TODDLER PARENT EDUCATION MADE FUN

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TODDLER PARENT EDUCATION MADE FUN

• Helle Calhoun Pam Dunbar
• The Montessori Academy
• Arlington, Texas

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Opening Activity

• Word Association
• Effective Parent Education

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Purpose

• To look at Montessori parent
• education with a fresh pair of eyes.
• Children learn by doing
• Adults learn by reflecting on
• what theyve done.

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AGENDA

• Rationale for Toddler Parent Education
• Areas of Toddler Parent Education
• Montessori Philosophy/Child Development
• Environmental Design
• Home Environment/Parenting
• Ideas
• Resources
• Reflection Question

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RATIONALE FOR PARENT EDUCATION

• Why do it?

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PARENT EDUCATION GUIDELINES

• Determine purpose and outcomes first select
  activities second
• Vary the format make it interactive and fun
• Prepare the environment by providing
• Pen and paper
• Snacks drinks
• Childcare

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CONTENT OF TODDLER PARENT EDUCATION

• What do we want parents to know and/or be able to
  do?

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AREAS OF TODDLER PARENT EDUCATION

• Montessori Philosophy/Child Development
• Toddler Environmental Design
• Home Environment/Parenting

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MONTESSORI PHILOSOPHY

• What do we want parents to know about Maria
  Montessoris philosophy of toddler education?

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MARIA MONTESSORI QUOTES ACTIVITY

• Resource Look at the Child by Aline D. Wolf

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ACTIVITY DIRECTIONS

• In your group, match the quotes with
• the photos.
• Be ready to share in 10 minutes.

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ACTIVITY DEBRIEF

• How does this activity model Montessori
  principles of learning?
• How can you extend or personalize this activity?

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ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN

• What do we want parents to know about toddler
  classrooms?

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NAME THAT PURPOSE GAME SHOW

• Developed by The Toddler Team at The Montessori
  Academy
• Arlington, Texas

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OCCI SONG PHOTOS

• Developed by The Toddler Team at The Montessori
  Academy
• Arlington, Texas

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ACTIVITY DEBRIEF

• How do these activities model Montessori
  principles of learning?
• How can you extend or personalize these
  activities?

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HOME ENVIRONMENT and PARENTING

• What do we want parents to know, to do, or to do
  differently?

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DEVELOPING OBSERVATION AND REFLECTION SKILLS

• Helping parents to observe, understand, and
  respond appropriately to toddler behavior

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What could be happening (effect)? What are some
possible causes? What are appropriate responses?
Conclusion Different causes lead
to different responses.
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ACTIVITY DEBRIEF

• How does this activity model Montessori
  principles of learning?
• How can you extend or personalize this activity?

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IDEAS

• Look at the Child book by Aline D. Wolf
• Quotes activity
• Match quotes with pictures
• Electronic slide show using photos of classroom
  children (provide parents with cd)
• Thematic Bulletin Board with quotations, articles
  and pictures of children

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MORE IDEAS

• School newsletter articles written by Toddler
  Teachers and Parents
• Tomorrows Child subscriptions for parents
• Name That Purpose game show
• AMS video Following Your Child A Montessori
  Philosophy of Parenting

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MORE IDEAS

• Ask It Basket and Tips for Taming Toddlers
  Booklet
• Madelyn Swifts Discipline for Life workshop
  and Discipline for Life study groups
• Admission Interviews/Classroom Orientation
• Student Progress Reports/Parent Conferences

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Toddler Progress Report
The Montessori Academy
Childs Name______________________________________
Date of Birth____________ Age
______/_______/_______ Teacher(s)_________________
_____________________ Enrollment
Date______________________________________ Confere
nce Date 1st_________ 2nd__________
3rd_________
Toddler Progress Report
Overall Assessment of Progress in five areas of
development Social and Emotional, Physical,
Cognitive, Language and Independence.
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MORE IDEAS

• Lending Library with books audiovisual
  resources
• Be available/develop relationships/build trust
• Family Trips (including camping)
• Adults only gatherings
• Class newsletter/webpage
• Distribute flyers, etc. by email
• E-mail photo of child working plus description of
  work
• Provide home phone numbers of teachers
• At drop-off pick-up, its all about the parents

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RESOURCES

• Look at the Child by Aline D. Wolf
  (www.parentchildpress.com)
• Tomorrows Child subscriptions (800-655-5843)
• Name That Purpose game show developed by The
  Montessori Academy Toddler Team
• AMS video Following Your Child A Montessori
  Philosophy of Parenting

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MORE RESOURCES

• Madelyn Swift Discipline for Life information
• Childright
• 2140 East Southlake Blvd.
• PMB 640
• Southlake, Texas 76092
• Phone [phone]
• Email childright_at_childright.com
• Website www.childright.com
• Helle Calhoun (HCalhoun_at_tmaonline.org)
• Pam Dunbar (PDunbar_at_tmaonline.org)

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Closing Activity

• Word Association
• Effective Parent Education

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REFLECTION QUESTION

• What have you learned about how to follow the
  parent?