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How to Raise an Amazing Child the Montessori Way
A parent's guide to building independence, creativity, and confidence in their children using Montessori learning techniques, written by Montessori president Tim Seldin.
An international bestseller, How to Raise an Amazing Child the Montessori Way adapts Montessori teachings for easy use at home. Packed with Montessori-based preschool activities and educational games that build confidence and independence through active learning, this authoritative illustrated guide helps raise self-reliant and creative children. Celebrate physical and intellectual milestones from birth to age six with activity checklists, and encourage development through proven child-centered teaching methods.
This edition has been updated to include information about the neuroscience of child development and shares advice about screen time in the digital age, coparenting, other family changes, and gentle discipline methods.
How to Raise an Amazing Child the Montessori Way shows parents how to bring the teachings of Montessori into their home to create a safe, nurturing environment for their children with clear and concise instructions.
An international bestseller, How to Raise an Amazing Child the Montessori Way adapts Montessori teachings for easy use at home. Packed with Montessori-based preschool activities and educational games that build confidence and independence through active learning, this authoritative illustrated guide helps raise self-reliant and creative children. Celebrate physical and intellectual milestones from birth to age six with activity checklists, and encourage development through proven child-centered teaching methods.
This edition has been updated to include information about the neuroscience of child development and shares advice about screen time in the digital age, coparenting, other family changes, and gentle discipline methods.
How to Raise an Amazing Child the Montessori Way shows parents how to bring the teachings of Montessori into their home to create a safe, nurturing environment for their children with clear and concise instructions.
201 pages, Paperback
First published December 18, 2006
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2912 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 212 reviews
April 10, 2008
Things I learned:
Babies
Simple approach to babies:
respect all babies as individaul human beings
allow them as much freedom of movement as possible
help them to become increasingly independent by creating a safe, child friendly environment that makes it easier for them to explore p.30
Bedroom-choose framed art prints or posters that show lovely scenes with children and animals. During these years of acute sensitivity, it's worth exposing your cihld to good art and beautiful objects.
Toys-no need to buy expensive battery-operated toys, especially for children under the age of three. Instead, look for toys which are beautifully made that your child can stack, assemble, or interact with in one way or the other. Avoid any toy that simply does something while your child watches. You want to encourage your child to be actively engaged, not a passive observer waiting to be entertained. One of our goals is to instill a sense of appreciation for beautiful things in our children from the earliest years, while at the same time cultivating a sense of order. p. 36-37. Avoid putting out too many toys and books at one time. Divide toys into three or more sets: favorites, which are kept out on the shelves continually, and two or more sets that are rotated in and out of the closet every month or so. Possibly include a some small rugs that can be spread out to define your child's work area when she chooses to play on the floor.
A Sense of Order-Most of us can be overwhelmed by the chaos that quickly develops around the house if we leave things lying around. Children are particularly sensitive to this. Although they are often masters at creating a mess, most find it difficult to clean up after themselves. The most efficient approach is to teach them to clean up as they go along. While some children may be born with a "neat gene," they all can be taught right from the start to work and play in a tidy way without stifling their creativity or stripping playtime of fun. p.82
Kids may tend to create chaos, but they also have a tremendous need and love for an orderly environment. Try to arrange the rooms where your child spends most of her time to make it easy for her to maintain a neat, well-organized atmosphere. It's suprisingly what an impact this can ave on her developing personality. p 38
Independence-Children who are treated with respect and who are encouraged to try new skills learn more readily to do things for themselves. They feel respected and competent and will develop a far greater level of emotional well-being than a child who is simply loved and doted upon. p.18
During certain sensitive learning periods, children can learn new things, master new skills, or develop aspects of their brain's abilities painlessly and almost unconsciously. p 15-17
Sensitive periods:
Movement 0-12mo
Language 0-6yrs
Sm. objectis 1-4yrs
Grace/Courtesy 2-6yrs.
Senses 2-6yrs
Writing 3-4yrs
Order 2-4yrs
Music 2-6yrs.
Toileting 18mo. to 3yrs
Reading 3-5yrs
Spacial relationships 4-6yrs
Mathematics 4-6yrs
Babies
Simple approach to babies:
respect all babies as individaul human beings
allow them as much freedom of movement as possible
help them to become increasingly independent by creating a safe, child friendly environment that makes it easier for them to explore p.30
Bedroom-choose framed art prints or posters that show lovely scenes with children and animals. During these years of acute sensitivity, it's worth exposing your cihld to good art and beautiful objects.
Toys-no need to buy expensive battery-operated toys, especially for children under the age of three. Instead, look for toys which are beautifully made that your child can stack, assemble, or interact with in one way or the other. Avoid any toy that simply does something while your child watches. You want to encourage your child to be actively engaged, not a passive observer waiting to be entertained. One of our goals is to instill a sense of appreciation for beautiful things in our children from the earliest years, while at the same time cultivating a sense of order. p. 36-37. Avoid putting out too many toys and books at one time. Divide toys into three or more sets: favorites, which are kept out on the shelves continually, and two or more sets that are rotated in and out of the closet every month or so. Possibly include a some small rugs that can be spread out to define your child's work area when she chooses to play on the floor.
A Sense of Order-Most of us can be overwhelmed by the chaos that quickly develops around the house if we leave things lying around. Children are particularly sensitive to this. Although they are often masters at creating a mess, most find it difficult to clean up after themselves. The most efficient approach is to teach them to clean up as they go along. While some children may be born with a "neat gene," they all can be taught right from the start to work and play in a tidy way without stifling their creativity or stripping playtime of fun. p.82
Kids may tend to create chaos, but they also have a tremendous need and love for an orderly environment. Try to arrange the rooms where your child spends most of her time to make it easy for her to maintain a neat, well-organized atmosphere. It's suprisingly what an impact this can ave on her developing personality. p 38
Independence-Children who are treated with respect and who are encouraged to try new skills learn more readily to do things for themselves. They feel respected and competent and will develop a far greater level of emotional well-being than a child who is simply loved and doted upon. p.18
During certain sensitive learning periods, children can learn new things, master new skills, or develop aspects of their brain's abilities painlessly and almost unconsciously. p 15-17
Sensitive periods:
Movement 0-12mo
Language 0-6yrs
Sm. objectis 1-4yrs
Grace/Courtesy 2-6yrs.
Senses 2-6yrs
Writing 3-4yrs
Order 2-4yrs
Music 2-6yrs.
Toileting 18mo. to 3yrs
Reading 3-5yrs
Spacial relationships 4-6yrs
Mathematics 4-6yrs
August 30, 2017
I really think all parents should read this book. It's very well written, extremely informative, and it shows how to create a more hands-on approach for your children.
This book discusses how children want to feel like a more active part of our lives, and become more independent, rather than to feel like they are small and incapable of doing things. The Montessori approach allows them to learn how to do things such as help with cooking, set the table, help with chores, and play in ways that are actually helping them to learn. Often as parents, we want to get things done quickly, but teaching children to do things such as sweep the floor, even if it takes them forever to get it done or they do it improperly, is really building on their intelligence and their ability to feel more independent. It's vital that they begin to learn how to properly take care of themselves and their household at a young age so they can carry these skills on into the future and be able to do things for themselves.
This book discusses how children want to feel like a more active part of our lives, and become more independent, rather than to feel like they are small and incapable of doing things. The Montessori approach allows them to learn how to do things such as help with cooking, set the table, help with chores, and play in ways that are actually helping them to learn. Often as parents, we want to get things done quickly, but teaching children to do things such as sweep the floor, even if it takes them forever to get it done or they do it improperly, is really building on their intelligence and their ability to feel more independent. It's vital that they begin to learn how to properly take care of themselves and their household at a young age so they can carry these skills on into the future and be able to do things for themselves.
August 13, 2015
I expected more from an author with his background & experience, but this book was only a very cursory and somewhat disorganized overview of the topic. There are many other better books that offer a more systematic, helpful, and detailed look at what the Montessori method is, how to implement it in your home, and how to teach in that style (Montessori From the Start by Paula Polk Lillard and Linda Lillard Jessen, and The Joyful Child by Susan Stephenson, as well as Maria Montessori's own books, for starters). If you actually want to USE the Montessori method consistently in your home, this is not the book for you. It only has the most basic outlines of suggestions for ideas and activities that line up with Montessori values and ideas. If you want a brief and very basic glimpses of what the Montessori method might look like were you to follow it in your household, this makes for a quick read and may be of some help. But still, not the best book to really understand the topic and whether this style of parenting/teaching is right for you.
July 10, 2018
Not so much an in-depth "how to" book of implementing Montessori activities at home as it is an extended brochure on Montessori philosophy with some examples of Montessori activities. When we were potty training our toddler I realized I have no idea how to explain getting dressed in child-friendly language. I wanted something that would tell me how to teach my toddler to put on her socks, pants, shirts, etc. Tim Seldin's special Montessori advice for teaching putting on socks is "show him how to get them the right way around and pull them on." As if there's any other way of doing it?? Gee, I had never thought to SHOW my daughter! I've just been staring at her from across the room this whole time, watching her struggle! To be fair, though, there was an extended how-to for putting on winter coats that I hope to use next winter. But most of the how-tos are uneven and lacking. I also found it quite ridiculous that at one point Seldin discusses how to set up your child's bedroom at home, and instructs you to refer to a picture on another page of the shelves in the Montesorri classroom for a model. Flip to the page and the picture is zoomed in on a child sitting at a desk with what little shelves are visible blurred out in the background. Yup, excellent how-to. Apparently there's no Montessori guide to writing a book that's actually useful.
March 18, 2014
اعجبنى جدا هذا الكتاب
و هو بداية رائعة لأى ام مبتدئة فى نظام منتسورى و ترغب فى تطبيقه مع طفلها منذ الولادة و حتى 3 سنوات او اكثر
و اعجبنى انه مدعم بالصور و الشرح الوافى للانشطة و كيفية عمل معظمها ف المنزل بخامات متوفرة
و هو بداية رائعة لأى ام مبتدئة فى نظام منتسورى و ترغب فى تطبيقه مع طفلها منذ الولادة و حتى 3 سنوات او اكثر
و اعجبنى انه مدعم بالصور و الشرح الوافى للانشطة و كيفية عمل معظمها ف المنزل بخامات متوفرة
September 4, 2008
I'm never going to completely finish reading this, but I'll just move it to the "read" shelf anyway. I keep picking it up to get ideas for the day, or to review some concept, or to get motivated about organization. I like a lot of Montessori concepts and especially enjoy using them in parenting. I am definitely not the ideal parent as defined this book: consistently calm and orderly. And, I don't have all the same goals as the "true Montessorian." However, I still glean many simple, useful ideas for helping my children and improving the atmosphere of my home. It's a beautifully designed book and set up in a way that is convenient for browsing. Beware, friends who have fragile self-esteems like me: you may come away feeling like your home is a mess, you don't spend enough time with your children, you potty-trained completely wrong, and you and your children are mostly crazy. Once I resolved those feelings, I saw all the goodness that I knew lay at the heart of Montessori principles. (I am happy to lend this book to friends who are interested...it's not at our library, so yes, I bought a book without reading it first. But it turned out fine in this case, so anyway...)
October 18, 2015
كتاب مميز لكل ام تريد ان تبدأ طريق التعليم المبكر بروح المنتسوري به انشطه عديده موضحه بالصور وبأسلوب بسيط وميسر
الكتاب هو ترجمه لكتاب how to raise an amazing child -the montessori way
انصح به كل أم على طريق البدايه في فهم المنتسوري والتعليم المبكر
الكتاب هو ترجمه لكتاب how to raise an amazing child -the montessori way
انصح به كل أم على طريق البدايه في فهم المنتسوري والتعليم المبكر
October 9, 2008
I found this book to be very helpful. It had good suggestions on how to bring some of the Montessori principles into your home. I especially liked the ideas about how to best organize your child's bedroom and toys, as well as the ideas for fun activities and experiments to do together to learn more about how the world works.
I liked the good advice about trusting in the inherent intelligence of children and letting them do as much as possible, such as helping with the laundry, making food together, and setting the table. I've started doing this with my son more often and he loves helping out in this way. I can tell that it helps him to feel more confident and independent. The book stressed that helping children to feel this way is what matters the most, and teaching young kids kindness, courtesy, and the natural joy of learning (with no academic pressure) is one of the most important things a parent can do.
I liked the good advice about trusting in the inherent intelligence of children and letting them do as much as possible, such as helping with the laundry, making food together, and setting the table. I've started doing this with my son more often and he loves helping out in this way. I can tell that it helps him to feel more confident and independent. The book stressed that helping children to feel this way is what matters the most, and teaching young kids kindness, courtesy, and the natural joy of learning (with no academic pressure) is one of the most important things a parent can do.
March 10, 2012
My daughter was enrolled in a Montessori school for kindergarden and we both had a good experience with the school. She was excited to go to school every morning and she learned so much with out any effort from our side. So I was eager to know more about the montessori way of learning and if I can apply some of it at home on my 2 years old. This book is very inspiring, It has just enough information paired with beautiful images of children at work to get you inspired and start playing with your child. I especially liked the section on how to design a room for your child or how to include your kids in the design of your living/family room. This part is often ignored in parenting books yet it makes a big difference for out little ones. The information and activities in this book is suitable for kids 2 and half to six years of age, if you got a child who is younger or older than this range then you may not find this book useful.In my case, I will need to wait a bit longer before I can apply the suggested activities on my toddler. This book is for you if you are already a bit familiar with the montessori philosophy and you just want to get inspired. However, if you want to know more in-depth about the montessori way of teaching then my guess is that you would need to ready more than this book.
September 8, 2012
This is a lovely book, with fantastic pictures and very well designed. (I would buy it just for the photos!) It is an easy read, and only 186 pages. It is also Montessori at home friendly.
It covers much of what you want to know about Montessori education with a simple, in-a-nut-shell style, including: "what is Montessori?"; "the sensitive periods for learning"; Montessori schools (about); Montessori from birth and "your growing baby"; "making your home child-friendly"; a Montessori style nursery; Montessori around the home; "discovery through the senses"; home-made Montessori activities to do and make at home; "keeping the peace" (how to handle negative behavior); Montessori outdoors; and more!
This is not a book for Montessori homeschoolers, who want to create a Montessori classroom or unschool environment at home. It is, however, for families who are looking for an alternative and who may be interested in a Montessori lifestyle for the home.
It covers much of what you want to know about Montessori education with a simple, in-a-nut-shell style, including: "what is Montessori?"; "the sensitive periods for learning"; Montessori schools (about); Montessori from birth and "your growing baby"; "making your home child-friendly"; a Montessori style nursery; Montessori around the home; "discovery through the senses"; home-made Montessori activities to do and make at home; "keeping the peace" (how to handle negative behavior); Montessori outdoors; and more!
This is not a book for Montessori homeschoolers, who want to create a Montessori classroom or unschool environment at home. It is, however, for families who are looking for an alternative and who may be interested in a Montessori lifestyle for the home.
February 6, 2019
This is a great book for those looking to begin a Montessori lifestyle. If you know nothing about Montessori learning this book will cover basically everything you need to know. Even if you're like me and know a few things this book can still give you more insight. The pictures are great and explain clearly how to approach and do things. I definitely need to own this book just to be able to open it back up for reminders.
August 21, 2017
Interesting introduction to many Montessori activities. This volume includes color photographs and step by step instructions.
August 13, 2017
Great if you want an introduction to Montessori which goes into enough depth behind the method without bogging you down in too much detail.
July 7, 2013
I really enjoyed this book, because I'm committed to a Montessori education for my kids' early childhood and want to start implementing some of the Montessori ideas at home. This book has a lot of good advice for doing so. That said, it can also make you feel a little overwhelmed if you read it cover to cover like I did, because there are too many ideas to implement all at once, and you can see how most of them would benefit your child! Specifically, there are a lot of ways you can make your home more child friendly so they can do things by themselves, but they might involve buying new kid sized furniture, rearranging aspects of your home, and can be cluttered or inconvenient. I love having a step stool for my two and a half year old to wash his hands by himself and assist with dinner prep by washing veggies, but it's not safe to keep in the kitchen when my 16 month old is awake, so I have to retrieve and put it away constantly. That's not the fault of this book, but for me it was important to remember that I can't do everything the book suggests, rather I can work on as much as possible to help my child have autonomy in areas that he's ready for that are developmentally appropriate.
I think this is a good introduction to Montessori, but if you're very familiar with Montessori already you may not find anything new or inspirational here.
I love seeing my almost three year old beam with pride and happiness when I make an effort to implement Montessori principles in my home that let him do things for himself. Even my sixteen month old, who is pre-verbal, can help wash the table off after dinner, put clothes in the hamper when directed, and climb a stool to brush his teeth. It's amazing what they can do when given the opportunity, and I'm thankful to this book and Montessori principles in general for the chance to see them grow in ways I wouldn't have thought to let them.
I think this is a good introduction to Montessori, but if you're very familiar with Montessori already you may not find anything new or inspirational here.
I love seeing my almost three year old beam with pride and happiness when I make an effort to implement Montessori principles in my home that let him do things for himself. Even my sixteen month old, who is pre-verbal, can help wash the table off after dinner, put clothes in the hamper when directed, and climb a stool to brush his teeth. It's amazing what they can do when given the opportunity, and I'm thankful to this book and Montessori principles in general for the chance to see them grow in ways I wouldn't have thought to let them.
November 24, 2008
Essentially the theory here (and in Montessori), is to respect your child and help them help themselves. It is better to show a child how to work a button, then to button all their shirts- this allows them to learn more fluidly and perhaps more quickly. This quick read shares tips on incorporating this idea into all daily routines. I picked it up because my son just started at a Montessori school, and I believe he is a natural 'learn by doing' type. My only issue, is that its not very detailed or in depth about the reasoning behind this concept. It's almost like this is the coffee table book version.
November 29, 2008
This was a great book with some fun ideas on games and how to teach your young kids how to be independant. I loved all the big pretty pictures, it made the concepts easier to understand. However, as with all parenting books, everything needs to be taken with a grain of salt, as some of the ideas may not jive with your own parenting ideas. But if you can look past some of the ideas that you don't agree with and not totally exclude the Montessori method for it, you'll get some great insights into what a toddler really is capable of.
December 23, 2016
I'm new to Montessori. My kids are in a Montessori preschool, so I wanted to learn more. I think this way of education is great for little kids, although it doesn't seem to leave room for those strong willed children or those who have high supervision needs. Also not sure how to apply this book if you have multiple kids close in age at different stages and needing different supervision. Can see this working well for mellow, type a, obedient kids who are good listeners and find pleasure in pleasing people.
January 29, 2008
I really liked this book. I'm not planning on sending my child to a Montessori school, but I like some of the methods and was able to incorporate them into our play here at home. Chandler LOVES the lima bean activity and this book reminded me that children do appreciate the handmade and natural toys.
November 24, 2014
هذا الكتاب يعتبر كأساس لمن يود ان يعرف أكثر عن طريقة المنتسوري..
استمتعت في النصف الثاني من الكتاب اكثر لانه كان يحتوي على اضافات جديدة بالنسبة لي
الكتاب مليء بالصور وطريقة العرض جميلة وبسيطة.
استمتعت في النصف الثاني من الكتاب اكثر لانه كان يحتوي على اضافات جديدة بالنسبة لي
الكتاب مليء بالصور وطريقة العرض جميلة وبسيطة.
May 25, 2016
Easy read. Cheezy layout, but good suggestions for how to bring Montessori ideas and activities into the home.
February 6, 2017
I will certainly have to look into this book a few times the next few years. :)
June 26, 2017
Easy read. Nice as a resource. Much like scrolling through a Pinterest board for Montessori learning. Helped me realize the pros and cons of this philosophy for my family.
November 27, 2017
A great intro to Montessori, and some great activities I want to try in a couple of years.
October 14, 2018
Sometimes my sister and I label books as "Should have been a Ted Talk". I'm going to go in the opposite direction with this and say "Should be a course".
Very informative, beautiful pictures. So.much.incredible information to take in. This might be a good book to own if you have multiple children or are interested in an apprenticeship.
My favorite take-away: The Peace Table. Set up a small table or ledge in the room. Place a bell and a dove or visual symbol of peace. If there is an argument, we gather at the table. Putting one hand on your heart, you say your name and how you think the situation should be resolved. Everyone is working together, and you can bring in family to help. One a peaceful resolution is found, ring the bell!
I read a quote from Queen Shonda Rhimes saying that on the other side of every difficult conversation is peace. What a powerful lesson for young minds, all minds.
Great read!
Very informative, beautiful pictures. So.much.incredible information to take in. This might be a good book to own if you have multiple children or are interested in an apprenticeship.
My favorite take-away: The Peace Table. Set up a small table or ledge in the room. Place a bell and a dove or visual symbol of peace. If there is an argument, we gather at the table. Putting one hand on your heart, you say your name and how you think the situation should be resolved. Everyone is working together, and you can bring in family to help. One a peaceful resolution is found, ring the bell!
I read a quote from Queen Shonda Rhimes saying that on the other side of every difficult conversation is peace. What a powerful lesson for young minds, all minds.
Great read!
April 21, 2025
Overall a good guide book to Montessori if you are not as familiar with it. It gives more practical advice on how to implement the method and not much theory of what the Montessori method is. It gives a good amount of what can be done at home but of course emphasizes Montessori school. I love the majority of the Montessori method based on other books as well. It was a quick read to what I can add to what we already are doing at home.
September 26, 2017
Great book to start exploring Montessori methods.
June 18, 2021
A very practical and helpful resource on raising kids in the independence of the Montossori method.
August 1, 2023
Some good content, a lot of stuff I’ve seen before, and also a lot of guilting towards making certain parenting decisions like breastfeeding which I feel like was dumb and unnecessary
Read
July 28, 2013A lot of great sensory activities for babies, toddlers, and young children.
Adapt your home to your child, give them appropriate sized furniture and activities for every room to encourage independence. For example- their own corner of the kitchen for their dishes at a level they can reach, a small desk in the office, child sized watering can and rake to help with yard work, a specific spot by the door for their coat and shoes.
Focus on teaching small children life skills:
- " Children who feel respected and competent develop a far greater sense of emotional well-being than children who are doted upon." (Corresponds with data presented in Nuture Shock by Po Bronson and Ashely Merryman.)
- "Perhaps one of the most difficult things to as a parent, once we have taught our children a new skill, is to then allow them to practice this skill as part of their everyday life without interfering. While we would never suggest that a child who has learned to ride a two wheeler bike goes back to training wheels, how often do we find ourselves continuing to bundle our children into their coats or shoes long after they are capable of managing to put them on by themselves.
Behavior:
-"Our aim is to take our children beyond simple obedience, where they do what we ask in hope of a reward or to avoid something unpleasant. Ultimately we want to help them to develop an internalized sense of polite, caring behavior and of what is right and wrong. This requires that children develop a social conscience and a sense of self-discipline, which can only happen as they slowly mature.
"Learning is not a race! Children learn at their own pace and, in general, the more parents push, the more children resist. Pushy parents see children as an extension of their own status as adults: if they have a child who reads at three, then clearly they have done their job as parents well. But if a child ends up quietly resentful of lessons, tutors, work books, and tests, then what have we really accomplished?"
Adapt your home to your child, give them appropriate sized furniture and activities for every room to encourage independence. For example- their own corner of the kitchen for their dishes at a level they can reach, a small desk in the office, child sized watering can and rake to help with yard work, a specific spot by the door for their coat and shoes.
Focus on teaching small children life skills:
- " Children who feel respected and competent develop a far greater sense of emotional well-being than children who are doted upon." (Corresponds with data presented in Nuture Shock by Po Bronson and Ashely Merryman.)
- "Perhaps one of the most difficult things to as a parent, once we have taught our children a new skill, is to then allow them to practice this skill as part of their everyday life without interfering. While we would never suggest that a child who has learned to ride a two wheeler bike goes back to training wheels, how often do we find ourselves continuing to bundle our children into their coats or shoes long after they are capable of managing to put them on by themselves.
Behavior:
-"Our aim is to take our children beyond simple obedience, where they do what we ask in hope of a reward or to avoid something unpleasant. Ultimately we want to help them to develop an internalized sense of polite, caring behavior and of what is right and wrong. This requires that children develop a social conscience and a sense of self-discipline, which can only happen as they slowly mature.
"Learning is not a race! Children learn at their own pace and, in general, the more parents push, the more children resist. Pushy parents see children as an extension of their own status as adults: if they have a child who reads at three, then clearly they have done their job as parents well. But if a child ends up quietly resentful of lessons, tutors, work books, and tests, then what have we really accomplished?"
April 30, 2014
This is a very useful book, full of practical suggestions for teaching young children. Broken down by subject, Seldin does a credible job of explaining each basic exercise and how the complexity can be increased for children who are ready. The high quality photographs beautifully illustrate his examples. Along the way, he includes a solid basic overview of the Montessori philosophy of education and child-rearing. Topics include discipline, educational windows, helping around the house, social skills, language and mathematical learning, and creating a child-centered space in your home, among others.
The book is also incredibly readable and it would be easy to return to a particular section if a parent wishes to review or focus on a topic. I enjoyed that it begins with infancy, promoting breastfeeding and cloth diapering where possible. The book is a little dated in its safety recommendations, although the emphasis is definitely on creating a safe place for your child to explore. Seldin also takes a grossly simplistic view of family dynamics in his introduction, but don't let that deter you from what is an overall diversity-encouraging, positive book.
This is definitely a book for parents who are pro-Montessori or leaning that way. While Seldin touts the benefits of this educational method, confirming evidence is not presented. However, as a parent whose parenting goals/philosophy lines up well with Montessori practices, I found this a very useful guide to techniques to incorporate into my toddler's routine to enhance his learning.
The book is also incredibly readable and it would be easy to return to a particular section if a parent wishes to review or focus on a topic. I enjoyed that it begins with infancy, promoting breastfeeding and cloth diapering where possible. The book is a little dated in its safety recommendations, although the emphasis is definitely on creating a safe place for your child to explore. Seldin also takes a grossly simplistic view of family dynamics in his introduction, but don't let that deter you from what is an overall diversity-encouraging, positive book.
This is definitely a book for parents who are pro-Montessori or leaning that way. While Seldin touts the benefits of this educational method, confirming evidence is not presented. However, as a parent whose parenting goals/philosophy lines up well with Montessori practices, I found this a very useful guide to techniques to incorporate into my toddler's routine to enhance his learning.
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