Welcome to the start of a new school year! I have been busy preparing the classroom with my lead teacher. So far, I feel reasonably confident but I still have a lot of questions. These questions alas can’t be answered until I start meeting parents and getting to know the children. I figure many parents …
Positive discipline is a hot topic these days. The approach sounds ideal but how on earth do we achieve being positive in the heat of the moment? I hear you. For me, being positive does not come easy. I have to practice. A lot. One of my Montessori instructors gave a great overview by Jody …
Growing food is a powerful way to improve health, spend time outdoors, and enjoy learning about nature. And it’s accessible to all of us. So it should be no surprise that gardening benefits children, teens, and adults. #1 – Gardening Gets Kids Out into Nature Being outside in nature is healthy for children. It’s suitable …
When I think about being happy, purposeful, and sure of oneself, I believe self-esteem is the foundation. We all want what is best for our children. We want them to be happy, full of purpose, and confident as they move through life. What does that look like, though? Technically, according to the Mayo Clinic, “self-esteem is …
Looking for alternatives to the “time out”? Yeah, me too. Before I had children, jumping to easy conclusions as most of us probably did before we had children, I thought my friends who executed the “time out” were brilliant. Make the kid sit by himself, think about what he has done, calm down and join …
This post includes thoughts on What to Know about Child Development. A friend recently suggested I read Madeline Levine. Levine is a well know PhD who has written a book called Teach Your Children Well on raising children “for authentic success” as opposed to purely academic success. She has also written a book called The …