Montessori from the Start: The Child at Home, from Birth to Age Three

Paula Polk Lillard · Lynn Lillard Jessen

Dec 2008 · Sold by Schocken

About this ebook

Based on Dr. Maria Montessori's philosophies for nurturing babies and toddlers, this practical and useful guide is brimming with instructions, anecdotes, and encouragement for raising calm, competent, and confident children—from designing the baby’s bedroom to encouraging life skills such as dressing themselves and working both independently and collaboratively.

What can parents do to help their youngest children in their task of self-formation? How does the Montessori method of hands-on learning and self-discovery relate to  newborns, infants, and toddlers? This authoritative and accessible book answers these and many other questions. Its comprehensive exploration of the first three years incorporates the furnishings and tools Dr. Montessori created for the care and comfort of babies.

From the design of the baby's bedroom to the child-sized kitchen table, from food preparation to clothing and movement, the authors provide guidance for the establishment of a beautiful and serviceable environment for babies and very young children. They also introduce concepts and tasks, taking into account children’s ''sensitive periods'' for learning such skills as toilet training.

Written in a clear, engaging style, Montessori from the Start is a must-have for every new parent.

Ratings and reviews

I am an expecting parent and I bought this book to know more about the Montessori method and hopefully learn how to set up our space accordingly. The book addresses how parents can raise kids the montessori way from infanthood, but I find the book too exhaustive. It would have been better if there were photos of suggested set-ups and summary of important points.

Toi la mot tri tue khong khoan nhuong cho cac vi tri tieu cuc.! Boi vay, the chet het de cho bon tre duoc huong con duong tui sang hon.!

So many good and insightful Montessori principles, but the book is written in a very long narration and boring structures.

About the author

PAULA POLK LILLARD and her daughter, LYNN LILLARD JESSEN, cofounded the Forest Bluff School in Lake Bluff, Illinois, a Montessori school for children through the eighth grade. Paula is the principal of the school, and she and Lynn teach the parent child course, a workshop for parents on the Montessori approach for children from birth to age three. They live in Lake Forest, Illinois.