Montessori Tides School – Jacksonville Beach, FL

Today’s parents are inundated with thousands of resources on Potty Training. This plethora of resources, representing so many people with differing back grounds and experiences, offers contradictory advice and too often leads parents to find themselves, delaying this developmental milestone. Add to the confusion over what or who’s advice to follow, the frustration so frequently experienced by parents who” just aren’t ready yet,” and the task of “training” can be transformed from a joyful  journey to a tedious and challenging experience.

The Montessori way to Toileting is a liberating approach, freeing both parent and child from pressure facilitated through the parent’s efforts, and allowing the process to be a natural one which grows out of the child’s interest, and a desire for independence and self-respect.  We are thus continuing to line up the prepared environment with the developmental needs of the

Concentration: The hand and the mind in purposeful activity

One of the most calming activities for a child is concentration. This does not include passive, non-participatory concentration such as watching television or watching videos. The action must be something, which is controlled by the child so she can repeat it as often as necessary, and it must challenge her body as well as her mind.

The choice of purposeful activity is not as important as the level of concentration brought forth. Deep concentration can occur while digging in the sand, washing carrots, stringing beads, coloring, or doing a puzzle. The Montessori adult gives lessons, which are well thought out, logical and clear; she creates an environment, which fosters work, and she is always on the lookout for a child beginning to concentrate. When this happens she protects the child from interruption