Child of the Redwoods: Montessori Parenting

Ever feel like Montessori is a game of ping pong? *Ping* It's all about following precise lessons and materials!, *Pong* it's about letting kids do whatever they want all day.Well, put those table tennis paddles down, friends! Montessori is NEITHER a strict script NOR a total free-for-all. It's a balance, a sweet spot of freedom within structure.

Montessori is not something you unwrap and serve. And most definitely doesn't include a plastic toy. So if you've tried it and felt like it didn't “work", well -- friends -- you're not alone—and the problem isn't you or your child.In this episode, we're sharing what actually makes Montessori work and why treating it like a boxed curriculum leads so many parents to confusion, frustration, and self-doubt.Because Montessori isn't fast food. It's home cooking. And YOU are the chef.

Montessori is about following the child... right? Then why do so many of us feel completely lost when we try? In this episode, we're unpacking one of the biggest misconceptions in Montessori homeschooling: the idea that “following the child” means stepping back entirely. We get it! You're trying so hard to respect your child's independence and let them lead—but instead of feeling confident, you're wondering if you're doing enough. Or anything at all. Here's the truth no one talks about enough: Montessori isn't passive. It's deeply intentional. Following the child doesn't mean letting go of structure—it means creating it with purpose.

You can have all the Montessori knowledge. The shelf. The printables. The golden beads. But if you skip this one skill? Your homeschool won't thrive. In this episode, Aubrey and David reveal the most essential—and most overlooked—skill in Montessori homeschooling: observation. Not lesson planning. Not curriculum shopping. Observation.You'll learn why focusing on how to teach matters more than what to teach. When you observe first and teach second, your homeschool shifts from chaos to clarity. You stop second-guessing. Your child feels seen. And every lesson lands exactly when they're ready for it.This is part 3 in our series on The Montessori Homeschool Blueprint.

Have you ever felt like you're doing everything “right” with Montessori - buying the materials, setting up the shelves, giving lessons - yet it still doesn't seem to work?In this episode of Montessori Power Hour, Aubrey and David reveal the number one reason parents get stuck when trying Montessori at home. Spoiler: It's not about your effort. It's about missing the method!Plus, we celebrate Earth Day with Mr. Bunny, sharing fun, Montessori-aligned nature activities your child will love.

As Montessorians, we believe the method has value for humans at every stage of life, starting at the earliest moments and continuing on until our final days. However, there are definitely periods when we are showing signs of readiness for something new. What are those signs? How do we know when our toddlers are ready to begin their journey with the Primary materials? Join Aubrey and David on YouTube as they explore this (very frequently asked) topic!  To learn more about our work, visit us at www.childoftheredwoods.com.

Something strange happens in the Primary years that doesn't happen to us as adults, and it has to do with order. No, this is not the same thing as tidiness, so step aside Marie Kondo, although we share your love of containers for things that spark joy! Understanding the child's sensitivity to order is key, so join us for an episode all about how to engage your Primary child. Plus, we'll be featuring our stegosaurus plates activity from our Constellation theme Dinosaur! To learn more about our work, visit us at www.childoftheredwoods.com.

In this episode, Aubrey and David talk about ways to make your Valentine's Day celebrations a little more Montessori. They also teach a simple -- yet enormously satisfying -- work that you can quickly pull out for your kids. It lends itself to Montessori scissor precision practice + geometrical explorations, and...the results are always amazing! Say hello to concentric hearts!  For more Montessori magic, visit us at www.childoftheredwoods.com.

Little brains learn MORE when little fingers are involved! Join us Live as we talk about hands-on learning that is inherent in Montessori. We'll discuss the 10 core subject areas that are featured in all of our programs, and we have an Awesome Lesson for you! We're going to give you a sneak peek into our latest theme Pigment and show you how a simple prism in your window can be a HUGE opportunity for learning. For more about our work, visit us online at www.childoftheredwoods.com.

Nothing invites a child to a lesson like a good old fashioned MYSTERY. In Montessori, this is actually a key teaching tool, and hands-down one of our favorites! Join us for a Live chat on YouTube (or watch the replay!) as we talk about how to incorporate more

In this episode, Aubrey and David talk about how to beat the winter blues with some fun, seasonally-inspired lessons.  For more Montessori magic, visit us at www.childoftheredwoods.com.

Join Aubrey and David as they discuss one of Maria Montessori's greatest works -- The Secret of Childhood! This is part 2 of 4 and covers chapters 8 to 17. To learn more about our work, visit us online at www.ChildoftheRedwoods.com

Join Aubrey and David as they discuss one of Maria Montessori's greatest works -- The Secret of Childhood! This is part 1 of 4. To learn more about our work, visit us online at www.ChildoftheRedwoods.com

In the modern world, most of us don't darn our socks because buying new ones is affordable - and because it seems daunting. But taking the time to teach your child basic sewing skills may have you rethinking your willingness to fix fabric rather than replace it by punching the buy button. With confident skills, your child will find sewing pleasant and extremely purposeful. And you only need a few materials to make it happen. Join us for an awesome lesson on sewing. We'll be making a craft your child can gift to others or (if you celebrate) hang on their Christmas tree in the upcoming season.  Suggested follow-ups to this activity include the FOLK and CRAFT themes: https://childoftheredwoodsmembers.com/product-category/thematic-packs/ Learn more at https://www.ChildoftheRedwoods.com

Wanna see a magic trick? Like a real deal one that can't be explained away? Get a magnet and join us on YouTube for a free Awesome Lesson! We'll show you how to teach this simple yet inherently mysterious concept. More experiments with magnets can be found in the Constellation theme Magnetic: https://childoftheredwoodsmembers.com/product/magnetic-theme/  Learn more about our work at ChildoftheRedwoods.com

In this special Spooky Season episode, Aubrey and David talk about how to help Littles navigate a creepy crawly holiday and why less is almost always more. Visit www.childoftheredwoods.com for free and low cost Montessori resources for your home.

Have you ever wondered what happens in Montessori Elementary schools? It's a lot of TIMELINE work. Today we are discussing a most awesome lesson that is a central part of our 1st-3rd grade Montessori curriculum: the Timeline of Life. There is an effective way to teach it and a not-so-effective way to teach it. We will show you how to give this lesson in a way that your child really, really gets the concept! To learn more about our work, visit www.childoftheredwods.com

One can be fun, but two is me & you! Teaching your child the difference between odd and even is a game you can play over and over in different ways. In this video, Aubrey and David discuss the classic Odd and Even lesson and a few fun variations. Learn more about our work at www.childoftheredwoods.com

In every child's life, there comes a point at which they want to learn to…use scissors! While these common artistic tools may seem daunting, Aubrey and David are here to help you with a clear and concise sequence for all your scissor-skill needs! After this, your child should be ready to cut pretty much anything! Find out more at https://www.childoftheredwoods.com

one of the most essential skills: blending consonants and vowels together to make words. Join Aubrey and David to learn how! For more tips and lessons, check out our website: https://www.childoftheredwoods.com where you can get your very own Vowel Tree in our Shop: https://childoftheredwoodsmembers.com/product/vowel-tree/

Land and water and air...it's the stuff our planet Earth is made of! This very popular lesson is simple and sometimes overlooked. Yet it is SO IMPORTANT because we are teaching a lot of concepts that build your child's core knowledge base for future connections across the curriculum. Come learn why - and how to give this awesome lesson to maximum effect. Join Aubrey and David in a conversation about Land, Water, and Air! 

Now I know my ABC's...won't you please play a GAME with me? Singing the alphabet song, cute as it is, does not teach your child how to read. What does? Matching the initial sound of a word to the letter it is represented by! The Alphabet Roll is a fun, intuitive way for your child to practice their sounds. Plus, it's a sequencing activity, which is great for cognitive development! Join us on YouTube to learn how to give this AWESOME reading lesson to your child at home. ...And now your child REALLY knows their ABC's!

Don't get stuck! Join Aubrey and David as they discuss one of their favorite Montessori lessons -- How to Glue! They talk about how to give the lesson, what materials you'll need, and why it's so awesome! As always, remember to monitor your Littles when doing lessons that involve small objects, like the glue containers referenced in the Live. To learn more about Child of the Redwoods, visit us at www.childoftheredwoods.com.

Living! Nonliving! Seems pretty simple, right? In actuality, this is the first concept covered in a traditional biology class, and it's not so straightforward! Come join Aubrey & David in a lively discussion as we show you how to give this classic, AWESOME Montessori lesson to your child. Want more Montessori? Download our list of Montessori Essentials here: https://www.childoftheredwoods.com/essentials Episode Note: Unfortunately, YouTube Live crashed just before we wrapped the episode. You'll still get the full lesson, but things end rather suddenly.

You've got the whole world in your hands! Nothing brings to life the shape, size, and orientation of our planet quite like a physical globe. In this episode, Aubrey and David discuss what makes globes so essential, how Montessorians use them, and why digital versions just don't cut it.  Globes are just one of Child of the Redwoods' 21 essential Montessori materials. To download the full list, go to www.childoftheredwoods.com/essentials. 

They're colorful. They're playful. They're joyful. They're… a geometry lesson?! It's true! The study of Geometry in Montessori is as much about the art and beauty of shapes as it is the math, and nothing quite exemplifies that like the geometry sticks. Join Aubrey and David Live as they explore this often underappreciated but none the less amazing Montessori essential.  Geometry sticks are just one of our Montessori essentials. For a free printable version of the complete list, head over to www.childoftheredwoods.com/essentials.

Montessori had a....FARM?! Yes, she really did. She loved farms and all they had to offer children. She taught children the names of the animals, she encouraged children to work outside in the garden growing and harvesting food to eat, and she also used it - (I kid you not!) - for GRAMMAR lessons! Yup, a toy farm is a MONTESSORI ESSENTIAL.

Tantrums, bedtime power struggles, whining, frenetic hyperactivity! In our modern culture, we complain about parenting littles a LOT. And it's warranted! With all the unrealistic expectations we place on ourselves and our children? We are stressed -TF- out! No wonder we can't keep our cool. Fortunately, the Montessori method offers some blissful balms and soothing salves to ease you into a more peaceful way of life. Join Aubrey and David for a conversation about finding your calm...with Montessori as we spotlight Shweta, a member of our Montessori community. Head over to childoftheredwoods.com/essentials to get our free downloadable copy of the 21 Montessori Essentials you should own.

Books, books, books! You know your child needs them, but what kind is best? In this episode, David and Aubrey discuss why - and how - you should be using nonfiction books in your home with your children. In fact, nonfiction books are an essential material for a Montessori home! Head over to childoftheredwoods.com/essentials to get our free downloadable copy of the 21 Montessori Essentials you should own.

If we want to raise children who can one day not only understand the political conflicts between nations but also who can see both perspectives, we need to raise global citizens. In Montessori, we intentionally expose children to many cultures that are similar and different from theirs and infuse our lessons with positivity and compassion. One way we do this is by studying flags. In this episode, David and Aubrey explain why flags are included in our Montessori Essentials list and how to use them in your home. Head over to www.childoftheredwoods.com/essentials to get our free downloadable copy of the 21 Montessori Essentials you should own.

Is there such a thing as a Montessori...unschooler? You bet there is! In this episode, David and Aubrey give insights into why unschooling and Montessori are a great match for homeschooling and how you can get started with this approach in your own home. Join Aubrey and David in a discussion about unschooling as they spotlight a member of their Montessori homeschooling community.  For more about Montessori and sign up for our free resources, please visit Child of the Redwoods at www.childoftheredwoods.com/free.

Every home needs a xylophone...or something like it! Teaching music to your child using the Montessori method can be intuitive, and you don't need to be a musician yourself to be successful. Join us as we deep-dive into the elusive Montessori Bells and make it much more accessible for modern families. This is just one of our Montessori Essentials. Get our FREE list of 21 Essentials Montessori materials at www.childoftheredwoods.com/essentials

Every home needs a foundation, and so does your homeSCHOOL. Our foundation is the Montessori method - but it's also embracing nature and our family's intentions. They all weave together to create the most beautiful beginning and reason for every lesson we teach our children. Join Aubrey and David in a conversation about how to create the best foundation for your child at home. Learn more about our Primary and Lower Elementary courses at ChildoftheRedwoods.com

The colored beads are one of the most beloved materials in Montessori education, and they're worth every bit of the praise. Join Aubrey and David as they explore the many, many, MANY wonderful qualities of the colored beads. This is just one of our Montessori Essentials. Get our FREE list of 21 Essentials Montessori materials at www.childoftheredwoods.com/essentials  

Maria Montessori developed her method for children with an emphasis on practical life activities before the invention of the television, and yet children are still called to the real, purposeful work that this subject area offers. Modern parents, stressed by our fast-paced world and inundated with techy solutions for every possible problem typically look to children's cartoons for support and entertainment. They bemoan how addictive screens are. However, practical life activities offer a nurturing and educational alternative to keeping little hands busy. Plus, they are addictive as well: in a good way!  Join Aubrey and David in a discussion about practical life in the modern age as they spotlight a member of their Montessori homeschooling community.  For more about Montessori and sign up for our free resources, please visit Child of the Redwoods at www.childoftheredwoods.com/free.

It's an investment most Montessori families have zero regret over: a skeleton model of the human body. Why? Because teaching your child the names of BONES is so much freaking fun! Join Aubrey and David as they talk about the unexpected delights of having a literal skeleton in your closet to bring out for Montessori anatomy lessons. This is just one of our Montessori Essentials. Get our FREE list of 21 Essentials Montessori materials at www.childoftheredwoods.com/essentials

Shapes are all around us, and when we look through our 2-D imaginary glasses… Your dining table is probably a square, rectangle, ellipse, or circle. Your bookshelf is probably a series of rectangles that makes a larger rectangle. Your windows could be rectangles made up of a bunch of squares. Your rug might be an ellipse. We could keep going on and on! By introducing the shapes in a geometric cabinet (one of our 21 Montessori Essentials!), your child could not only learn their shapes…they grow their brains! Find the whole list here: www.childoftheredwoods.com/essentials

Maria Montessori warned teachers and parents not to think of children as empty vessels to be filled or molded. No Indeed! Children are born with an incredible ability to self-educate and learn! The adult's responsibility is, instead, to create a supportive environment, observe their work, and let their insatiable curiosity lead the way. The principle is fundamental to Montessori's work, but even more than a century after she first formulated it, the idea remains as controversial as it is misunderstood. Join Aubrey and David as they talk about how to strike the balance between guidance and control. For more about Montessori and sign up for our free resources, please visit Child of the Redwoods at www.childoftheredwoods.com/free.

If you were raised in a traditional school system, you probably remember grammar worksheets. Circle the verbs. Count the adjectives. Zzzzzzz….SNORE! In Montessori, we make Grammar come alive with silly pantomime games, cool metaphors, and the fabulous grammar symbols. Come learn a better way to teach grammar to kids at any age! The grammar symbols are a Montessori essential in our book. Get the full list of essentials on our website at www.ChildoftheRedwoods.com/essentials

A Montessori homeschool without a good art supply is really missing out on a lot of crafty fun! Not only can you DIY your own materials, art is a perfect pathway to a million practical life activities that strengthen your child's fine motor skills. Are you ready to fill the PERFECT art cabinet? Join us as we give tips and tricks for gathering the right art supplies for your Montessori homeschool. Art supplies are just one of our Montessori Essentials. Get our FREE list of 21 Essentials Montessori materials at www.childoftheredwoods.com/essentials

Homeschooling can become a BIG part of your life, so how do people who are working part-time or even full-time manage to do both? In this episode, Aubrey and David talk about balancing work and homeschooling and explore how one of their members, Stacy, manages her own balancing act. Want more Authentic Montessori in your family's life? Take our free quiz to find out which Child of the Redwoods program is right for you: www.childoftheredwoods.com/decide

Linear calendars are a wonderful way of helping kids "see" how time passes. Unlike traditional calendars, which lay out the days in a grid, linear calendars let us STREEETCH the whole month out in a single row (aka, linearly). Just add events and, viola', Montessori Magic! Join Aubrey and David as they discuss linear calendars in all their timely glory. Linear calendars are just one of our essential Montessori materials. Want a list of all? Download your own FREE copy at https://www.childoftheredwoods.com/essentials

From the humblest of materials can come the greatest of lessons. Case in point – the houseplant! There are more incredible Montessori lessons centered around a single plant than you can shake a stick at. Join David and Aubrey as they run down the many, many reasons why plants have rooted themselves in their Montessori Essentials list. Want a copy of our entire 21 essential Montessori materials? Download your own FREE copy of our full list of Montessori Essentials at https://www.childoftheredwoods.com/essentials

Rain or shine. Wind or snow. There's always a way to play! Join Aubrey and David as they discuss ways to make sure your little ones get their daily dose of exercise, gross motor skill, and fun no matter the season. They'll also share a peek into the daily life of an amazing Montessori family! Want Authentic Montessori in your family's life? Take our free quiz to find out which Child of the Redwoods program is right for you: www.childoftheredwoods.com/decide

Teach your child to WRITE before they learn to READ. Here's how. Everyone wants to teach their child to read. Literacy is a crucial life skill! But how? ...in 100 easy lessons? ...with baby flashcards? ...apps or an online subscription? Don't buy the hype. Maria Montessori discovered a learning-to-read strategy that works for just about every child in just about every language, and it involves a simple, easily DIY-able material: the moveable alphabet. But first, you need to understand that before we can teach reading, we must first teach WRITING. On YouTube Live today, David and I will discuss how to use a movable alphabet (one of our 21 Essential Materials) and how to easily incorporate one into your daily life. Everyone is welcome! The Moveable Alphabet is just one of the 21 essential Montessori materials we love. Download your own FREE copy of our full list of Montessori Essentials at https://www.childoftheredwoods.com/essentials

Not every Montessori material calls to every child. This is one reason why there are so many materials in a classroom. Every child gets to choose the work that makes their heart sing. But as a homeschool mama and a classroom teacher, there is one material that is almost sure to be a huge winner at some point in a child's life: the humble (and mighty!) scrubber. Scrubbers are just one of the 21 essential Montessori materials we love. Download your own FREE copy of our full list of Montessori Essentials at https://www.childoftheredwoods.com/essentials

Sometimes materials sit on the shelves for a while, and while initially interesting, they can start feeling stale. What's a Montessori parent to do?! Aubrey & David will illuminate this common issue while sharing a snapshot into the daily life of a Montessori family. Get our list of 21 Essential Montessori materials here: www.childoftheredwoods.com/essentials Take our quiz to find out which Child of the Redwoods program is right for you: www.childoftheredwoods.com/decide

The geometric solids are a Montessori Essential in our book! They not only give children a concrete impression of 3D shapes, they open up the door to understanding their world in a new way! Everyone is welcome - this is a free 30 minute event, so invite your friends! Geometric solids are just one of the 21 essential Montessori materials we love. Download your own FREE copy of our full list of Montessori Essentials at https://www.childoftheredwoods.com/essentials

We've all seen those perfect Montessori shelves on social media, but do you really need them to "do Montessori"? Spoiler Alert -- You Don't! Join Aubrey and David as they discuss strategies for shelving solutions for EVERY BUDGET! They'll also highlight a real-life Montessori parent and Child of the Redwoods alum Adriana! To learn more about our work and get our free resources, visit us online at www.childoftheredwoods.com.

Golden beads are a staple for Montessori families! They're easily DIY-able, and easy to grab when you do addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division with your child. They are truly treasures, and Aubrey and David can't wait to talk about why they are a Montessori Essential. To learn more about our work and get our free resources, visit us online at www.childoftheredwoods.com.

Playdough, homemade salt dough, or anything else moldable lets your kids create their own topographical maps and explore how these features appear on the earth. There are so many ways we can use a moldable medium to teach physical science! In this episode, Aubrey and David discuss why this childhood staple is actually a brilliant material. To learn more about our work and get our free resources, visit us online at www.childoftheredwoods.com.