parents through online classes. Most importantly, I'm a Montessori parent to three fantastic children - Henry (7), Nora (4), Augustus (2).
See, I understand exactly the amount of joy that Montessori can bring to your life. In 2012, I discovered Montessori when I was the struggling first time parent of a high needs baby. Our life had become taken over with baby gadgets and distraction techniques trying to find a more peaceful, happy home. But, guess what? None of it worked. It wasn't until I leaned into Montessori's teachings and created a prepared environment in my home that life started to feel more manageable. In this environment, my child was able to flourish, following his own path of natural development toward independence, freedom, and creativity. It has been my pleasure to use Montessori from birth with my other two children.
It hasn't always been easy. It has taken years of reading Montessori, gathering resources, and talking with other Montessori teachers and parents to feel confident in my ability to cultivate my home. One of the reasons Aubrey and I created Cultivating Spaces for Children was to make this process easier for you. We took those resources and information that we had gathered over years of study and made it into a program that was easy for parents to use and understand in real life.
If you're ready to feel the joy of Montessori in your home, to make meaningful changes, and see your child in a whole new light, join me and my co-teacher Aubrey.
Meet Aubrey
Hi! I’m Aubrey Hargis from Child of the Redwoods! I’m a mother of two and a lifelong (you read that right!) certified Montessorian. I loved teaching in both public and private schools, but these days my classroom is entirely online, and my students are parents from all around the world instead of children in a specific age level. I get to chat nonstop about the benefits of Montessori, helping parents learn about their children’s developmental stages and how to provide a sound education at home. This past year I wrote two books for parents: Baby’s First Year Milestones and Toddler Discipline for Every Age and Stage.
And now I’m going to let you in on a secret: organization does not come naturally to me. It’s...basically the opposite. Let’s just not use the word slob, ok? That’s offensive. I prefer being a “creative and messy” or “spontaneous and artistic” type. But reality is reality: keeping an orderly home environment and clearing up the clutter is a constant challenge. This is where Montessori principles save my sanity.
Regardless of whether there is a big pile of books or papers on my desk, I know that my children crave opportunities for independence and depend on the uniformity and peaceful nature of our home environment. I can visibly see their moods shift from agitated to calm or from spastic to focused when I make changes that are in line with their current development. This is what motivates me to take action and prioritize the details within our home spaces.
Whether you consider yourself incessantly ordered or perpetually rumpled, embracing Montessori in the home can be utterly life changing. We're ready to share this journey with you. Are you ready to take the challenge?
And now I’m going to let you in on a secret: organization does not come naturally to me. It’s...basically the opposite. Let’s just not use the word slob, ok? That’s offensive. I prefer being a “creative and messy” or “spontaneous and artistic” type. But reality is reality: keeping an orderly home environment and clearing up the clutter is a constant challenge. This is where Montessori principles save my sanity.
Regardless of whether there is a big pile of books or papers on my desk, I know that my children crave opportunities for independence and depend on the uniformity and peaceful nature of our home environment. I can visibly see their moods shift from agitated to calm or from spastic to focused when I make changes that are in line with their current development. This is what motivates me to take action and prioritize the details within our home spaces.
Whether you consider yourself incessantly ordered or perpetually rumpled, embracing Montessori in the home can be utterly life changing. We're ready to share this journey with you. Are you ready to take the challenge?
