Below, you will find some videos, along with some other helpful information for Indigo Parents. If you are facing challenges with something in particular, please reach out and we are happy to meet or email you some information on specific topics.
Videos on Discipline
Below are two 15 minute videos of a lecture by a Montessori Directress who opened up her own school in North Phoenix, sharing advice about parenting by applying the Montessori Approach. The information shared in these videos provide excellent tips for parents seeking help in the home.
Discipline in Montessori with Donna- Part 1
Discipline in Montessori with Donna- Part 2
Get on Track with a Montessori Mindset
This next video is a good refresher on the perspective we carry at Indigo Montessori, a mindset and attitude that you can also carry in your daily lives.
Looking to Montessori to Guide Education Reform
Educational Videos
While we believe in the Montessori method, there are a lot of other educators that tend to carry perspectives that align with the Montessori Method. The following speakers inspire us to keep an open mind, offering creative ideas that compliment the Montessori method.
Want kids to learn well? Feed them well. For anyone who needs some food inspiration, this video includes some good data.
Advice from My Own Observations
A parenting tip from me, after observing both kids and their parents for many years (and now having my own), is that you must remember yourself taking care of your needs, too. This goes for finding time on your own, in addition to making time time with your spouse / partner /friends. Find time away from your children and outside of work, even if it’s for a couple of hours a week. It’s easy to get caught up with your children and their needs, but you must remember that you can also teach your child by taking care of yourself and/or showing them a healthy relationship between you and your spouse / partner / friends. You can set an example by continuing to find the time to do the things that you love, to find time to build up your own self-confidence, and to pamper yourself on occasion. Finding time takes work and scheduling, so do reach out if this is a struggle and you don’t know where to begin. Remember, your children want you to be happy, too, because your energy feeds off onto them. Don’t “lose yourself” to take care of your children – there are ways around gaining your time back while your children are gaining independance. They are only going to get older – and they are going to appreciate a parent figure whom they can look up to, respect, and admire.
Maria Montessori recognized early on that most people don’t give such young children of our age group enough credit for what they can fully comprehend. If they are “upset” with you for having a night out without them, or because you took some time in another room to yourself, shake away the guilt and simply explain to them why you need this time to yourself. Let your child know that it’s okay to feel upset, that you understand, but that by taking care of your needs will better prepare you for when it is time to spend time together, etc. Whether or not it seems that they understand in the moment, children are easily redirected with the attention from a helper, whether that be a grandparent, friend, nanny, or a babysitter, so remind yourself that your child is okay and safe, that it’s good for them to socialize with other adults besides you, and that quality time for yourself will pay off in the long run.
Note: Just as we practice “Kiss & Go” at Indigo, practice this same method when handing your child over to a helper. Walking away will be so much easier. In fact, my husband and I will go as far as sneaking out of the house on some nights instead of saying ‘goodbye,’ if we see that our children are content and distracted by the helper already.
I admit, like many of you, I lost a lot of time to myself after having two children, but I am constantly working towards gaining more time back and utilizing every precious minute better, even if it means that I am just organizing my art room or putting my things away instead of painting (my other passion outside of education) – it’s my time alone with no interruptions. If you’re taking alone time within the home, a white noise machine in the hall outside of your room and good set of headphones to listen to a music station, an Audible book or podcast goes a long way, drowning out the noise of the other activity in the home so that you can take time for you. In fact, we have noise machines inside and outside of our rooms! I am happy to share more of my journey to anyone who needs some inspiration – just reach out and share a bit about your situations. Needless to say, applying Montessori in the home can actually help you get back to you!
Below are some additional topics for you to explore, in case you could use a reminder that you are allowed to take care of you, too. Despite all of the chaos that comes with the busy schedule of having kids, you should continue to be inspired and motivated. If it’s been a while, try to take a moment reflect on what activities, hobbies, or passions make you happy, too. Starting small can make big changes! Do you see the opportunity for a 30 minute window in your week, just for you, to take some baby steps back to just one of those interests?
A Video Just for You:
How to Gain Control of Your Free Time. This is good for all of you busy parents out there who might be looking to gain back a little time for yourselves.
Audible Book: Bringing Up Bébé. This book is one of the few parenting books out there that actually focuses on the sanity of parents, reminding us that we don’t have to forget about taking care of ourselves just because we have a child. I think most of us can agree that the best way to love others is to love ourselves first, and we have heard this idea in many forms of self help, but how many of you are actually working on it? Sure, we need to put our child’s safety and health first in a sense, but we shouldn’t lose ourselves in the process.
The author of this book shares her journey as an American woman who finds herself raising her children in France. She picked up a lot of very interesting ideas to add to her parenting as she notices that French women don’t seem to look as tired or exhausted, and they still seem seem to have time to take care of themselves, all while having gained the respect of their children. There is no right or wrong in this world of parenting, so give or take as you please as the author gives insight on different parenting approaches that you can pick and choose from in your own lifestyle. I find that many of the French approaches mentioned in this book are very much in line with the Montessori Method. I started reading the hardcover first a while back, but as I was working on prioritizing my time, I found that I could get through it faster on Audible. I find that this book in particular is more enjoyable on Audible, since there is some humor to be heard in the reader’s voice on occasion, along with good pronunciation in some French terms that are introduced.
Thank you for working on you. Best wishes on your journey to care for self!!