We are BACK!!! And this week we are very excited to talk to mother and entrepreneur, Kelly from Namaste with Kelly. She has a background in Special Education and is a certified yoga teacher and a certified kids yoga and mindfulness teacher. She began sharing yoga and mindfulness with children in the community several years ago and currently owns a community learning space called The Connection Corner where she leads groups for children to move, breathe, play, and learn together. Kelly currently teaches yoga at a Montessori School and Forest School and we are so curious to hear what her observations have been with the children she has worked with.

In this episode we deviate from the regularly scheduled program to have a real and honest conversation about what we are struggling with the most right now in our current stages of parenthood. Parenting is just as challenging as it is rewarding, and sometimes adhering to a unique and somewhat radical philosophy can make it feel even harder! Tune in to find out know you're NOT alone, and how insanely grateful we are for your company! 

In this second half of our chat about Montessori's Sensitive Periods we cover the windows for (and importance of) Refinement of the Senses, Grace & Courtesy, Fine Motor Skills, Manners, Writing, Reading, Mathematics, AND the infamous Sense of Order! Tune in and find out why your toddler threw a fit over dinner being served on "the wrong plate!"  

In this two-part episode we discuss the importance of understanding what are known in the Montessori world as the "sensitive periods" in a child's development. What is a sensitive period, why are they important, what are they exactly, and how can I recognize them? This revolutionary application of a universal biological concept in terms of human development can drastically impact your child's experience, as well as your experience as their parent guiding along the way! 

In today's episode, Megan and Rachel discuss the differences between the traditional "Potty Training" method and the lesser-known "Toilet Learning" method. Rachel gives some helpful advice to Megan, who is in the thick of it as we speak! 

Why is independence SO important to development? Why can it be soooo hard?! Join us as we unpack our feelings on independence at the end of a long day of having our toddlers constantly proclaiming, "I DO IT!" 

We finally dig into one of our favorite pillars of the Montessori philosophy and curriculum- Grace & Courtesy. We will discuss what it means, why it's important, and how a toddler who shakes his teacher's hand at the door will grow into a socially confident adult (and maybe even an advocate for change).