Montessori Play and Learn: A Parent's Guide to Purposeful Play from Two to Six

My daughter will be attending a Montessori preschool in a couple of months [she's 2], and I wanted a practical manual that would introduce me to Montessori methods I could implement at home. This book is full of practical ideas, and is filled with activities and games thatare easy to implement in the home, and as a follow-up to preschool learning. The book covers topics like who is Maria Montessori, what is the essence of the Montessori method,how to use the Montessori method, planning your home around your child[child's bedroom, living room, kitchen, bathroom, hall & stairs, games & activities] , exploring the neighborhood[in the backyard, in the park, in the countryside, in the city, going to school], & discovering about the world[the human family, journeys & explorations, the universe]. There are lots of practical & useful activities & games that one can implement with relative ease in the home or outside. The ideas in this book go a long way to helping stimulate a young child in line with the Montessori method.

I was looking for a good way to teach my preschool son at home using some elements of the Montessori method. However, I wanted to go at my own pace and in a relaxed way. If you need a more regimented and structured Montessori method at home read Elizabeth Hainstock's books. Leslie Britton's book is well-written, concise and hits all the main points. I really like the games and activities designed for children from two to six. I am able to pick and choose and with home materials to teach my son at home. My son is two so he's only able to participate in a few exercises. Can't recommend it enough.

Montessori school can be unbelieveably expensive (approx. 500 dollars per 8 week sessions, and that's just half days!), and your child has to be "approved" in most institutions. Based on the teaching of Maria Montessori, it is designed to help toddlers and young children learn in five simple steps: observation, participation, practice, "eureka" movement, and performance. This learning process can help youngsters be well ahead of the game by the time they go into Kindergarten. While a Montessori school can help give your kids interaction with kids of all ages, you can still apply this method of learning in the home, as Montessori pointed out: "Parents are still the child's first and most important teachers"."Montessori Play and Learn" is a great tool to have in applying this learning method at home. It isn't difficult or complicated but does require dedication to achieve your goal. In other words, buying and reading this book and performing only a handful of the ideas on an irregular basis will not get your child where you'd like him/her to be. Activities are broken down by age groups, and games can be something as simple as putting 10 bottles of herbs and spices on the table for your child to smell and explore. Other tips included exploring the neighborhood, setting the dinner table, allowing them to do tasks (such as applying lip balm) you'd normally do for them (this gives them a sense of accomplishment), and other activities that stimulate our children's inborn motivation to learn. Worth finding a used or out-of-print copy until Crown decides to publish a revised edition.

Parents often wonder what activities they can do with their children to help them learn, this book is crammed with great ideas! The activities are mostly simple to set-up, they are fun for the kids and help kids learn a variety of skills. Every parent of an under-five should own this book.

If parents are the first teachers, and home is the first school, then this is the instruction manual! Great ideas for helping young children learn in a way that they enjoy. Easy to follow examples trancend Montessori-these are activities every parent should do with their child.