Why Montessori?
January 10, 2020

When it comes to choosing a path for your child’s education there are lots of choices. Why do so many families choose Montessori? Read on to find out what makes this model unique.


Montessori Fosters Independence


In our schools, children learn that their independence is valued. We encourage free movement, individual choice within carefully crafted limits, and make sure they know their voices are heard. As they get older, they begin to learn about time management and accountability.

Child working with Montessori materials

We teach them practical life skills, such as cleaning and preparing food, that can be used in the classroom, home, and beyond. This emphasis on independence gives children a tremendous sense of empowerment.

Montessori child reading

We Follow the Child


This begins by having teachers trained in the specific developmental stages of the children they work with. By honoring where children are in their growth, we can create educational environments that perfectly suit their needs. 

Montessori children painting

We know that learning is not always linear, and that each individual child will need different challenges and supports throughout their time at our school. In addition, Montessori students have plenty of opportunities to deeply study areas of personal interest.

Child working with Montessori math materials

Beautiful Classrooms Inspire Beautiful Work


Upon stepping into a Montessori classroom, one immediately sees the difference in our environments. We value natural materials and prefer natural lighting. Living things (both plants and animals) are present, as are low shelves that allow children to easily access their work. There are areas for children to work in a group or alone, and on the floor or in a chair. Materials are of high quality, inspiring the children who use them to make their work beautiful.

Child working with Montessori math materials

Nature is Integrated


In addition to the plants and animals that children help care for, our classrooms often have a museum-like quality to them. Depending on what the children are studying, one could find a variety of interesting specimens. We also believe it is critical to bring our students out into nature whenever possible, giving them an opportunity to learn and experience it firsthand.

Child working with Montessori sensorial materials

We Value Kindness and Peace


Our students are global citizens. World geography is taught beginning at a young age and children learn about traditions from a wide range of cultures. We take the time to teach skills like conflict resolution, and support children through social dynamics as they arise. 



​We believe that peace and kindness are the base of any quality education, and a foundation that is necessary for the progress of humanity. 

Child working with Montessori practical life materials

We Value Formative Assessment


Assessment is derived from a Latin word meaning “to sit beside.” In a Montessori classroom, that is exactly what we do. Teachers sit beside children while they work, gathering data as they go. The three period lesson, a Montessori hallmark, is specifically designed to measure understanding and mastery during teaching. 

Montessori child drawing

Teachers also observe students and take notes, allowing them to target areas in which students may need more challenge or support. Utilizing formative assessments each day allows teaching and learning to be adjusted in the moment, so each child is getting exactly what they need.

Montessori children snacking

Interested in learning more? If you think your child would thrive in a Montessori environment, contact us to set up your personalized tour. We would love for you to visit our school and learn more.

Thank you Meg Porter Photography for images used in this post.

By Elizabeth Horgan, PhD May 20, 2025
The Power of Routine for Young Children–Order, Predictability, and Independence
By Elizabeth Horgan, PhD May 8, 2025
It’s no secret that little ones often have intensely big feelings. We’ve all witnessed an emotional outburst common during the “terrible twos” and “threenager” years. Watching your toddler melt into a puddle of sobs can be incredibly frustrating if you don’t understand the root cause. Luckily, there are some clear explanations for what is happening in your child’s brain and concrete strategies you can use to help children learn to regulate their emotions. While they may seem dramatic, young children’s emotional storms are not a sign of bad behavior. These outbursts express an overwhelmed nervous system and a plea for connection. They are not giving you a hard time, they are having a hard time. Children are not born with the ability to recognize, express, manage, and respond to their emotions. It is entirely learned. As toddlers begin to experience and express bigger feelings, they still lack the impulse control to manage these emotions. Through a strategy called co-regulation , you can help your child both find their calm in the moment and develop their emotional regulation skills for future success. Co-regulation is when a calm and responsive adult provides the necessary emotional support to help a dysregulated child work through their big feelings. While children are in the first plane of development (ages 0-6), they are constructing their emotional world but can’t yet handle big feelings on their own. Through co-regulation, adults can offer a compassionate presence to help children understand their emotions and feel safe when overwhelming feelings threaten to take over. Co-regulation teaches children the skills for emotional regulation through presence and modeling by using a soothing voice, gentle touch, and eye contact to show a child that they are not alone. The way we respond to children’s emotional needs creates a framework for learning to regulate their feelings. Your calm and regulated emotions are the determining factor for your child’s healthy emotional development . Children borrow their sense of calm and safety from the adults around them. Keeping your cool can feel much easier said than done during a wild toddler tantrum. But to teach children to regulate their emotions, we must first be able to regulate our own . Children are not responsible for the emotions of adults. While children’s behavior may feel triggering, it is the adult's responsibility to regulate their feelings about and reactions to the situation . Children need reliably calm caregivers who can help guide them through their feelings. The goal here is to reinforce your boundaries while supporting your child through the big emotions. Being emotionally supportive differs from “giving in” to a child’s tantrum. You set the rules, which do not change based on the child’s emotional reactions. In fact, changing the boundary or rule in response to your child’s big feelings may serve to increase their tantrums while decreasing their ability to regulate emotions. Tantrums are a chance to help your child regulate and connect with them. When a child is in a large emotional outburst, they are not cognitively capable of understanding reason and logic. Instead, they need a reassuring adult presence to teach them how to work through their big emotions and get to the root of the problem. Only after the emotions pass can a child start to understand explanations and corrections. This does not mean you need to permit your child to behave in unacceptable ways. It does mean that you need to help them calm their big emotions BEFORE you can move to correction and redirection based on your boundaries. The reason co-regulation is successful is largely due to mirror neurons , which are special brain cells that activate not only when we do something, but also when we see someone else do it. Think about the way a baby smiles back when you smile at them. This is an example of mirror neurons at work. Similarly, if an upset child sees an adult remaining calm in the face of a challenging situation, it activates their sense of calm. Thanks to mirror neurons, children can literally borrow their calm, both physically and emotionally, from adults. Through co-regulation, a calm adult can offer emotional support through kind words, a gentle tone of voice, and peaceful touch. Once the child begins to settle down, an adult can help the child name and explain their feelings and model healthy ways to manage the big emotions. Through many small, supportive moments of a calm adult in the face of big feelings, your child’s brain begins to self-regulate to manage their own emotions. When you meet a child’s emotional outbursts with calm, steady compassion, you provide the training necessary to rewire their brain to regulate the flood of emotions and find balance. Practical Tips for Practicing Co-Regulation: Find and Share Your Calm– Effective co-regulation is only possible if you regulate your emotions first. Your calm is the determining factor for success. But keep in mind that you aren’t failing if you regularly feel frustrated by your child’s outbursts! Take a second to settle your own nervous system before trying to help your child regulate. Try strategies like box breathing (inhale 4 seconds, hold 4 seconds, exhale 4 seconds), loosening your muscles, or repeating a calming phrase to yourself can help you center yourself. Get on Their Level- Physically lower yourself to your child’s eye level. By meeting them where they are, both physically and emotionally, you can help calm their nervous system. You can even give a simple verbal reassurance such as “I’m here with you”. Name the Feeling —Teach your children about the different emotions and how they feel by identifying what you think they are going through. For example, you could say “You’re feeling sad right now about leaving the park”, “You’re really frustrated that you can’t get that tool to work”, or “It’s okay to feel mad”. It’s important to name the feeling without judging it, using simple language that helps them understand how they feel. Connecting BEFORE Correcting– Meet the child at their emotional place, and empathetically acknowledge their feelings before offering any necessary correction for their behavior. They need to be out of the emotional storm before they can truly understand the correction. Try lovingly reinforcing your boundary while still offering connection, by saying something like “I can see that you’re really upset, but I won’t let you throw toys at me. I’ll sit here with you until you feel better”. Focus on Nonverbal Soothing– Offer open body language, soft tone of voice, eye contact, and gentle touch to help settle the child’s nervous system. Model Calming Strategies– When you’re feeling upset, use it as an opportunity to model your own process of calming yourself down when you feel big emotions or triggers. For example, “I’m feeling so frustrated right now, but I’m going to take some deep breaths to help calm my body down before deciding what to do.”