The new year is here and for a lot of us that means a time of reset after a break from our regular routines. In this this week's episode, Nicole explores a couple of ways that she likes to reset her home and get back to Montessori roots following a time of disruption. 

Have you ever felt a gut urge to just say "no" to your child without really stopping to think about why? In this episode, Nicole and Amy explore those feelings, what they mean for us for adults, and how to balance that need for control with our child's need to explore. Why do our children need to explore? How can we make that exploration possible while still balancing our own needs? This podcast dives deeply into exploration, control, and our response as prepared adults. 

As parents to multiple neurodivergent children, Nicole and Morgan discuss how parenting with Montessori influences neurodivergent kids. We discuss a shift in our expectations toward our children, how we advocate for our children in schools, with therapists, or doctors. We finish by answering some listener questions about how we deal with specific situations.   Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2023/10/NeurodivergenceandMontessoriPodcast.html 

Montessori classrooms are filled with beautiful materials to engage children and spark learning opportunities. But, if your children are going to school, do you really need to own these materials at home? In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy discuss some of the reasons you might consider owning Montessori materials and which to bring home. We also explore some reasons you might skip these materials altogether.  Show Notes: ...

How do sports and Montessori mix? How to we reconcile the competitive nature of some children's sports with our desire to respect our children's developmental needs? How do we give our children new experiences and avoid over scheduling? In this much asked for episode, Nicole and Amy dive into their experiences with children's sports - the good and the bad. As Montessori parents, we share how we try to follow our children's interests but still provide balance and respect.  Show Notes here: ...

Come along with us through our Montessori morning with our toddlers. Montessori morning routines look like activities, materials, outings, and the work of the adult all mixed together. This week Nicole and Amy focus on what it looks like in their Montessori homes to guide their toddlers. From school drop offs, to phone calls, and shelf work, get an in-depth look at how toddlers get their day started. Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2023/09/Montessori-Toddler-Mornings-Podcast.html

We know that young children learn through concrete experiences, but what about as they move into the second plane of development? In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy deep dive into the importance of the imagination, reading a quote directly from Maria Montessori. We discuss how to spark the imagination to ignite a child's interests in the elementary years and how that can effect our parenting, our homes, and their education.  Show Notes: ...

We're back for season 4 of Shelf Help! Nicole and Amy are starting off this new season of our Montessori parenting podcast with some tips for a successful back to school. As Montessori parents, they share ways to help your children before school, tips on how to come home peacefully, and tips for you in dropping kids off at school for the first time.  Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2023/09/BackToSchoolMontessoriPodcast.html 

Artificial Intellegence technology is starting to influence many different areas of our lives. But what does AI think of Montessori?! And how much can AI get right?! In this week's Montessori parenting podcast, Nicole and Amy challenge AI in a true and false game. Listen to see how much we agree and disagree with AI created Montessori statements.  Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2023/07/MontessoriTrueFalseParentingPodcast.html

Amy is back with her BIG news and so in this week's episode we are talking about how to support children as we navigate big life changes. Whether it's a move, the end of a school year, or some other change, here are some practical tips for helping manage feelings, responsibilities, and logistics of a big life transition for your child. From the importance of practical life, to holding space for feelings and not leaning into perfectionism, let's help our children navigate changes to their...

It is normal for toddlers to have a lot of feelings. Sometimes they experience extreme joy, and other times it's frustration, anger, and sadness. In this Montessori parenting podcast, Amy and Nicole talk specifically about toddler tantrums. As the prepared adult, we need to respond to tantrums with respect and love. In this episode, we discuss how to address your child's emotions, how to approach an upset child, and the role that our environment plays in causing tantrums.  Show Notes: ...

For Nicole and Amy, spring is here and so is nicer weather. So they are getting outside with their Montessori kids as much as possible. In this week's mini-episode, Nicole and Amy share their top three favorite outdoor activities. These Montessori friendly choices are fun for kids of all ages and can be done in a variety of spaces to work for your climate and space.  Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2023/05/MontessoriHomeOurOutdoorFavoritesPodcast.html

It is our 100th episode of our Montessori parenting podcast! We want to thank all of you that have been with us over these last three years and celebrate with a listener Q&A! In this episode Nicole and Amy answer a variety of your Montessori parenting questions. We chat about everything from toddler mealtimes to swearing and our thoughts on the Montessori IG community.  Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2023/04/100EpisodesMontessoriPodcast.html 

Lets play a game: Montessori this or that! On this week's Montessori parenting podcast, Nicole and Amy make some choices! Do we pick a weaning cup or a child's knife? A little kitchen or the adult height? A wooden rainbow or unit blocks? A Nugget or a Pikler Triangle? Come listen and find out some hot takes on some popular Montessori friendly topics and products!  Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2023/04/MontessoriPodcastThisorThat.html 

Maria Montessori calls on parents to trust their children with their own development. But, in practice, that is really hard to do, especially with how much we love our children. In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy unpack a Montessori quote about love, fault-finding, trust, and redirection. We talk about some of our success with trust and some of the areas where we are challenged to truly follow our children.    Show Notes:...

Elementary-aged children have big plans and big ideas! It is the work of the second plane child to act on these ideas and as Montessori parents we need to scaffold their success. In this week's episode Nicole and Amy share some of their joy and frustration in supporting their second plane, upper elementary kids when those big ideas come up at the last minute.  Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2023/03/ElementaryProjectandPlanningPodcast.html 

In this week's episode, Nicole is chatting with her husband, Morgan, about Montessori parenting. As parents we share how we believe Montessori has influenced our parenting styles, our relationships, and how we have grown together alongside our children. This week, we answer some listener questions and talk about everything from children's sports, to colicky babies and how we make time for date night. 

There are so many things to think about, decide, and hold in our heads as a parent. This week Nicole and Amy are shedding some light on the invisible labor of being a Montessori parent. We explore some general examples along with some Montessori specific examples of this work.  We also discuss how this mental load effects us and how we balance this labor with meeting our own needs.    Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2023/03/MontessoriParentingMentalLoadPodcast.html 

Using a Montessori floor bed with an infant is one unique feature to Montessori parenting. In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy deep dive into Montessori floor beds. We discuss Dr. Montessori's own words about floor beds and our own "whys" for using floor beds. Plus we'll share some practical tips on how to use a floor bed or transition to a floor bed in your Montessori home.    Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2023/02/MontessoriFloorBedsPodcast.html 

We love being Montessori parents, but that doesn't mean our views on certain Montessori topics, materials, or "rules" hasn't changed over time. There's no one way that Montessori at home needs to look. In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy explore how we have been flexible in some areas of our Montessori parenting and our Montessori homes, how we may have changed over time, and how to let go of the guilt around being a "perfect" Montessori parent.    Show Notes: ...

Parents love their children intensely and that love often leads us to question our children's behavior, intentions, and interests. This week, Nicole and Amy discuss a Montessori quote about probing a child for their "secret." As Montessori parents, we explore some of the secrets that children hold - from babies through elementary years - and how we can approach children in a way that honors the secrets of their development.   Show Notes: ...

Often we think about parenting as joyful, busy, and interesting but the truth is that parenting can be just down right boring. On this week's episode, Nicole and Amy are talking about the boredom that they sometimes feel as Montessori parents. We shed light on this important topic and discuss some of the reasons why prepared adults might feel bored and some of the ways that we try to combat those feelings in our own lives.  Show...

In our last episode for 2022, Nicole and Amy reflect on 2022 and their unique relationships with using Montessori at home. We share how Montessori has supported, changed, and challenged us this year. Plus, a look at how we hope to move forward into 2023. Happy New Year and we will be back in January. Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2022/12/ReflectingMontessoriYear2022.html

Come make a Waldorf star with us while we chat about preparing our homes for the holidays! In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy are sharing practical ways that they prepare their homes for practical life work, extra toys, new experiences, and all the busyness that happens around the holidays. Holidays looks different for everyone, but with a little preparation it can be a much easier, less stressful, and more joyful experience for everyone.  Show Notes: ...