What's Up Wednesday Episodes are inspired conversations of a Montessori Mom, Me. In Montessori we always talk about the importance of being a prepared guide when working with children. This doesn't mean make sure you're organized, and prepared. It means reflecting on your inner life and working on yourself from the inside out so you can be your best self. Often times when we are struggling with a child it points to a deeper inner lesson that we can learn within ourselves. What would it feel like to make a bigger impact on our children's lives? This episode dives in deep about a solution on where to start on making the world a safer place for our children to live. We are the role models. We are the ones who show our children how to act + how to treat people. If you are wanting to impact your child on the deepest level, listen to this episode to get some ideas on where you can start.
The Blue Umbrella Collective is a community for parents who are looking for more support when it comes to the behaviors of their children. A growing community for the parent who is wondering about a particular behavior but isn’t ready to talk to a pediatrician about it. What would it feel like to have a community of resources that's got your back during a time where you feel so uncertain and need more resources for your child? Today I chat with Toni Rozzi a behavior specialist for children with special needs. We dive into a new project she has coming up. A digital magazine and resource for parents with children who have been diagnosed OR for parents who are wondering if their child has a behavior that doesn’t seem typical and are wondering where to start. We discuss some great parameters for when you should get more help with your child vs. is my child just going through a phase...
Have you ever had that moment when you feel like smoke is going to come out of your ears because your child is doing something that makes you crazy? We are only human + sometimes it leads us to struggle. We struggle with our patience and wish we could expand it to the amount that we love our children - infinitely. However, every once in a while we need a tune up. This podcast is your tune up! We dive deep into new strategies + discussing Dr. Jane Nelsen's method of Positive Discipline with our guest speaker Skye Dodson, a certified Positive Discipline specialist. Our goals is to help you support your little one while hopefully keeping your wits about you too. We discuss the mistaken goals chart which you can find by clicking here. Happy Listening! Additional Resources: Join the Follow the Child Tribe on Facebook to continue the conversation - Great for parents with Children aged 3-6. Join Skye's Facebook Group, Montessori friends of Pickler - Great for parents with children aged 0-3.
Learn the secrets to tackling your fear gremlins, perfectionism, impostor syndrome, and comparisonitis. This episode will leave you inspired with actual strategies to tackle these gremlins to become your best parenting and teaching self!
In This Episode- Bérénice and I discuss: Toddlers and Language Development Toddlers and their period for all things ORDER! Berenice gives some great advice for things you can do to keep order and routine when life is busy. Pacifiers and TV – (yes! It’s controversial but we dive in and discuss anyway!) Monti Kids – A subscription based Montessori program for home and children aged birth to three. (A FANTASTIC curated option for parents who aren't sure what learning toys to use and are sick of scrolling the internet looking.) + special gift from me, Use Code: STEVIE at checkout for $30 off of your first subscription!! Berenice’s Contact Information: Email: berenice@montikids.com Website: www.montikids.com Facebook Group: Montessori Toddlers Episode Golden Threads- “Change is really hard, I’m an adult and change is really hard for me, I can’t imagine how hard it is for a young child who is just trying to navigate the world.” “Having a better understanding of what the child is going through can help you to empathize and better support them rather than become frustrated.” “Adjust and find order within the chaos.” “Use language to help children understand what they are going through in the intense moments of transition.” “85% of the brain is formed in the first 3 years of life.” “Knowing when it’s ok to take a break and step back and ask for help is preparation of the adult and preparing yourself will ultimately prepare the child.” In relationship to observation and the preparation of the adult, “If you are not observing your child and understanding the growth that they’re having you’re not going to be able to adjust the environment to meet their needs.” What is Montessori to you? Mindful Education. In a sense it’s a mindful philosophy on Life. References Mentioned- This Toddler Life – Montessori Blog – Holly Daniels The Absorbent Mind – Maria Montessori Touching: The Human Significance of the Skin - Ashley Montague Understanding the Human Being - Silvana Montanaro Far From the Tree – Andrew Soloman
In this episode we dive into the energy and weight that comes with focusing on a problem + the shift we experience when we allow space to focus on the solution.
What's Up Wednesday Episodes are inspired conversations of a Montessori Mom, Me. Want to know more about how to address the needs of your toddler and your 5 year old? In this episode I give you strategies you can use in your own home. I also give basic pointers for presenting lessons at home and share some language activities you can get started on with your toddler today!
What's Up Wednesday Episodes are inspired conversations of a Montessori Mom, Me. In this episode I give you a new perspective on why you may not be able to get your children to act the way you want (brushing teeth, putting things away, playing nicely, toileting regression, etc). Hint - sometimes we have to look inward first.
What's Up Wednesday Episodes are inspired conversations of a Montessori Mom, Me. In this episode I dive into positive discipline and give you a fresh perspective on how you can approach discipline in a way that is productive for you and most helpful and respectful for your child.
In this episode I share with you how I developed my boundaries and outlook on my toddler using materials at home. I break down the difference between the unconscious absorbent mind and the conscious absorbent mind, which ultimately has everything to do about my expectations of my toddler at home. This is a quick episode full of aha's for parents or teachers with a toddler at home.
Episode Takeaways- This episode is powerful for teachers who are looking to enhance their observation skills. It’s also powerful for parents who are considering the Montessori Method as a school program for their children. Make sure you listen all the way to the end where we get to the essence of the Montessori Method and what we can learn from our children if we turn inward to our spiritual selves. Nancy dives into the meaning behind observation and the importance of developing the habit of observation as a Montessori Guide. As Montessori Guides we must use scientific tools to guide our observation, not just passively observe. When we use the tools to collect the data we are prepared and confident to have a conversation with the parent of a child who is struggling. In this episode we also discuss how teachers can submit their own Action Research to prove and validate how the Montessori Method works, through an Action Research group of volunteers through AMS. Nancy’s Contact Information: Email – nlindeman@westminstercollege.edu
Noteworthy Quotes: “Things change when you become a parent. Your world gets turned upside down and things that weren’t true before are true now and vice versa.” “You don’t need to create curiosity in children. It’s already in them.” “Each child is his or her own entrepreneur. They run their own self-construction company. They’re the CEO of their own self construction company.” “Because you have given them this respect and because they feel powerful they aren’t going to get into any power struggles later because they already know you treat them as being worthy of respect.” Topics Addressed: Montessori philosophy at home and how to incorporate the freedom of choice into your parenting routine. We address the question: How will the transition go when I decide to move my child out of a Montessori program?
When people think about Montessori, they either say, "it let's children do whatever they want," or "it's way too structured." In this episode we dive in and explore how it's really neither of those things but a balance that's right in the middle and founded with a respect between child and Guide (caregiver). This is a great episode for teachers and parents looking to learn more about what Freedom Within Limits really means.
If you're sick of seeing children fall through the cracks with our traditional education system and want strategies on what to do for your own children at home or your students at school this is the podcast for you! The Education Optimist podcast is the perfect podcast for anyone who's looking for a change in today's education system particularly parents interested in Montessori or Montessori teachers. The first episode drops the MIC on how and why Education Optimist came to be. Take a listen and get to know what The Education Optimist Show is all about.