Montessori Books for Parents
As you learn more about the Montessori Method, the time will come when you want to move beyond blog posts and quick articles, and focus on actual books. Fortunately, there are many wonderful options to guide you through learning about Montessori and how to implement Montessori at home.
Whether you’re considering our Montessori curriculum or are just beginning your transition to Montessorihomeschooling, there are many books for parents that introduce you to the Montessori Method. Here, we offer a solid mix of books authored by Dr. Maria Montessori herself, Montessori books for new parents, and evidence-based books for those on the hunt for research-backed educational philosophies.
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Montessori Books for Parents
The Absorbent Mind by Dr. Maria Montessori
Perhaps the most popular book on the Montessori Method, The Absorbent Mind by Maria Montessori does a brilliant job exploring her educational philosophies. This book focuses on what is believed to be the most crucial stage of development - birth to age six - and is just as relevant today as it was when first published in 1949. It’s a profound read, but can be a bit heavy. Fortunately, you can read this one slowly, digesting just a few pages at a time, without losing any of the meaning.
The Montessori Toddler by Simone Davies
Published in 2019, The Montessori Toddler offers a practical and modern perspective on Montessori. While the primary focus is helping us reframe how we view toddlers, there’s an overall theme of parenting within Montessori that’s just brilliant. This book offers easy-to-digest tips, beautiful examples of Montessori environments from around the world, and direct advice on how to implement Montessori at home in a way that’s relatable for every reader.
Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius by Angeline Stoll Lillard
This book does a great job of diving into the actual science of Dr. Montessori’s methods, what happens in a Montessori learning environment, and why it all works. If you’re interested in learning why a Montessori education has long-lasting impacts on learning, emotional resilience, and success into adulthood, this book is a great place to start.
How to Raise an Amazing Child the Montessori Way by Tim Seldin
Written by the President of The Montessori Foundation, this book adapts Montessori teachings for easy use at home. It’s absolutely packed with Montessori-based preschool activities, educational games, and useful developmental checklists. How to Raise an Amazing Child the Montessori Way shows parents in a clear and concise way how to incorporate the teachings of Montessori into their home to create a nurturing environment for their children.
Montessori From the Start: The Child at Home, from Birth to Age Three by Paula Polk Lillard
Based on Dr. Maria Montessori's philosophies for nurturing babies and toddlers, this practical guide is chock full of instructions, anecdotes, and encouragement for raising calm, competent, and confident children. If ever you wondered about Montessori for infants, this book offers a comprehensive exploration of the first three years and incorporates the tools Dr. Montessori developed for the care and comfort of babies.
This book also introduces concepts and tasks that take into account children’s ''sensitive periods'' for learning such skills as toilet training and other practical life skills. Written in a clear, engaging style, Montessori from the Start is a must-have for every Montessori parent.
Teach Me to Do It Myself: Montessori Activities for You and Your Child by Maja Pitamic
As the title suggests, Teach Me to Do It Myself is all about helping your child become self-reliant. It’s a detailed guide to empowering your child to learn at home and presents simple activities through which children explore and develop their skills. If you’ve yet to dive into the importance of practical life skills and the role they play in Montessori at home, this book is a great place to start.
Teaching Montessori in the Home: The Pre-School Years by Elizabeth G. Hainstock
If you’re considering Montessori homeschooling, this book is a must-read. It walks you through how to set up a Montessori home environment while also providing introductory lessons for the pre-school years (ages 2 to 5). This acclaimed book covers a wide variety of lessons and really helps you make the most of your child’s vital learning years.
Practical Guide to the Montessori Method at Home by Julia Palmarola
I love this book because it does a great job of showcasing Montessori on a budget! It’s aimed at parents who want to integrate Montessori activities at home, easily and without breaking the bank. It includes numerous illustrated examples of how to apply it at home, organized by subject and by age. As homeschool parents, we’re all short on time and this book keeps that in mind. It’s structured well, simple to implement, and helps to show how Montessori can be affordable to execute at home.
Above all else, remember that Montessori is about empowering children to learn in their own way, fueled by their own natural curiosities. Don’t stress thinking you have to read all the books in order to be a perfect Montessori parent - there’s no such thing! And goodness knows you don’t want to operate as a constantly overwhelmed homeschool mom.
These Montessori books for parents are a great place to start, but when it comes down to it - trust the child. Take what works for you, leave what doesn’t, and trust that your child will continue to learn in a way that’s best for them.