Steps to Parenting the Montessori Way: Part 2

• Make both going to bed and getting up a calm and pleasant ritual.

• Teach grace & courtesy in the home.  Model it.  Use courtesy with your child and help you child to demonstrate it.

• Look at family pictures together.  Help you child be aware of his/her family, names, and relationships.

• Refrain from laughing at your child.

• Teach your child about your religion and allow them to feel a part of it.

• Spend quality time with people of different ages.

• Always tell the truth.

• Alert the teacher to anything that may be affecting your child--lack of sleep, exposure to a fight, moving, relative visiting in home, parent out of town, etc.

• Teach your child his/her birthday.

• Talk about art, visit statue gardens, and make short visits to museums and look at a couple of paintings.  Make it meaningful and enjoyable.  Don't overdo.

Excerpt from Tomorrow's Child Magazine, September 2012