Love is (Pretty Much) All You Need

Give Your Child Dedicated Moments During Your Day To Build Love and Stability

Building on the Montessori Method

How many times have you seen today’s moms multitasking?

“Children grow and thrive in the context of close and dependable relationships that provide love and nurturance, security, responsive interaction, and encouragement for exploration,” says a new report entitled “The Science of Early Childhood Development.”

To create ties that bind, you need to give your child your undivided attention many times every day. That means:

• Talking with your child

• Teaching your child about what you see

• Walking (rather than strolling) with your child and,

• Interacting in a way that builds a secure love between you

A recent study stated that the amount of time parents spend with children has not changed greatly from the Boomer to the Millennial Generation. That may be surprising, given that today’s women are better educated, enjoy careers and are not nearly as homebound as Boomer moms were.

What’s changed, though, is that hands-on time with children has lessened. If anything, moms and dads’ lives are so minutely stressed that although they may be together, they aren’t actually there. In other words, for all the emotional hovering that today’s parents engage in, they need to communicate with the child in a dedicated way. And that’s the rub.

The Montessori Method Difference

A method that seems to work well for parents is to initiate rather than just respond. It is one thing to react to your child’s cries when he or she seeks attention rather than proactively looking at them, talking with them and showing your love.

What is most important is creating ‘intentional interactions.’

For example, walking with them rather than driving them in the stroller so you can get your exercise in. Or, playing with the child and the dog together in or outside the house rather than racing down the neighborhood sidewalk. Or, reading with your child and discussing what he sees and listening to his answers. Or, even doing something as simple as setting the table or making cookies together.

At Lifetime Montessori School in Santaluz, a private Montessori school, we build children in a loving, caring and interactive setting. We learn about your children by observing them and then offering personalized ways to grow the beauty within them. When coupled with peer activities, we help build a ‘can-do’ attitude that starts early and continues from toddler to pre-K to elementary school.

Summary

Mom and Dad, building interactive activities with your children that grow from the positive foundation of love is one of the keys to your satisfaction. By engaging in undivided time with your child, you’ll better develop a loving, positive bond that will create a well-adjusted adolescent and adult.

And in a world of parental anxiety and stress, creating a secure foundational framework of well-being, self-esteem and independence by engaging in dedicated activities together is a positive remedy as you continue parenting.