Previously I have interviewed Caspar my seven year old about school and Montessori. I thought it would be fun to interview Otis. It has been much more insightful than I had expected! On Friday after school I asked Otis some questions. How was school today? What work did you do? Good. I did metal insets and I had a lesson on something that is really tricky. You need a blindfold and the pink tower and you have to do this (with hand actions) and it’s really tricky work. Me: Did you build the pink tower with the blindfold on? Yes,... Read more →

Today I am answering a few of the most frequently asked questions relating to Montessori in the home. Some of these topics I avoid because they are difficult to answer, not so glamorous, but here it goes... Help! I try to follow my (young) child and his interests but what can I do if he doesn't have any interests? At such a young age (2-4yrs) I would not be too worried if you can't identify any strong interests. When I look back at my children's interests at this age it generally looks like this; garbage trucks (that loud fun truck... Read more →

You know that I recently read and loved The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up. I also wrote about protecting the child's sense of order and how Montessori really supports the theory of less is more, everything in it's place. Since writing this article I have been asked about the children's wardrobe more than anything. It appears many parents are struggling with cupboards overflowing with children's clothing that not only are difficult to manage but are also difficult for the child to use. It's easy for us in some respects because the children's wardrobe has always been pretty minimal. But... Read more →

I've mentioned before that I adore the work of Alice Cantrell. We have a few of her items, they are so whimsical but also factual. We have her Luna Log and it's really inspired us. We hear so much about nature journalling - this is an interesting take! When my boys were younger we would simply try to match the moon. Using Phases of the Moon cards we would try to match the card to the moon and therefore identify which phase it was in. Now the boys are older we have tried some demonstrations of the sun, moon and... Read more →

"It is almost possible to say that there is a mathematical relationship between the beauty of his surroundings and the activity of the child; he will make discoveries rather more voluntarily in a gracious setting than in an ugly one." - Maria Montessori. The Child in the Family. I love flower arranging activities. They are perfect for the home environment as we often have flowers in our garden and who doesn't love a few flower filled vases dotted around the home. We try to use flowers that are in excess in our own garden but we also love our local... Read more →

It's a long weekend here, our football team won the grand final and we found a fantastic new swimming spot at the local dam. Although I did get some water on my camera, while it's totally fixed my photographs from today didn't work out. Today's post is a little fun. Some of my current favourites on Etsy! I hope you enjoy. Sand Tray with Chalkboard Rocker/Balance Board Rainbow Acorn Needle Felting Kit Insect Watercolor Paintings Wooden Tree Swing Sign Language Alphabet Cards Read more →

I made a terrific discovery this week. It was by chance that I came across this product and I cannot believe that I haven't seen it before. Why didn't you tell me? Wikki Stix - the best thing ever! Over the period of a few days our Wikki Stix have remained on our art table. It doesn't dry out and it is completely reusable. It's flexible yet can be cut with scissors. It is non-toxic and is made in the USA. Totally usable and fun for children of all ages. Both boys really surprised me with how much and with... Read more →

I have been following Sveta and her family on Instagram for a while. I find her approach to parenting and Montessori very refreshing. I can't tell you how much I love sharing the journey of other Montessori families. I aways find it so uplifting and inspiring. Today I am thrilled that I can share with you Sveta and her Montessori family. Thank you for sharing your family and story with us. Can you tell us a little about yourself, your family and where you live? My name is Sveta and my husband is Johann. We have two daughters; Maya, who... Read more →