Montessori Parenting: Unveiling the Authentic Self - Softcover

Dr. Jim McFarland; Sonnie McFarland

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0975488708 ISBN 13: 9780975488706

Publisher: Shining Mountain Press, 2010

Synopsis

Montessori Parenting is for all parents who want a happy child! Learn how to create a peaceful and loving home. This book shows parents in simple terms how to implement successful techniques to enhance cooperation. The Montessori Parenting approach is masterfully described in this easy to read book. Each chapter features review questions for reflection. Be a happy parent, live with a happy child! Montessori Parenting: Unveiling the Authentic Self has been honored by the Independent Book Publishers Association. We were recognized as a top book in the parenting category. Award winning authors Dr. Jim & Sonnie McFarland provide a groundbreaking contribution that transforms lives. They weave together important thinkers like: Dr. Maria Montessori Abraham Maslow Daniel Golman Mahatma Gandhi Sri Swami Rama Marshall Rosenberg Thic Nhat han Mihaly Csikzentmihalyi Adults learn how to work with children effectively. The Montessori Parenting book teaches techniques that help parents. Be a happy parent, live with a happy child! When we say Montessori Parenting , it is simply a term we use to describe a style or approach to working with children. It is not necessary to be familiar with the Montessori educational system. Everyone can reap the benefits outlined in this book. In This Book Learn To: Be calm and confident with children Constructively respond to children s behavior Help children develop inner discipline Enhance children s authentic nature Compassionately communicate with children Create environments that enhance children s natural developmental process When parents observe without judging great things can happen Our children are freed to open the doorway of imagination. They can thrive. Each chapter of Montessori Parenting: Unveiling the Authentic Self offers a Suggestion for Follow Through . This is the second prompt from Chapter Three, The Child s Authentic Nature . Did you miss any of the earlier posts in this series? Don t worry, click here to catch up. Today s Suggestion for Follow Through from Montessori Parenting: Unveiling the Authentic Self. Parents Observe Without Judging. Just watch! Record reflections in your Parenting Journal. parents need to look beyond the surface. When I remember to see my kid s Authentic Self, it is empowering. It gives them the opportunity to take charge. It opens the doorway of their own imagination. Let s look at a concrete example from my reflections on Parents Observe Without Judging. Recently my son got his Driver s License. In an effort to foster communication with his sister, I ve asked him to coordinate with her about getting rides. A couple of nights ago my study was disturbed by loud voices. My initial reaction was to break it up. Instead, remembering my Suggestion for Follow Through, I observed without judging. My anxiety urged me to take some deep clearing breaths. As my breath calmed so did my nerves. Right about that time an awareness of laughter came to my ears. It was mixed in with the strident voices. Why was I surprised? My children were working it out. They didn t need me to go rescue them and break it up. It was my own ego that felt the need to do that. Looking back there have been too many times to count when my ego did intrude. At these times my children were robbed of the opportunity to work it out independently. Not judging means keeping our own ego out of our observation as parents. Judgement is contempt prior to investigation. Of course this does not mean that there is never a time for parental intervention. Especially when they were younger it was more needed for me to intervene in their affairs. Even that night events could have gone differently. If the situation had become worse I would have asked them to bring it down a notch .

About this title

About the Author

At Shining Mountains Press we believe in the natural beauty of life, our work is about creating a culture of peace. This means building sustainable cooperative communities that value the spirit. Real peace means inner peace. If anyone wants to know about us, we re all about encouraging all people to honor their own Authentic Self. Even more importantly, learn to see the light of truth in others, especially children. As a family owned business, we work together to shape a future of peace. This hope is based on teaching peace to children, teachers and in our homes and schools. If we want a culture of peace we must discover it within ourselves first and then model that peace to others. In the spirit of one step at a time makes good walking we wish you well as you become the peace you wish to see in others. Sonnie McFarland Director/Consultant 2011 American Montessori Society Living Legacy Sonnie is recognized around the globe as one of the foremost visionaries in the field of education for peace. As a world renowned consultant she has lectured on many topics. Community building, effective parenting, adult centering techniques and peaceful living skills are relevant topics. She has worked in education for more than forty years. This experience includes being a Montessori classroom teacher, head of school and consultant. She is active on many boards and educational committees. She has written and published articles for magazines and has authored several books. In March of 2011, Sonnie was honored by the American Montessori Society as the 2011 Living Legacy. She was recognized for herwork in the field of peace education, community building and classroom management. The American Montessori Society is the largest governing organization for the Montessori community and bestows this honor once a year on an individual who has made significant and positive contributions to the Montessori community. Sonnie began her fascinating journey with children in 1969 as she became a mother and Montessori teacher within the same year. While wondering what career path would bring her interests and passions together, she found Montessori s Own Handbook. Within the first chapter, she knew that she had found her life s work educating children for peace. With a Bachelors degree in Sociology from Brigham Young University completed, Sonnie earned her American Montessori Society teaching credential in 1969. She has taught in early childhood classrooms for over twenty years. She founded and directed the Shining Mountains Montessori Children s Center in Pueblo, CO. After eight years in this role, she served as Head of School at the Montessori School of Denver for over a decade. She is a past member of the American Montessori Society (AMS) Board of Directors as well as the Association of Colorado Independent Schools (ACIS) Board of Directors and is currently the chair of the AMS Peace Committee. Sonnie authored the AMS Peace Education Position Paper. The whitepaper outlines the critical elements that foster education for peace in classrooms and schools. Sonnie is the author of two books: Honoring the Light of the Child: Activities to Nurture Peaceful Living Skills in Young Children and Shining Through: A Teacher s Handbook on Transformation. In addition she co-authored a third book with her husband Dr. Jim McFarland, Montessori Parenting: Unveiling the Authentic Self. She has also written numerous professional articles that have appeared in Montessori Life, Holistic Education Review, The Montessori Reporter, Montessori International & Children of the New Earth. She is highly sought after as a consultant. She works in the areas of peace education, adult centering skills, community building and effective parenting. She also leads workshops, and school retreats. Sonnie is well regarded for her powerful keynote speeches

Review

There s a new book out by Dr. Jim and Sonnie McFarland which is a must have for all parents. Montessori Parenting: Unveiling the Authentic Self is a resource for anyone interested in holistic parenting, who seeks more than a standard how-to parenting book for living with and loving children, who yearns to raise a child whose potential is nourished and whose spiritual self is well cared for. Sonnie and Jim present a model for parenting that is based on the work of Dr. Maria Montessori, a model that affirms the sacredness within each child, an approach that speaks of the child s essential nature, or Authentic Self which is revealed when she is raised with love, respect, and spiritual nurturing. Montessori Parenting has the fine distinction of having been awarded the Independent Publisher 2011 Bronze Award in the category of Parenting. It is a book for all who want to understand the child as a spiritual, loving being with potential much greater than we adults generally recognize. The book looks briefly at Maria Montessori s life, the characteristics of the Authentic Self (known to Montessorians as the traits of the normalized child) and Montessori s philosophical view of the child s place in the universe- a recognition and understanding of the child as a sacred, spiritual being whose hidden potential, when nurtured by parents and educators reveals natural characteristics that otherwise are apt to remain hidden deep in the child s soul. In order to more clearly understand the process of a child s natural development, the McFarlands created The Veil Model, which is explored in Part Two of Montessori Parenting.This model includes the following stages which are clearly and eloquently explained, each stage in its own chapter: Volition- the child is inspired to engage in a particular activity Engagement-sensory stimulation is received as the child is motivated and engaged Integration-information is assimilated by the child Love-the child experiences a moment of self-realization, what she is capable of and In Part Three of Montessori Parenting, the emphasis is on the home, providing parents with concrete ideas for creating and maintaining a home environment that supports the unveiling of the child s Authentic Self. The four areas of the home environment that are covered here are: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. The McFarlands conclude Montessori Parenting with a section devoted to the adult, a gentle reminder that the adult too, has an authentic nature based in compassion, wisdom, and love, and that only when the parent is aware of, and honors her own essential self, will she be able to honor and nurture the child s Authentic Self. Therefore, Part Four is devoted to the discussion of practical skills that will help the adult to nurture her own body, mind, emotions, and spirit. Based on the fundamental tenets of the Montessori philosophy, Jim and Sonnie provide a clearly organized framework for integrating the essential Montessori principals into the home and for enhancing ones understanding of child development. This is a book that provides a necessary philosophical backdrop, as well as practical ideas and information for those who are interested in understanding the Montessori way applied to parenting, and it is written in such a manner as to be accessible to all readers. Non-Montessorians will appreciate the straightforward, comprehensive approach to holistic parenting and any parent who is looking for thoughtful ideas for nourishing the spirit of the child and for creating a home environment based in love and respect will find this a must-have book. The McFarlands have gone to the heart of Maria Montessori s philosophy and method- the unveiling of the child s true and essential self. --Montessori Wise

In Montessori Parenting: Unveiling the Authentic Self, Dr. Jim and Sonnie McFarland present a model for parenting that is based on an understanding of the divine within each child. This approach affirms what the McFarland s call the Authentic Self : the child s essential nature, which is revealed when he is parented with love, respect, and spiritual nurturing. In Part One, the McFarlands provide a brief overview of Maria Montessori s life, describe the characteristics of the Authentic Self (known to Montessorians as the traits of the normalized child), and present Montessori s philosophical view of the child s place in the universe. The Authentic Self is the pure individualized Spirit dwelling within each one of us, as our personal expression of Cosmic Consciousness. The Authentic Self is nothing less than our true nature of love! (p. 62) When there is a recognition of and an understanding of the child as a sacred, spiritual being, and when that understanding is incorporated into parenting and educational experiences, hidden potential is nurtured, revealing natural characteristics that otherwise may remain unseen deep in the child s soul. In order to more clearly understand the process of a child s natural development, the McFarlands created the VEIL Model, which they explore in Part Two of Montessori Parenting. This model includes the following stages) spelling out VEIL): Volition: The child is inspired to engage in a particular activity. Engagement: Sensory stimulation is received as the child is motivated and engaged. Integration: Information is assimilated by the child. Love: The child experiences a moment of self-realization and understands who she is and what she is capable of. At its essence, this is an experience of love. Each of the four steps in the VEIL Model is explained in detail in separate chapters. In Part Three of the book, the emphasis is on the home, providing parents with concrete ideas for creating and maintaining a home environment that supports the unveiling of the child s Authentic Self. The four areas of the home environment that are addressed are physical, mental, environmental, and spiritual. In the physical environment, the authors focus on the need for order, beauty, independence, self-management skills, and the power of touch. To create a nurturing mental environment, emphasis is given to fostering curiosity, providing space for quite time, setting fair and reasonable boundaries, and cultivating creativity. To help parents establish emotionally safe and supportive environments, the authors explore the role of family meals, sharing of feelings, and developing impulse control. Finally, in the spiritual environment, the McFarlands focus on unconditional love, recognizing and reflecting the child s inner light, providing time for silence and gratitude, and fostering awe and wonder. The McFarlands conclude Montessori Parenting with a section devoted to the adult, reminding parents of their own authentic natures, based in compassion, wisdom, and love. Only when a parent is aware of and honors his/her own essential self, they say, will he/she be able to honor and nurture the child s Authentic Self. Part Four is devoted to the discussion of practical skills that will help the adult to nurture his/her own body, mind, emotions, and spirit. Montessori Parenting is for both parents and teachers. Based on the fundamental tenets of the Montessori philosophy, this book provides a clearly organized framework for integrating the essential Montessori principles into the home and enhancing one s understanding of child development. This is a book that provides a philosophical backdrop as well as practical ideas and information for those who are interested in understanding how to apply Montessori philosophy to parenting, and it is written to be accessible to all readers. --Montessori Life Magazine

This book is an in invaluable resource for anyone interested in holistic parenting. Any parent who is looking for thoughtful ideas for nourishing the spirit of the child and for creating a home environment based in love and respect will find this a must-have book. It is a guide for those who are looking for more than a standard how-to parenting book. It is a practical tool for parents who want to nurture a spirit of love and cultivate the potential within the child. Sonnie and Jim McFarland present a model for parenting that is based on the work of Dr. Maria Montessori. It is a model that affirms the sacredness within each child, an approach that speaks of the child s authentic nature, or Authentic Self. Which is revealed when she is raised with love, respect, and spiritual nurturing. Montessori Parenting has the fine distinction of having been awarded a prize in the Independent Book Publishers Association s Parenting category. This is book for all who want to understand the child as a spiritual, loving being with potential much greater than generally recognized by adults. Sonnie and Jim are recognized leaders in the Montessori community worldwide. They provide a comprehensive overview of Montessori s life. They also describe the characteristics of the Authentic Self, known to Montessorians as the traits of the normalized child. Finally, they explore Montessori s philosophical view of the child s place in the universe. Montessori Parenting begins with the recognition of the child as a sacred, spiritual being. When the hidden potential is nurtured by parents and educators it reveals amazing natural characteristics that otherwise are apt to remain hidden deep in the child s soul. In order to understand the process of a child s natural development the McFarlands created The VEIL Model.This model has four stages. These are eloquently explained by the authors, each stage in its own chapter. Volition - the child is inspired to engage in a particular activity. Engagement - sensory stimulation is received as the child is motivated and engaged. Integration - information is assimilated by the child. Love - the child experiences a moment of self-realization, sensing what she is capable of. In Part Three of Montessori Parenting, the emphasis is on the home. Parents are provided with concrete ideas for creating and maintaining a home environment that supports the unveiling of the child s Authentic Self. The four area of home environment that are covered are: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. The McFarland s conclude Montessori Parenting with a section devoted to the adult. They offer a gentle reminder that adults have an authentic nature based on compassion, wisdom, and love. Only when parents honors their essential self will they be able to nurture the child s Authentic Self. Part Four is devoted to the discussion of practical skills that help the adult to nurture her own body, mind, emotions, and spirit. Based on the fundamental tenets of the Montessori philosophy, Jim and Sonnie provide a clearly organized framework for integrating the essential Montessori principles into the home and for enhancing one s understanding of child development. This is a book that provides a necessary philosophical backdrop. It is full of practical ideas and information. Especially for those who are interested in understanding the Montessori philosophy applied to parenting. It is written in such a manner as to be accessible to all parents and educators of young children, not jut Montessorians. Montessori Parenting is a term that describes a style or approach to working with children. It is not necessary to be familiar with the Montessori educational system to reap the benefits outlined in this book. Non-Montessorians will appreciate the straightforward , comprehensive approach to holistic parenting. -Cathleen Haskins --Montessori Foundation

Edition details

• Publisher: Shining Mountain Press
• Publication date: 2010
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0975488708
• ISBN 13: 9780975488706
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1