Montessori from the Start: the Child at Home, from Birth to Age Three

Parents are amazed by the advantages of a Montessori education for their children, and scientific evidence continues to support Maria Montessori's discoveries. But what if you want the benefits of Dr. Montessori's insights from birth? Is there Montessori for babies? How does Montessori's advocacy of hands-on learning and self-discovery relate to infants? What can parents do to help their youngest children in their task of self-formation?
This authoritative and accessible book answers these and many other questions. Paula Polk Lillard and Lynn Lillard Jessen have used Maria Montessori's theories for raising infants to create a comprehensive program for the first three years, incorporating the furnishings and tools Dr. Montessori created for babies, from the design of the bedroom to the child-sized kitchen table and chair to diet and food preparation to clothing and movement. The authors provide guidance for the establishment of a beautiful and serviceable environment that will aid in the development of focus and concentration. Taking into account the child's 'sensitive periods,' they introduce concepts and activities for such skills as dressing, food preparation, and toilet training.
Brimming with anecdote and encouragement, and written in a clear, engaging style. Montessori from the Start is a practical and useful guide to raising calm, capable, and confident children.