As caregivers and/or educators, we all deal with young children who have big feelings and lots of emotions! It is a topic discussed a lot on social media, we see it everywhere today, and it can be overwhelming navigating the new science and guidance on this topic- especially if you are in the thick of it and experiencing some big emotions of your own! Luckily, the Montessori philosophy supports the education of the WHOLE child, and this includes emotional regulation! We are going to dive into that today, and this episode is the first part of a two part episode that covers all the ways the Montessori philosophy prioritizes and empowers emotional regulation.

In this week's Coffee Talk, Megan sits down (with a surprise guest) to chat about her journey to normalization in her brand new Children's House classroom. Megan shares in what ways she has had to evaluate herself, her approach, her priorities, and how building community through a heavy focus on practical life (and grace & courtesy, but more about that another time!). This episode is a fantastic reminder of why practical life is more the heart of the normalization process, and why it is so very important we don't skip over these often tedious lessons and steps!

Tis the season to circle back and re-evaluate our game plans on tackling the topic of Santa Claus as Montessorians!

Laura and Rachel sit down in this episode to discuss their approaches to rectifying the magic and fantasy of the holiday season's most famous character against the focus on truth and reality we strive for the entire rest of the year!

This one covers how the moms are navigating Santa conversations with their alert and inquisitive 4 year olds, along with how they're handling receiving gifts, giving back to the community, and above all else- modeling respect and empathy for others!

You've asked, and we are finally delivering! Laura delves into the topic of early phonics and letter sounds, particularly for children aged three to six, aligning with Montessori principles. Laura explains a bit about how early literacy and phonics is approached in the Montessori setting, as well as discusses the Orton-Gillingham approach to reading instruction, highlighting its multisensory, evidence-based methods. Emphasizing a child-centered, tactile approach to teaching letter sounds, she provides insights into phonetic teaching practices, shares personal anecdotes, and offers practical tips for both parents and homeschoolers. Particularly, she focuses on the importance of building and encouraging literacy by making the learning process fun and engaging for young children.

After a seemingly simple reel goes viral, Laura, Megan, and Rachel sit down to discuss the unexpected increase in followers and social media engagement. The trio explain the philosophy and intent behind their post with nearly 4 million views, address a few of the comments that stood out, and confess how they really feel about being so insanely famous! ;)

In this episode of Coffee Talk with Montessori Moms in the Wild, Rachel, a Montessori-trained mom of three, discusses the challenges and solutions for managing the hectic hours between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. She offers practical tips such as prepping dinner in advance, setting non-negotiable activities for kids, and incorporating engaging evening activities like dance parties and walks to shake it up and begin the wind down process. Rachel emphasizes the importance of mindset shifts and flexibility to create a calmer and more enjoyable evening routine for both parents and children. 

00:00 Introduction to Coffee Talk

00:27 Meet Rachel: A Montessori Mom

00:36 The Challenging Hours: 4 PM to 7 PM

02:46 Strategies for a Calmer Evening

04:11 Non-Negotiables and Dinner Prep

05:18 Outdoor Play and Baby Wearing

08:37 Managing Evening Chores and Dance Parties

10:16 Evening Walks and Bedtime Routine

11:19 Final Thoughts and Tips

12:25 Conclusion and Contact Information

In this episode of Coffee Talk with Montessori Moms in the Wild, Megan reflects on her recent thoughts about appropriate consequences for children's behavior, providing insight into connection and collaboration in both the classroom and at home. Megan emphasizes the importance of understanding children's perspectives, offering practical examples from her experiences with connecting with children before redirecting. She encourages parents to join in their children’s world to foster better problem-solving and cooperation skills, while leading by example on concepts like collaborating and probelm solving. This heartfelt discussion aims to spark a conversation on rethinking how we approach discipline and our long term goals for our children.

00:00 Introduction to Coffee Talk

00:37 Meet Megan: Life Updates and Summer Adventures

02:03 Preparing for the New School Year

06:30 Thoughts on Parenting and Consequences

14:26 Joining and Redirecting: A Parenting Philosophy

22:35 Final Reflections and Outro

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In this episode of Montessori Moms in the Wild, Rachel and Laura, trained Montessori guides and moms, offer comforting and practical advice for parents navigating the back-to-school season. They share personal experiences and tips on creating effective morning routines, managing emotional drop-offs and pick-ups, and facilitating productive family conversations. The Moms emphasize the importance of preparation, emotional support, and open communication with teachers to help children adjust to new school settings. Tune in for relatable insights and strategies that aim to make the transition smoother and more enjoyable for both parents and kids.

In this episode of 'Coffee Talk with Montessori Moms in the Wild', Laura, a Montessori-trained mother of 2, shares insights from an excerpt of the book 'Getting Over Your Parents' by The School of Life. Laura discusses the profound influence of childhood experiences on adult life and the importance of parents recognizing and addressing their own traumas in order to avoid paying them forward. The episode highlights key aspects of effective parenting, including attentiveness, empathy, boundaries, and the power of emotional imprinting during a child's formative years. The episode aims to affirm and support parents in their journey to be better caregivers, aligned with Montessori principles.

00:00 Introduction to Coffee Talk

00:21 Meet Laura: Montessori Mom

00:34 Book Excerpt: Getting Over Your Parents

01:12 The Impact of Childhood Experiences

04:44 Understanding the Role of Parents

09:32 The Importance of Early Childhood

15:21 Qualities of a Good Parent

22:07 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

24:40 Closing Remarks and Call to Action

If you want to read this book yourself, you can find it here!

If you've been listening for a while you already know Rachel's husband works super long hours, leaving Rachel solo from wake up to bed time! Now that she has added a third baby to the mix, Rachel has gotten a lot of questions about how to makes it all work. How does she structure her days? What steps did she need to take to keep everyone safe while meeting the different developmental needs of everyone in the house? Rachel sits down to explain it all in the hopes that she can help other parents out there doing the solo hustle with multiple littles- and zero extra hands!