Christina, my little dancer, at age 1, 1991.
What is something I cannot imagine parenting without? For me, the obvious answers are my faith and my family. I am so thankful that I’ve always had the complete support of both my husband and my parents. But the other essential I cannot imagine parenting without is an understanding of Montessori principles.
Montessori principles not only made my transition into parenting easier, but they worked all the way through my children’s childhoods … and still work even when my children are adults.
I was lucky that I had taken Montessori training and was a certified Montessori teacher before I had children of my own. I also attended a Montessori conference with a special workshop on Montessori and infants before I even became pregnant. But anyone can learn to use Montessori principles without formal Montessori training.
Here’s how my understanding of Montessori principles helped me:
1. I gave my children freedom to explore in a safe and secure environment as infants and toddlers. I talk more about what I did in How to Set Up Your Home for An Infant by Using Montessori Principles.
Christina (6) giving a repeat performance at home after her first ballet recital, 1996. Christina’s love of dance led to her career as a professional ice dancer, choreographer, and Zumba instructor.
2 I focused on my children’s sensitive periods so that I could give them the best opportunity for meeting their potential.
3. I gave my children as preschoolers many practical life activities, which helped them develop order, concentration, coordination, and independence.
4. I used phonics and other Montessori methods and materials to help my children learn easily from a young age.
5. Montessori philosophy discourages tests and grades. That helped me feel confident to homeschool without grades and traditional tests (except for what was mandated by state law) as well. It wasn’t until I had to create high school transcripts for college that I assigned grades (in retrospect) for high school work. I think my children had so much less stress and more enjoyment of learning without being tested or graded (and they most likely retained information easier and more permanently without the associated stress)!
Will, 11, and Christina, 6, in their first pairs skating experiences, 1996. Their interest in skating led to their careers now as skating coaches and professional skaters.
6. Probably the most important Montessori principle was that of following the child, of simply observing my children to see what their needs and interests were. That’s an idea that worked all through childhood and is relevant when they ask for advice as adults. My post at Natural Parents Network tells more about my thoughts on Montessori and Natural Parenting.
When I look at Will and Christina as adults, I couldn’t be prouder. And I owe much of the credit to Montessori! At 25 and 20, Will and Christina have accomplished so much with their lives already. They’re successful entrepreneurs. They have bachelor’s degrees and both still love learning. They’re kind and loving people who are happily married to kind and loving people. What more could I ask for?
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So many of these principles go hand in hand with natural parenting (as you so eloquently wrote about for NPN last month!). Thank you for sharing your experiences with us!
Thanks, Dionna! I always enjoy reliving the memories and thinking about what really worked best for my family. Thanks for inspiring thought with your great themes each month!
I love that principle of following the child. That’s my main parenting goal each day. Thanks for this great post!
Thanks so much for your kind words, Amy! You definitely have a great parenting goal each day – I love your focus!
I can’t believe that Christina has a Bachelor’s degree at age 20! Did the Montessori homeschooling help to accelerate of college credits? I’m thinking with traditional, public school some classmates, and my sister as well, had enough credits from AP tests, concurrent enrollment, early college classes, (not sure, I earned all my college credits in college, the slow way, but I don’t regret it) to receive their Associate degree either right after high school or just after a semester or two of college.
Anyway, your past post has already taught me to let my daughter lead the way, so I’m not going to worry about it right now! Thanks for the insight,
~ Becky
Thanks for your comment, Rebecca! We were especially lucky we homeschooled because of Christina’s particular life path. We had done a few years of year-round homeschooling (with our main vacations for figure-skating competitions). Then Christina took two concurrent college courses at age 15 (astronomy and college math). So she graduated from homeschool high school at age 16. She was accepted into the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs where she’d taken her college math.
Christina ended up moving to England at age 16, though (and me with her for a year and a half), to compete in ice dance for Great Britain. Bachelor’s degrees in England are 3 years, so Christina was able to graduate at age 19!
England had a law against kids attending university before age 18, so we were extremely lucky that Sheffield Hallam Univesity’s performing arts B.A. degree was 2 years at a local college (where the 16-18 year olds were finishing their “high school” in different programs) with the final year at the university. The first two years of Christina’s performing arts program reminded us of the school in the movie Fame, so Christina had an amazing time (and got to be a bit of a celebrity)! And it’s wonderful that she now has a First Class (Hons) Degree in Performance and Professional Practice from Sheffield Hallam University.
Will’s university experience was totally different – but wonderful – at UCCS and Prescott College. Because of his competitive skating in the U.S., he was only able to attend college part time in the beginning and graduated at age 24. I just love seeing where life paths lead and how they can be so different yet still just as perfect.
Wow, this post and your subsequent comments about the lives of your children are SO inspiring. I plan to homeschool and I get so many negative comments about how my children won’t get into college and succeed in life! From now on I won’t even bother defending my position, I can just direct them to your blog!
I am really interested in learning more about the Montessori principles and techniques. My oldest daughter is just two but has an exceptional memory and level of understanding. I want all the tools I can to nurture both my children’s development so that they can be all they can be in life. I see you did just that so I will be tuning in to your blog for many more insights. Thank-you
Thanks so much for your kind comment, Terri! If you follow some of the links in this post, you’ll find more positive data about homeschoolers’ performance before and during college: https://livingmontessorinow.com/2011/01/13/is-your-child-one-of-the-over-2-million-children-homeschooled-in-the-us/.
Montessori methods work very well for children at all levels, but it’s especially exciting to see how they work for gifted children and other children above or below the norm who can blossom with Montessori principles and techniques, respect for the child, and individualized instruction. Have fun!
There are so many great posts this month. Your one comes with a lot of practical advice and links, and I am going to have to thank you and say I will be back to check those links. Everything you have written fits in my my parenting philosophy as well, and it is inspiring to see how committed you are to the Montessori method. I attended a Montessori school myself, and it didn’t work for me. But perhaps it’s time to look at some of the method’s principles again, and see how we can apply them to our homeschooling adventures too.
Oh… and I love reading how proud you are of your adult children!
Thanks so much for your comment! I’m sorry your Montessori experience wasn’t the best, but Montessori schools can vary tremendously. I think there are so many ways to apply Montessori principles to homeschooling, making it applicable to pretty much any situation. Good luck!
Popping in to say, “Hi, friend!” 🙂 Great post. I sometimes wish I’d had the courage to begin Montessori back when my kids first began school. I think we’d have less struggles with our schooling now, if I’d listened to my heart rather than the voices around me. 😉 Thanks for sharing your experiences. Happy iFellowship! 🙂
Thanks so much, Larri! I was very lucky that I was given support to teach my children in whatever way I felt was best. It’s so much harder without that kind of support. Happy iFellowship to you, too!
Great post; I love how your training and parenting choices work so well together and have allowed you to fully trust your children’s paths. As you might remember, the ‘trust’ thing is a hard one for me (my mother was a mainstream teacher and try as I might I’ve picked up some beliefs that need shifting!).
Thank you for sharing!
Thanks so much for your kind words. I sometimes think I had it too easy in that no one questioned my decision to homeschool. It helped that I was a Montessori teacher before we began homeschooling, but I truly believe that anyone who is committed to homeschooling their children can find a way to do a wonderful job. That said, each family does have its own unique path and it’s wonderful there are so many great educational options!
Hey Deb,
My daughter is all grown up now but she figure skated during about the same time your children were skating – only she didn’t skate pairs. She did pass all of dance tests though:) She was doing some coaching for awhile but getting ready to be a new mommy now so she doesn’t skate much any more!
Thanks for your comment, Deborah! I didn’t realize your daughter was a figure skater, too! It’s not easy to pass all the dance tests – she must have been very dedicated as well. I love getting to know more about you! 🙂
I think homeshcooling is brave and obviously as long as the social side is looked after – it can really allow you to exploe and learn the world from a unique view point giving kids a competitive edge.
Our blog aims to provide everyday ways to use activities with a purpose as well as having fun which is essential to learning.
Please drop by and have a look when you have a chance!
http://beourbest.blogspot.com/
Thanks for your comment, Jill! The homeschoolers I’ve known have been good about giving their kids social experiences as well as a strong education, which is always nice to see. I’ll be sure to check out your site!
You know I am scouring all of your links (even the ones I’ve read before!). I wish I’d known more about Montessori before having Mikko (not that I think I’ve failed him or anything 😉 ) and I love the thought of putting those new principles into action with the second baby from the beginning. Thanks as always for your encouraging and eye-opening posts! It is so fun to see Will & Christina’s different and equally lovely paths through life so far.
Thanks so much for your very kind words, Lauren! I think you’ve done an awesome job with Mikko so far – and he still has plenty of time left for Montessori! It really is fun to watch where our children’s paths lead them when they’re used to following their interests and feelings.
Hi Deb, thanks for sharing this one. It’s not only info about Montessori that you have shared to us but also your experience with Montessori.
Getting involved in many activities surely will help them grow as a person.
Your children’s success is also your success. I congratulate your children, and you for being a very good parent. 🙂
Thanks, Val! I was definitely lucky to have experience in Montessori and to be able to spend the time I did with my kids! 🙂