As a parent, fostering creativity in my three children has always been high on my list of priorities. Growing up, it wasn't until high school that I really considered myself an artist of any sort, and after taking a few art classes, I went on to study art history in university. Despite some experience in [...]
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Montessori Schools in Japan
Montessori schools exist in Japan and this list is here to help you (hopefully) find one near you. It is worth saying that there is often a wide range when it comes to "authenticity" in Montessori education, as in how much the school follows the method illustrated by Maria Montessori herself. When searching for an [...]
What You Need To Know About the Absorbent Mind
This is an academic essay I wrote on the absorbent mind in Montessori education. I hope it is helpful in gaining a clearer understanding of the incredible abilities of the first plane (0-6 years) child. ABSORBENT MIND The absorbent mind, a creative and yet unconscious mental state of the first plane child, is the essential [...]
Montessori, Fantasy, and Pretend Play in the First Plane (Age 0-6)
Montessori is often associated with a classroom or home environment that is all work and no play, and to some extent this is true (depending on what you consider work and what you consider play). In the Montessori classroom, the materials and activities provided are there to encourage the child to concentrate. When a child [...]
Getting Started With Montessori At Home (without spending lots of money!)
It's easy to look at all the fancy Instagram photos and "shelfies" and think Montessori is all about expensive materials. While the Montessori classroom tends to have a certain standard and quality for their materials that tends to come with a price tag, your Montessori home doesn't need all of that. In fact, it's better [...]
my montessori parenting “why” (and how to find yours)
As a new parent, maybe you think you have it all figured out in the first six months or so, and maybe some do. But for me, it's taken years to really feel like I have found my "why" when it comes to parenting. What do I mean by parenting "why"? I mean the reason [...]
Montessori in Small Spaces – Entryway
Sometimes it can be difficult as an apartment-dwelling family to look at all these spacious Montessori homes online and wonder how you will ever be able to fit that shelf, learning tower, weaning table, and bookcase into your 70 square meter abode. Guess what? It's not gonna happen! Since I am finally coming out of [...]
How to become a Montessori teacher in Japan (and elsewhere)
I've recently begun studying to become a Montessori guide and I have had several people ask me how I am doing this in Japan. I thought I would write a bit about it based on some of the research I have done. This is only my research and my interpretation of the options available in [...]
Cultivating Montessori-friendly Spaces with Multiple Age Children
As someone who lives in a (relatively) small apartment with two adults and three children, this is something I have had to think about from day one. I often remember fondly the days when I only had one toddler in the space and everything was set up for him. Oh, how easy I had it! [...]
What is a Montessori toy?
Thanks to social media popularizing the "natural" aesthetic, Montessori toys are all over the place these days. I should say "Montessori" toys in air quotes because many of these toys are not actually Montessori at all. Unfortunately (or fortunately?) the term Montessori is not copyrighted so anyone can use it to describe their toys, schools, [...]
My Motherhood Tokyo 