Shelf Help: Recent Episodes
Nicole Kavanaugh
Parenting is tough these days; it can feel even harder when you're doing it alone. That's why we're here - this is Shelf Help, where Montessori and parenting meet. Join Nicole Kavanaugh, Amy Dorsch, and friends to chat about Montessori, kids, mom life, and all the joy in between.
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: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2023/10/UsingMaterialsAtHomeMontessori.html
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: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2023/10/Sports-and-Montessori.html
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: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2023/09/MontessoriPodcastImaginationSecondPlane.html
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 world.
Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2023/06/ParentingPodcastSupportingLifeTransitions.html
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: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2023/05/MontessoriParentingPodcastToddlerTantrums.html
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: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2023/04/LoveTrustMontessoriParentingPodcast.html
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: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2023/02/FlexibleMontessoriParentingPodcast.html
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: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2023/01/SecretChildPodcast.html
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 Notes...https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2023/01/MontessoriParentingBoredom.html
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: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2022/12/PreparedEvironmentHolidays.html
This episode contains the anatomical names of human bodies and a discussion about sexual education. In this week's episode we continue our conversation on body learning with our children. We discuss how we approach sex, pregnancy, and other aspects of body learning in our Montessori homes. From birth we are using real language, concrete examples to teach our children about human bodies in order to make these conversations points of connection and learning with our children.
Show notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2022/11/Learningaboutbodiespodcast.html
Teaching consent and bodily autonomy is extremely important to keep our children safe. In this episode, Nicole and Amy discuss how we, as Montessori parents, approach consent from birth and how that changes as our children grow older. Our discussions include how we approach grandparents, strangers, and why it is so important to lean into the uncomfortable feeling that this can bring up.
Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2022/11/TeachingConsentPodcast.html
It's officially the holiday season! With the upcoming holidays, Nicole and Amy are sharing their processes for thinking about gifts in their Montessori homes. We discuss how we observe our children, determine what types of materials might fit their needs and interests, and share some secrets to creating our own gift lists. Plus, we share some fun resources for inspiration on your own, and how this process evolves as children reach the second plane of development.
Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2022/10/Montessoriholidaygiftingpodcast.html
It's officially the holiday season! With the upcoming holidays, Nicole and Amy are sharing their processes for thinking about gifts in their Montessori homes. We discuss how we observe our children, determine what types of materials might fit their needs and interests, and share some secrets to creating our own gift lists. Plus, we share some fun resources for inspiration on your own, and how this process evolves as children reach the second plane of development.
Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2022/10/Montessoriholidaygiftingpodcast.html
In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy discuss how chores look in their Montessori homes, particularly in the second plane of development. With a focus on connection, empathy, and consistent expectations we can invite our children to participate practically in our home lives. We include practical tips on how our children to learn how to participate in family life while building executive functioning skills.
Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2022/10/ChoresInTheSecondPlanePodcast.html
After a sudden break in our Montessori parenting podcast after a life altering summer, Amy and Nicole are back! In this week's episode we are reintroducing ourselves. Come learn about Nicole and Amy and catch up on their lives over the last few months. We are very excited to be back and to share all about Montessori parenting with you!
Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2022/10/Season3ShelfHelp.html
Amy and Nicole have been dealing with sick children the last few weeks. In this week's episode, we talk about how we approach sick children as Montessori parents. This conversation includes how we relax our parenting expectations, how we prepare our child's environment, and how we give medication when children struggle to take it.
Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2022/07/SickChildrenMontessoriHomes.html
It can be a challenge to navigate social spaces with children. In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy talk about all the ways that they advocate for this children in public. Whether the interaction is with between two children, between our children and another adult, or even ourselves and another child we talk about some of the Montessori inspired strategies we use to make sure everyone is treated with respect.
Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2022/07/AdvocatingforChildren.html
In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy answer listener's Montessori questions. This episode includes a lot of different topics including tummy time, cursive learning, phones and screens and routines. There's a little bit of something for everyone here!
Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2022/06/listenerpodcastQA.html
Children are meant to exist in the world - not just their homes. In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy discuss how they prepare themselves and their environments to take their children into public. We review our mindsets, the limits we set, and how we allow for respectful freedom outside of our homes in both adult and child centered spaces.
Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2022/06/PublicParentingPodcast.html
For many parents, summer break is here. In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy break down some of their summer routines, schedules and plans for their Montessori families. We include a little insight into how we balance scheduled outings, free play, and academic learning during the summer.
Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2022/05/summerfunpodcast.html
In this week's episode we continue our mini-series on Montessori siblings by chatting about shared bedroom spaces and routines. Nicole and Amy discuss their routines around sleeping and shared bedrooms, bedtime, and what they include in their shared bedroom spaces. They also address safety and how to keep kids safe when sharing rooms.
Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2022/05/SharedMontessoriBedrooms.html
Welcoming a new baby is such an exciting time for you and for your older children. There are lots of feelings - both happy and negative - when a new baby comes into your home. In this episode, Nicole and Amy share their experiences with cultivating a relationship between babies and their older siblings including some practical tips to teach gentleness and responsibility.
Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2022/05/BabySiblingRelationshipPodcast.html
It can be so beautiful watching your children develop relationships with one another as they grow. However, it's not always a peaceful process. In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy discuss how Montessori influences their parenting decisions when it comes to sibling conflict, and challenges. We discuss how we strike a balance between giving them space and intervening.
Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2022/05/siblingconflictpodcast.html
If we let them, caregiving routines with babies can be approached as a chore for the parent. Instead as Montessori parents, we want to make caregiving routines a point of connection between us and our children. In this episode, Nicole and Amy discuss their caregiving routines and how this looks in real life with distractions and other kids.
Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2022/03/caregivingforMontessoribabies.html
There is a lot of turmoil and uncertainty around the world. In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy share their experiences of having difficult conversations with their children including conversations around war.
Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2022/03/hardconversationswithchildren.html
Amy and Nicole have eight children between them. In this week's episode, four of their children - Henry, Charlotte, Nora, and Gus - join the podcast to answer questions about being Montessori kids. They talk about screen time, how they feel about traditional schools, favorite things to do at home and school, and much more!
Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2022/02/MontessoriChildQA.html
Maria Montessori shared so much wisdom with the world through her books, articles, and lectures. Even in 2022, there are so many parenting lessons we can get from her words. In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy share some quotes from Dr. Montessori's books and how they might apply to our parenting. We completely get nerdy about Montessori's words as a way to examine our own behavior as the prepared adult.
Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2022/02/WisdomofMontessoriQuotes.html
In this episode Amy invites her husband, and parenting partner, James to the show. They talk about their Montessori parenting journey including why they decided to use Montessori as the foundation of their parenting. They share some of the tutorials they created along the way, why they choose Montessori schools, and how Montessori, RIE, and gentle parenting has shifted their lives and the lives of their children's. Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2022/02/ParentingwithAmyandJames.html
Parenting is difficult, especially in today's world. While Montessori provides us a lot of useful tools, it doesn't eliminate all parenting challenges. In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy acknowledge some of the very real parenting challenges that they face even while using Montessori. They share their own struggles in an effort to help normalize and support all parents who might face similar situations.
Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2022/02/DifficultParentingMoments.html
In Montessori environments there are so many amazing practical life opportunities when children have access to water. In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy discuss how to make water accessible to young children for both work and play. We include tips on how to prepare yourself and your environment to make water work fun and reasonable in a Montessori home. Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2022/01/MontessoriWaterWorkPodcast.html
Starting solids can be a stressful time for some parents. There is a lot of advice surrounding food available and it can be difficult to determine what will work best for each family. In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy talk about some of their feeding and weaning essentials for babies and toddlers. We touch on our approaches toward solid food and how we try and create a lifelong healthy relationship toward food. Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2022/01/MontessoriFeedingEssentials.html
Welcome back to Shelf Help in 2022! In this week's episode Nicole and Amy discuss some of our favorite baby and toddler products and ideas in three different categories. We include our favorite practical things, play materials, and outdoor gear.
Show notes here: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2022/01/MontessoriMustHavesBabiesToddlersPodcast.html
We've come to the end of 2021 and our last episode of Shelf Help until the new year. In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy are answering listener's questions in this Q&A style episode. We cover a variety of topics from babyhood through elementary. Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2021/12/shelf-help-s2-ep-7-year-end-q.html
In her books, Dr. Montessori talks so much about the importance of hand development for children. Their hands are literally their instruments as they explore the world around them. In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy talk about the development of the hand and some ways that we help a child develop their hand from birth on in preparation for writing and for life.
Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2021/12/MontessoriHandDevelopment.html
The holidays can be a difficult time for children with a lot of uncertainty, lack of routine, and lots of relatives. In this week's episode Nicole and Amy, talk about how to emotionally support your children through the holiday season. From opening gifts, to large family gatherings and using manners we address some Montessori strategies to deal with these common hurdles with small children.
Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2021/11/supportingchildrenholidays.html
One of the challenges that many parents face is the clutter and mess that comes with having children. In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy address the process of teaching your child to clean up and restore work in a Montessori environment. They share how this process evolves from babies and toddlers to preschoolers and elementary aged children and the importance of the prepared environment in this process.
Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2021/11/CleaningInAMontessoriHome.html
Every breastfeeding journey is very individualized. At some point, this journey will come to an end. In this episode Nicole and Amy are sharing some thoughts about Montessori and weaning from breastfeeding. We share insights into our weaning journeys and how we have approached weaning as Montessori parents. Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2021/10/MontessoriWeaningBreastfeeding.html
There are many myths about what it means to raise an independent child within Montessori circles. In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy dive into the journey of independence and what it truly looks like in a Montessori home. They share how they support children on their individual journeys and the importance of the prepared adult in this process.
Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2021/10/MontessoriIndependencePodcast.html
Shelf Help season 2 is here! Nicole and Amy are back with new episodes of Shelf Help to share more about their journey as Montessori parents. In this week's episode, we're reintroducing ourselves and catching up from the summer off.
Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2021/10/shelf-help-season-2-ep-1-welcome-back.html
Puzzles are such fun Montessori friendly toys. While not every child will enjoy using a puzzle, there is a large variety of puzzles available that children might be interested in. In this week's mini-episode, Nicole and Amy share why they move puzzles so much for children. And, they talk about some of their favorite types of puzzles, and the order in which they introduce each to their children.
Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2021/10/montessoripuzzles.html
In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy are chatting about transitional positions - all the little movements that babies make between birth and starting to crawl and move. These movements are sometimes not given the time and attention they deserve. We give tips on how to support transitional positions throughout babyhood.
Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2021/09/babymovementpositions.html
Every Montessori home should strive to give children as much independence as possible. In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy talk about one of the most useful ways to give children independence at home - with a stool! We talk about some of our favorites and how we use them.
Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2021/09/MontessoriStoolsForKids.html
This week's episode is our first in our new mini summer series where we are diving into smaller topics. Today's episode is all about reading with older children, specifically reading chapter books. Nicole and Amy share some of their favorite chapter book recommendations and more about why they still choose to read aloud even to their older children.
Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2021/06/FavoriteChapterBooksforKids.html
Montessori parenting is so full of joy and wonder. In this week's episode, Amy and Nicole are sharing some of their personal highlights and "ah-ha" moments of bringing Montessori into their homes. We hope this helps you take some time to reflect on the ways that Montessori has brought joy into your parenting.
Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2021/06/MontessoriParentingHighlightsPodcast.html
As Montessori parents we need to balance our child's freedom of movement with safety. We always want to make sure our children are safe and able to explore their environments. In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy offer tips on how to balance safety, our own expectations, and our Montessori environment, particularly with babies and toddlers. We dive into sleep spaces, multiple age spaces, and adult spaces.
Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2021/06/MontessoriBabySafetyPodcast.html
In a Montessori environment manners are approached differently than in many traditional spaces. In Montessori grace and courtesy lessons are used to give children the keys to unspoken social rules. In this week's episode we address how to give grace and courtesy lessons, what to do when challenges arise, and how to engage older children in these important lessons.
Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2021/05/MontessoriGraceCourtesyLessons.html
In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy talk about ten Montessori terms you should know when using Montessori at home. These Montessori fundamentals are important to understanding how children learn and develop. Nicole and Amy give examples of how to apply these terms in your Montessori home and how they influence Montessori parents.
Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2021/05/MontessoriTermsToKnow.html
This week, Nicole and Amy are tired from dealing with sleep regressions. So they play a quick game of Montessori true and false answering listener questions and assumptions. In this episode, they address whether Montessori is just for the rich, if it's right for every child, whether they want more babies, and more!
Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2021/05/IsMontessoriForEveryChild.html
RIE®️ is a respectful childcare method created by Magda Gerber. With it's emphasis on intentional caregiving and predictable environments RIE®️ is beautiful. In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy discuss RIE®️ and how its principles are similar and different to Montessori for infants and toddlers. We share our experiences with RIE®️, which parts speak most to us, and which parts we find challenging.
Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2021/05/MontessoriRIEbabiestoddlerspodcast.html
Montessori bedrooms can look and feel a lot of different ways depending on a family's space. In this episode, we talk about how they have used Montessori to create their children's sleeping spaces. They explore the qualities that are important to find in Montessori bedrooms. Finally, they address some of the challenges of creating a bedroom space including sharing rooms and what toys to have in the bedroom.
Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2021/04/shelf-help-ep-49-montessori-bedrooms.html
This week we return to the topic of screen time and answer some listener questions about how we approach certain screen time scenarios. Questions included how we approach sports, restaurants and traveling. Again, we stress that every family will make decisions that feel right for their own individual families and children.
Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2021/04/montessoriscreentimeqa.html
Tiny babies can interact with their environment in so many interesting ways. The Montessori mobiles offer a variety of interesting experiences for babies to explore in developmentally appropriate ways. In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy talk about their experiences with Montessori mobiles. We address a variety of mobiles, when to introduce them, and how we use them.
Show Notes here: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2021/04/shelf-help-ep47-montessori-baby-mobiles.html
Screen time can be a hot button issue for many parents. This week, Nicole and Amy approach screen time from a Montessori perspective. We discuss some Montessori principles that influence our choices to limit screen time with our families. We share how much screen time we allow and what television shows we show our children.
Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2021/03/shelf-help-ep-46-how-we-approach-screen.html
As the world slowly reopens, many of us are looking forward to seeing family and friends again. In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy discuss how they approach family members and friends who may not be into or know about Montessori. How do we open up these parenting conversations in these cases? This episode includes a discussion on how we approach grandparents, cousins, screen time, and playdates.
Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2021/03/shelf-help-ep-45-when-grandparents-and.html
In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy talk about raising intuitive eaters and developing a healthy relationship to food. We talk about how we balance offering choice, providing structure, and trust when it comes to eating. We share some of the challenges our families have faced and some of the ways we are scaffolding our kids to success.
Show Notes here: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2021/03/shelf-help-ep-44-food-struggles-and.html
Themed shelves for every holiday? Weekly shelf rotations? Open ended toys? In this week's episode Nicole and Amy discuss toy rotations in their Montessori homes. We talk about how we approach toy rotations, themed work, and our rotation rhythms. From our own observations, to actually choosing toys, we talk about everything toy rotations.
Show Notes here: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2021/02/shelf-help-ep-43-little-shelf-rotation.html
Deciding on a school can be difficult choice for many families. In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy talk about what they look for when deciding on a Montessori school for their children. They examine some of the "must haves" and some of the things that would give them pause about specific schools. They also have an honest discussion on the pros and cons of public verses private Montessori schools.
Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2021/02/shelf-help-ep-42-choosing-montessori.html
In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy address breastfeeding and weaning. From those early newborn days through toddlerhood, Montessori parents can enjoy a breastfeeding relationship with their children. We discuss how to create an environment to support that relationship, and how to respectfully stop nursing when the time comes.
Show Notes here: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2021/02/shelf-help-ep-41-montessori-and.html
Amy is back with her new baby Frances! In this week's episode, we catch up with Amy to see how she and her family are adjusting to their new baby. This week we talk about using Montessori from birth and how that can be different in many ways from mainstream parenting. Nicole and Amy discuss Montessori newborn basics including care routines, playtime, and helping siblings to adjust.
Show Notes here: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2021/02/shelf-help-ep-40-fourth-trimester.html
With Amy still on maternity leave we have another question and answer session! We talk about a variety of topics including the Montessori approach to chore charts, to baby routines, and baby gates. Nicole and Amy also have a long discussion about toddler independence, separation anxiety and what to do when toddler's say "no!"
Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2021/01/shelf-help-ep-39-q-part-2.html
Amy's baby has been born and she is officially on maternity leave. Today we have part 1 of a pre-recorded question and answer session where we answer a variety of Montessori questions submitted on our Instagrams. We talk about everything from Montessori with older kids, play spaces for 1-year-olds, and how to approach kids that aren't interested in independent work.
Show notes found here: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2021/01/shelf-help-ep-38-baby-is-here-lets-q.html
With Amy on maternity leave, Nicole welcomes her husband Morgan to Shelf Help. They discuss how they started using Montessori and his role within their home. He shares his favorite and least favorite parts of Montessori at home. We also discuss how to get on the same page with Montessori with your parenting partner and answer listener questions about dads and Montessori. Find Show Notes here: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2021/01/shelf-help-ep-37-being-parenting-team.html
In the last episode for 2020, Nicole and Amy chat about their birth stories. As Amy's due date approaches, we reminisce about our previous pregnancies, and birth experiences. From hospital births with interventions, to pain free unmedicated labor, we talk about how our babies were born and the first times we met each of our children. (CW: Miscarriage)
The Montessori approach to potty learning looks a lot different than a traditional "potty training" method. In this week's episode Nicole and Amy introduce the concept of potty learning and talk about what that process looks like for their families. We discuss everything from toilet awareness with infants to transitioning to undies and what happens when there is an accident.
Show Notes found here: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2020/12/shelf-help-ep-35-introduction-to.html
Holiday celebrations look different for every family. As Montessori families we are looking for ways to include our children in our celebrations in active and meaningful ways. In today's episode, Nicole and Amy discuss their Christmas traditions and how they include their children in the celebrations. From secular to religious ideas, we discuss how we will celebrate this holiday season.
Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2020/11/shelf-help-ep-34-christmas.html
There is a lot of pressure for young children to freely share toys and navigate social situations on their own. As Montessori parents, Nicole and Amy don't make their children share and instead let their children use toys for as long as they want. In this week's episode, we discuss how we approach sharing, waiting, and the emotions that come from learning to relate to other people.
Show Notes Here: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2020/11/shelf-help-ep-33-why-we-dont-make-our.html
The Montessori math curriculum is one incredible part of a Montessori education. From concrete to abstraction, children use hands on mathematical materials to learn the ins and outs of mathematics. In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy dive into the world of Montessori math explaining a little about how it works, why it works, and how we support our children's mathematical minds at home.
Find show notes here: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2020/11/shelf-help-ep-32-beauty-of-montessori.html
Nicole and Amy are back from fall break to talk about the holidays! In this week's episode, we are catching up and sharing how we approach Santa in our homes. While every Montessori family will find their own rhythm when it comes celebrations. We also address the Tooth Fairy and Easter Bunny. Honest Santa discussion starts at 23 minutes.
Show Notes found here: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2020/11/shelf-ep-31-our-approaches-toward-santa.html
Nicole and Amy are celebrating 30 episodes of Shelf Help this week with a question and answer session. We are answering a bunch of questions about budgets, getting spouses on board with Montessori, sound games, and so much more.
Find Show Notes Here: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2020/10/shelf-help-ep-30-your-questions-answered.html
Shelf Help will return from fall break on October 26.
Amy is feeling really pregnant lately, so this episode, we check in about how she is preparing for baby. From the perfect age gaps between children to baby must haves, Nicole and Amy discuss the things you need and don't need for baby. This discussion includes our Montessori thoughts on baby bath tubs, socks, sleep sacks, and more traditional "must haves."
Find show notes here: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2020/10/shelf-help-ep-29-preparing-your-baby.html
Sometimes it's important as a parent to let go of a little control and say yes to your kids. In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy talk about the power of saying yes as Montessori parents. We explore the benefits, challenges, and opportunities that come along with really and deeply following your child.
Show Notes can be found here: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2020/09/shelf-help-ep-28-being-yes-parent.html
How do open ended toys fit into a Montessori home? What is the deal with pretend play? What kinds of open-ended toys are best? What should you look for when considering adding open ended toys? In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy answer these questions and dive into the world of pretend play and open-ended toys.
Show Notes found here: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2020/09/shelf-help-ep-27-montessori-and-open.html
Toddlers are so different from babies, and their environment needs to change to meet their needs. In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy talk about the transition into toddlerhood and children's changing needs as they turn 1-year-old. From gross motor needs, to practical life and toys, we explore everything you need to know for your young toddler.
Show Notes Here: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2020/09/shelf-help-ep-26-transitioning-to.html
It can be a huge challenge to balance work and parenting. Parents can feel so much guilt being pulled between their children and their work. In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy discuss working motherhood. We address how we balance work, children, housework and relationships in our Montessori home. And, share our experiences with working both inside and outside our homes.
Find show notes here: http://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2020/09/shelf-help-ep-25-balancing-parenting.html
A capsule wardrobe is a small and intentional wardrobe for each member of your family which can align well with Montessori parenting. In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy discuss why they have decided to use capsule wardrobes with their children. They give tips on how they create their capsules, including how laundry works, and the number of options they need.
Find Show Notes here: http://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2020/08/shelf-help-ep-24-using-capsule-wardrobe.html
An important part of parenting is dealing with big feelings and emotions from your children, especially around limit setting. In this week’s episode, Nicole and Amy discuss limit setting in Montessori environments and how they gently and respectfully respond to big feelings and limit testing in their homes.They give some examples of how to respond to tantrums, hitting, and sass around limits.
Find Show Notes here: http://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2020/08/shelf-help-ep-23-handling-big-emotions.html
Birthdays are a wonderful way to celebrate your child but can come with some stress over gifts. In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy discuss how they approach birthdays in their Montessori families. This episode includes a discussion on how we approach gift giving with friends and extended families.
Show Notes are here: http://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2020/08/shelf-help-ep-22-birthday-celebrations.html
Montessori parents often take a different approach to the books that we choose for our homes. In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy look at the qualities of Montessori friendly books and how they approach reading to their children at different ages. We dive into why we delay fantasy, including a brief discussion on Santa.
Show Notes here: http://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2020/07/shelf-help-ep-21-montessori-library.html
Parents all around the world are trying to figure out how Covid-19 will effect their lives as school starts this fall. In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy discuss their plans for school and life this fall as their schools decide whether or not to open. We share our feelings, our plans, and some tips for homeschooling.
Find show notes here: http://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2020/07/shelf-help-ep-20-whats-going-to-happen.html
Let's talk about siblings! From welcoming a new baby to managing conflict, having multiple children can be a challenge. This week, Amy and Nicole talk about their experiences with sibling relationships. We share our experiences with welcoming new babies, dealing with biting and conflict, and nurturing relationships between siblings in a Montessori home.
Find show notes here: http://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2020/07/shelf-help-ep-19-building-sibling.html
Let’s talk storage solutions — behind many Montessori spaces is a well organized storage system! From books and toys to art supplies and clothing, Nicole and Amy are sharing their favorite storage and rotation solutions. Here are some tips on what has worked and what hasn’t in their Montessori homes. Show Notes can be found here: http://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2020/06/shelf-help-ep-18-getting-organized.html Shelf Help will return July 13 after a quick break.
Amy has a huge surprise! In today's episode, Nicole and Amy talk about pregnancy and preparing for a baby in a Montessori home. From movement areas, to baby essentials and the importance of floor time, we discuss getting started with Montessori from birth.
find show notes on TheKavanaughReport.com
As a Montessori parent we might feel a lot of pressure to be perfect all of the time. In today's episode, Nicole and Amy break down this myth and talk about the times where they struggle to keep calm and respond with grace. We talk about strategies we use with our children, with our environment, and with ourselves to find calm. Plus, a look at what to do after you lose your cool.
As a Montessori parent we might feel a lot of pressure to be perfect all of the time. In today's episode, Nicole and Amy break down this myth and talk about the times where they struggle to keep calm and respond with grace. We talk about strategies we use with our children, with our environment, and with ourselves to find calm. Plus, a look at what to do after you lose your cool.
Black lives matter. In this episode, Nicole and Amy address the recent murder of George Floyd and subsequent protests. As Montessori parents we strive to be anti-racist and we share and answer some questions that parents can use for themselves to get started on that journey.
The outdoor prepared environment is just as important as being important as being indoors. There are abundant opportunities to follow your child and learn a variety of skills. With a summer of play right around the corner Nicole and Amy discuss outdoor play with their Montessori families. From pools to nature, to bikes, gardening, and loose parts, in this episode we talk about how we are keeping busy outside this summer.
What does bedtime look like in a Montessori family? The answer will vary for everyone as families follow their individual children and their own sleep needs. In this week’s episode Nicole and Amy answer one of your most commonly asked questions and share their bedtime routines and experiences with sleep. We chat about everything from balancing independence, to what we’re reading before bed and how we make it work with multiple kids.
Games are a fun way to connect with your child and teach new concepts. But, games are also a great way for children to practice a variety of social-emotional skills. From patience, and turn-taking to wining and losing, games gently introduce these concepts to children. In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy talk about some of their favorite Montessori friendly games and how and when they introduce games in their families.
The bond between a pet and a child can be very beautiful to witness. In a Montessori home, animals provide opportunities to practice social, emotional, and practical life skills. In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy discuss the benefits and challenges of having pets and children. We also discuss how we've helped our children deal with the death of a beloved family pet.
Children are born with strong desire to move freely. In Montessori, freedom of movement is respected from birth both at home and in the classroom. In this week's episode Nicole and Amy are chatting about natural gross motor development and how our choices as parents influence our child's ability to move. In particular, we discuss how our clothing choices can help or hinder our children throughout their childhood. We'll get into the do's and don'ts of natural gross motor movement from birth.
This episode was recorded before Covid-19 and shelter-in-place orders so we mention being out in our communities.
Introducing food to your baby can be a fun new adventure for both you and your child. In Montessori we call this process weaning. In today's episode Amy and Nicole discuss their experiences with weaning and preparing their homes for introducing solids. Plus we dive into why and how we use a weaning table for starting solids with babies and young toddlers.
As a Montessori parent, the language you use with your children matters. Ultimately the decisions you make will effect everything from how your children learn to read, to how comfortable they coming to you as they grow up. In today's episode, Nicole and Amy talk about their do's and don'ts for language development as Montessori parents. This includes why the ABC song is out but swear words are in! Plus, Amy has an exciting announcement.
Montessori is an aid to life and can be used from birth through adulthood as a framework for education and parenting. In today's episode, Nicole and Amy talk about Montessori parenting with children in the second plane of development - from ages 6 to 12. We also have our first guests - Charlotte and Henry - our second plane children to talk about what it's like to live in a Montessori home and go to a Montessori elementary school. Join us for an honest look at the beauty and challenges of the second plane of development.
*Please note that this episode was recorded prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Like many families around the world, Amy and Nicole are busy trying to balance their new roles as homeschooling and distance learning families with their regular lives as Montessori parents. With children out of school, we are learning new rhythms and facing new challenges - including trying to find some silence! In today's episode, we share some Montessori ideas to balance it all. Plus, lots of great, easy to incorporate ideas for keeping your kids from babies to big kids busy and happy at home.
In today's world there are so many options for child-centered classes. From music classes, to art and sports, parents are inundated with choices for their children. In today's episode, Nicole and Amy discuss their experiences with classes for babies, toddlers, and older children as Montessori parents. We'll share some tips on what to look for when choosing classes and sports. We talk about how to decide if an activity is Montessori friendly and fits with your child and family.
*This episode was recorded prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. Please practice social distancing and take this advice for a safer time.
As the Covid-19 pandemic reaches further into the United States, we encourage everyone to practice social distancing at this time. In this episode, Amy and Nicole give an update on their Montessori homes and a look at how they are dealing with the closures related to the spread of Covid-19. We also discuss Montessori ideas and activities for children from birth to age 9 to try when they are spending significant time at home.
Going into traditionally adult spaces with children can be daunting if you aren’t prepared. In this episode, Nicole and Amy share ideas on how to use Montessori grace and courtesy lessons to make it easier for you and your children to navigate the world. Later we’ll discuss why you should consider a floor bed for your home. From nursing to big kids, Amy and Nicole dive into how the floor bed influences their Montessori parenting.
Establishing a family routine or rhythm can be an important step in parenting young children. This routine can look differently for every family. In this episode, Amy and I discuss how we use Montessori to influence our families' rhythms and routines. Whether that is through the use of affirmations and grounding questions, or the Montessori 3 hour work cycle, we are diving into how we structure our days with babies, toddlers, and older kids.
Welcome to Shelf Help, Where Montessori and Parenting meet. In today's episode, Amy and I introduce ourselves and our new Montessori podcast, plus discuss why we are Montessori parents. Come listen to us overcome the nerves of our first podcast and do a rapid-fire parenting Q&A!