I want the best for my child. But doesn’t anyone?
When I was pregnant, I liked to picture my baby-in-the-making running towards me at the end of a fun day at school. And it got me thinking. What do I want for her? Is there any alternative to the regular curriculum? I am not sure why I was interested in something potentially different for her but I was/am.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, I would like to provide her with as much opportunities as possible to speak French and go to a French daycare if at all possible.But what else?
I am currently ready “How Smart is Your Baby?” by Doman which is a very interesting book. Some of the activities suggested for babies aren’t always realistic but I enjoy knowing more about ways of developing my baby girl’s potential. We have been using flashcards and she seems to be very interested in them.
On the other hand, I have started to look into Dr. Maria Montessori’s philosophy of education and I am intrigued, excited and overwhelmed.
There are three English Montessori schools here (with French initiation) on the island but they only offer education from 16 months and up.
Until then, what can I do for her? Is there some kind of “curriculum” for young infants?
I am not sure where to start. when to start. if I should start at all.
I would love some feedback from parents sending their children to Montessori schools or homeschooling the Montessori way. And for those who are against or not interested in this philosophy of education, please share why ! Thank you !
Sixtine et Victoire 
I think that montessori schooling give a child a better leg up. But even out here on the west coast, you can’t find anything for children under three. And the wait lists are for the ones I’ve looked at anyway, are almost three years. So they must be doing something right.
Because of the weird hours my husband works, we haven’t needed to send DD to any kind of childcare yet, so I can’t really comment on that, but one thing I’ve found useful is a little book I got second-hand (it was first published in 1979) called Learningames for the First Three Years by Joseph Sparling & Isabelle Lewis. It goes through the rough sequence of skills/emotions a baby learns in that time, and nice simple ways to support them to do so. A lot of the ideas are completely obvious after the fact, but don’t always occur to us beforehand! None of it takes fancy/expensive equipment, either.
Thank You ! I will definitely check it out !
I find totally normal you want the best for your daughter. Montessori seems to be an outstanding school. When I’ll be mother, I don’t know yet in what kind of institution I’d like to put my children in, but I think I’d like them to blossom in something (art, language) and keep doing it later if they really like what they do.
♥thanks for the like.
Montessori is for everyone, everywhere.
It is suprisingly simple ( and I say utterly glorious), but sadly it cannot be summed up in a few bullet points.
You might want to consider reading “montessori from the start” by Paula Polk Lillard.
Montessori starts at birth as a way of being. The traditional schooling begins later.
I will check out the book you suggested. Have you read “How to raise an amazing child the Montessori way?” If so, would you recommend it?
I was interested in buying it. Thank you !
Yes, I own it, and recommend it, even for parents who don’t end up sending their child to Montessori school.
Great ! I will get this one first.
I’ve ended up taking the bits I like out of different methods. I love the fine motor skill activities of Montessori, you can start these things around 6 or 9 months, things like opening boxes, putting things inside things, etc. I love the open-ended imagination toys of Waldorf, and I love the early teaching ideas of Doman. Take what you like!z
I think that is what I will be doing. Doing what works best for us – and leave the rest !
Oops, didn’t mean to have a z at the end. My daughter is putting things on the keyboard..!