Hey there!

You know, for new parents who are researching options for child care, it can be a daunting task because there are so many things to consider.

You may be thinking:

• Can I afford to send my child to preschool?
• Are there child care assistance programs that I qualify for?
• What’s the difference between a home day care, a child care center, a parochial school, and a Montessori school?
• What if I find a Montessori preschool that I like but I don’t know if they’re any good at what they do?

Well, I just wrote a blog post on ShowMeLocal.com (click the photo below) and I wanted to share it with you because I answer each of the questions above and much more.

I hope you find it useful. Take care!

~Edith

P.S. don’t forget about open enrollment for the fall semester begins late January/early February each year at Montessori American School.

Click to read How to Choose Your Child’s Daytime Care Wisely

This is part two of “Montessori Toys.” In case you missed it, here is Part I.

Presentation of Montessori Toys

Playtime is about more than just having a big pile of toys for a child to sort through. Even if they are wonderful toys, they need to be presented to a child in a way that he/she can fully appreciate the toy.

Storing Toys

We recommend that toys are stored on neutral colored toy shelves because they offer the possibility of displaying a toy in such a way that it attracts and lures the child to it.

Each toy should be washed often and have all of its parts. If a toy is difficult to store or keep neatly on the shelf, make an attractive box for it.

Each toy that has removable parts should have a beautiful small box for the storage of those parts.

Keep it Fresh! – The art of rotating toys:

Toy rotation results in better use of toys. This way, children always feel that some of their toys are “new.” Limit the number of toys on the shelves to 8 or 9 at any one time. Remaining toys should be stored accessibly.

As the child tires of certain toys they can replace them with a stored toy. Of course, if a child asks for a “stored toy,” he/she should be able to have it.

Putting toys away

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This is the eleventh installment of “12 Fun & Creative Things To Do In San Diego With Your Children”, which can be downloaded for FREE from MontessoriAmerican.com.

Even if you’re a local in San Diego, you will be amazed at all of the new things you can learn about the city by taking a tour. This is also a fun experience for your child, and a great way for them to gain some first hand knowledge about California’s second largest city. There are two tours we recommend, which are both fun experiences for the whole family!

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This is the seventh installment of “12 Fun & Creative Things To Do In San Diego With Your Children”, which can be downloaded for FREE from MontessoriAmerican.com.

A wonderful way to combine exercise, quality time, and beautiful sightseeing is to rent bicycles and spend the day exploring the beautiful island of Coronado. Coronado is situated just across the Big Bay from downtown San Diego. The island is most known for two famous structures:

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This is the third installment of “12 Fun & Creative Things To Do In San Diego With Your Children”, which can be downloaded for FREE from montessoriamerican.com.

Julian California is a historic gold mining town about an hour east of San Diego. It is famous for delicious apples, and is the premier mountain retreat in the county.

Julian is also unique because you can experience all four seasons!

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Hey there! I am excited to announce the open enrollment of our very first summer camp which will start on July 2nd, 2012. Our open enrollment will be on a first come, first serve basis and current Montessori American students will receive priority. If you are interested in enrolling your child in a fun-filled, hands-on learning experience over the summer, check out the details:

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Over the past couple of months we have provided tips about choosing a Montessori school. Whether you are familiar with the Montessori Method or not, we hope you have learned more about choosing a quality Montessori school that will provide your child with the foundation they need as they embark upon their educational journey. In case you haven’t read this information, you can download it as a FREE eBook by clicking the picture above. Or simply read on and we’ll give you a summation of our posts on tips for helping you decide if Montessori is right for your child.

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This is the twelfth installment of 12 Tips for Choosing a Montessori School which can also be downloaded as a free eBook.

Practical life exercises are one of the primary foundations of the Montessori environment. These exercises provide a range of activities which allow children to develop:

• Control and coordination of movement
• Awareness of environment
• Orderly thought patterns
• Independent work habits
• Responsibility

Through practicing Montessori skills at home, children gain these and many other characteristics which can be attained through spontaneous, purposeful work. Here are a list of activities that you can have your child easily perform in your home environment:

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