7 Ways To Support Your Babys Learning Today Monti Kids

™
7 Montessori Ways to Support

Your Baby’s Learning Today
1st Edition
Copyright © 2017 Monti Kids, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

“The goal of early childhood should
be to activate the child’s own
natural desire to learn.”
Dr. Maria Montessori

Table of Contents
Learning Starts at Birth ..............................................................1
What is Montessori? ......................................................................3
7 Montessori Ways to Support Your Baby’s Learning ....8
About Monti Kids .........................................................................13
About the Authors .......................................................................14
References ......................................................................................16

Learning Starts at Birth
85% of the brain is formed by age three

The core structure of the brain is formed in the first three
years. By age three, the brain has established a pattern of
processing information that will be used throughout life.
As such, a child’s early experiences affect the quality of her
brain architecture, forming the foundation upon which future
development rests. Early experiences also have a greater
impact on the developing brain because new experiences
Page 1
are stored in relation to previous ones. Children’s early
experiences are ingrained at a deep level and have lasting
effects. Enhancing a child’s early years with Montessori
materials and guidance can help to fulfill and expand a child’s
long term potential.
Environment shapes brain development

While some say the only toy a baby needs is a cardboard
box, numerous research studies show that children who grow
up in more stimulating environments do better than those
who have fewer opportunities to learn. Brain development
is activity dependent so everything a child touches, tastes,
sees, hears, and smells impacts the brain’s circuitry. Exposing
babies to a variety of age-appropriate stimuli, meeting their
developmental needs, and providing just enough challenge
to stretch their skills will lay the best foundation for the
future.
Page 2
What is Montessori?
Montessori is an educational approach that has been used
for over 100 years and trusted by over 20,000 schools
around the world. It is an ideal educational method for
young children that involves a series of toys, designed
through research, to meet their developmental needs. It is
comprehensive — addressing the child’s cognitive, physical,

linguistic, social, and emotional development. Researchers
have long recognized the many benefits of Montessori
provide the necessary competencies in a fast-changing
world where learning how to learn is the best foundation for
success.
Page 3
Benefits of Montessori
Embodied learning
Montessori is described as “embodied education” because
it prescribes learning through doing, involving as many
senses as possible to fully capture a child’s attention and to
promote the synthesis of information at every level. Children
learn best when they move. While we often consider them as
separate, motor development and cognitive development
are fundamentally intertwined, tapping into similar areas
of the brain. Numerous research studies show that when
educational activities incorporate movement, learners gain a
better understanding of content and remember that content
more accurately. Every Montessori lesson involves both mind
and body; even vocabulary is learned through incorporating
new words in movement games.
Fosters independence
If given the right tools, a baby is capable of so much,
whether it be feeding herself or choosing and mastering
a challenging toy. Montessori fosters independence and
self-direction through the thoughtful design of each toy,
through the layout of the play space, and through the way
the adult interacts with the child. Enabling a child to act
independently helps her to grow in self-confidence and to
build up her internal locus of control, the sense that she
is capable and powerful. Studies show that when children
have more control over their learning, they work harder,
perform better, retain more information, and are more
creative and joyful.
Page 4
Learning through play
The Montessori curriculum is the result of Dr. Maria
Montessori’s groundbreaking research on how children
learn through play. Each toy in the curriculum was refined
through research to meet the child’s evolving intellectual
needs, feeding his curiosity, and creating the conditions
for engaging play and deep learning. Today, countless
researchers tout the benefits of guided play for young
children, including advances in language development,
executive function, and brain growth itself. Studies have
shown that babies at play act as researchers, exploring,
experimenting, and imagining new possibilities. Our job is not
to fill children with information but rather, to provide a rich
environment and support their natural drive to learn through
play.
Instills perseverance
Children learn most when presented with just the right
amount of challenge, not so easy that they are bored and
not so difficult that they are frustrated. The Montessori
curriculum is thoughtfully designed and timed so that
children are repeatedly entering this ideal zone for learning.
Montessori maps a child’s development so that with each
toy, the child goes through the experience of struggling
with a new skill, practicing, and then mastering it. Mastering
challenging activities helps children to develop healthy
self-esteem and a growth mindset, the understanding that
they can improve their skills and increase their intelligence.
Children with a growth mindset persevere longer on
challenging tasks, a habit that leads to greater success in
Page 5
school, career, and relationships.
Cultivates creativity
In his book, Creating Innovators, Harvard researcher Tony
Wagner describes Montessori education as a pathway to
creativity, noting that some of the greatest innovators of
today, like the founders of Google and Amazon, attended
Montessori preschool. Researchers have compared children
across educational programs and found that those in
Montessori programs scored higher on levels of creativity.
Creativity is not a fixed trait but rather, a skill that can be
cultivated in the earliest years. Research has shown that a
child’s environment impacts the development of creativity.
Montessori environments feature the elements that foster
creativity including thoughtful design of the child’s area,
a rich selection of appropriate materials, child-directed
learning, and a playful approach to education.
Triggers concentration and flow

Babies are capable of extended periods of concentration,
if given developmentally appropriate toys and allowed
uninterrupted time to explore. Concentration is a prerequisite
for all future learning. Our job as adults is to foster
concentration as a skill that can be developed. Intense,
immersive concentration is known as “flow,” a state when
people perform at their best, show the highest levels of
creativity, and derive the most joy from their work. Steven
Kotler, Director for the Flow Genome Project, explains
that Montessori settings are among the highest flow
environments that researchers have found. Triggers of
Page 6
flow such as a rich environment, physical plus cognitive
engagement, self-direction and appropriate challenge are
hallmarks of Montessori.
Page 7
7 Montessori Ways to Support
Your Baby’s Learning Today
1. Follow your child

Infants and toddlers are much wiser than many think. They
are driven by their natural instincts to learn and develop.
Parents who recognize and respect that do well in their
role as their child’s first teacher. When your baby or toddler
is focused on a toy, a tree, or even something seemingly
unimportant like a pattern on the wall, he is in the process
of learning about the world and building up his capacity
for concentration. Try not to interrupt or distract him with
other things. He will check back in with you when he is ready
and then you can engage in conversation or introduce a
toy. As long as a child is not hurting himself, others, or the
environment, pause before interrupting him and observe to
see if he is focused and engaged – this is when all the best
learning happens!
Page 8
2. Allow for independence
Montessori said: “These words reveal the child’s inner needs:
Help me to do it by myself.” If you want to raise a child
who is self-confident, self-directed, and self- sufficient,
lay the foundation for independence during the earliest,
most formative years. Provide opportunities for your baby
to develop her own skills. For example, when you first
introduce solids, allow her to feed herself with finger foods
or with a pre-loaded spoon. For toddlers, buy clothes that
are easy to put on and remove (like pants and skirts with
elastic waistbands) and provide a little guidance rather
than dressing them fully with no collaboration. Remember,
never help a child with anything that she can do herself,
but rather, give her time - time to climb the stairs on her
own, time to put each leg into her pants before standing to
pull them up, time to eat her yogurt with a spoon by herself.
When you see your little one working hard on a task, resist
the urge to rescue her. Instead, pause and give her time.
You’ll often find she will manage on her own if given just a
little bit of space. A toddler proudly exclaiming, “I did it!”
is one of those joyful parenting moments that feels just as
good to you as it does to her.
3. Prepare the environment

In order to be able to follow your child and allow for
independence, you must first prepare the environment
for your child. This involves not only baby proofing but
also filling the space with fun, educational toys, books,
artwork, music, etc. Research has established that children
have the greatest capacity to learn before age three when
Page 9
brain development peaks. It is also proven that the quality
of a child’s early environment influences their long-term
development. Provide appropriate stimulation without over-
whelming; provide options without clutter. Aim to create a
beautiful, inviting, and orderly space.
4. Involve your toddler in caring for the home and family

You can make your home a learning-friendly environment by
thinking of creative ways to provide your child independence
in the daily activities of the home. For example in the
kitchen, reserve a lower cabinet for her things (plates, cups,
napkins, dry snacks) that she can easily access to make
herself a snack. Have a step stool or learning tower around
for her to access the sink. Involve your child with the food
prep, cooking, and cleaning. Studies show that getting kids
involved in the kitchen makes them more open to eating
healthful foods and reduces picky eating. Young children
take pride in contributing to the family and especially in
having a specific task for which to take responsibility. You
can begin with a simple task such as loading the washing
machine every morning and progress to more complex
tasks like setting the table at dinner. While performing these
everyday activities, your child will learn not only discipline
and responsibility but also concentration, gross and fine
motor skills, and mathematical and scientific concepts. It’s
also much easier to establish such habits now, as most young
children are interested in these activities, rather than later
when such activities are seen as a chore.
Page 10
5. Encourage repetition
Babies and toddlers often want to repeat, whether reading
a book many times, walking the same path to the park, or
singing a song over and over. This often means that your
child is working on a new concept and will likely not move
on until he has satisfied his curiosity. Repetition of tasks
strengthens the connections in a child’s brain. Although it
can be challenging for adults, your child is best served if you
encourage and respect his desire to repeat.
6. Allow your child to learn and explore with all the senses
Your baby wants to explore her new environment with
all of her senses. Helping your child to develop all of
her senses early on enhances her perception of the
world. Whether playing sports, discovering nature, or
creating a recipe in the kitchen, if she perceives the
information around her more accurately, she can make
better choices. You can provide rich stimulation for your
baby by providing her with rattles and other toys that give
her a variety of tactile, auditory, and visual input. As your
baby begins to bring her hand to her mouth, these toys
provide fascinating sensory feedback that encourages
exploration. Your child will learn and develop in different
ways when you spend time in nature. Lying under a tree
to observe the movement of the leaves helps to build your
child’s attention span and to relax her. Nature walks are
tremendous opportunities for language development and
for helping your child feel comfortable and confident in the
world.
Page 11
7. Guide your child to learn on his own
You are your baby’s first teacher and role model. The best
way to support your baby’s development is to prepare a rich
environment full of learning opportunities. As Dr. Montessori
said, “education is acquired not by listening to words but
by experiences in the environment.” A parent’s role is not to
teach by explaining concepts, but rather to act as a guide so
your child can learn for himself through exploration. This type
of experiential learning helps your child to better understand
concepts, to better retain information, and to later apply
that knowledge across domains. You can facilitate this by
carefully choosing what to put in the environment, observing
your child’s development, and introducing things that meet
his developmental needs. You are the link between your
child and his environment.
Page 12
About Monti Kids
Monti Kids gives parents access to the world-renowned
Montessori program for ages zero to three, along with simple
guidance from child development experts. We believe the
best way to support your child is to support you. We provide
quarterly deliveries of Montessori educational toys for your
child, along with quick, easy video tutorials for you. Monti
Kids will guide you on how to set up an ideal play area at
home and how to play in ways that promote your child’s
language, motor, cognitive, and social-emotional skills. Your
child can start anytime between birth and age 2.5. Monti
Kids features a built in donation program, thereby reaching
families at all income levels.
Learn more by visiting www.montikids.com
or by emailing us at hello@montikids.com.
See how it works by watching the Monti Kids Intro Video.
Page 13
About the Authors
Zahra Kassam
Founder & CEO
Zahra is Founder and CEO of Monti Kids. Zahra graduated
Summa Cum Laude from Harvard with a BA in Psychology
and holds a Master’s degree from the Harvard Graduate
School of Education. She is an internationally certified AMI
Montessori teacher for ages zero to six. Zahra has worked as
a teacher, school administrator, school counselor, and private
consultant to schools and families. Zahra founded Monti
Kids after having her first child and struggling to prepare
a stimulating environment at home and keep up with his
development at every turn.
Page 14
About the Authors
Maria Teresa “Chacha” Vidales

Montessori Advisor
Chacha is a Global Director of Teacher Training, Former
Board Member of the Association Montessori Internationale
(AMI), and Montessori Advisor to Monti Kids. She oversaw
the design & fabrication of the Montessori materials for
babies & toddlers. She has worked as a teacher and school
administrator for over 30 years and has trained thousands of
teachers in China, Australia, Thailand, Mexico, Japan, Canada
and the US.
Page 15
References
Bescancon, M., Lubart, T., & Barbot, B. (2013) Creative giftedness and
educational opportunities. Educational & Child Psychology, 30(2), 79-88.
Davies, D. Jindal-Snape, D., Collier, C., Digby, R., Hay, P., & Howe, A. (2013).
Creative learning environments in education – A systematic literature review.
Thinking Skills and Creativity, 8(0), 80-91.
Diamond, A., & Lee, K. (2011). Interventions shown to aid executive function
development in children 4 to 12 years old. Science, 333(6045), 959-964.
Dweck, C.S. (2006). Mindset: The new psychology of success. New York, NY:
Random House, Inc.
Gopnik, A., Meltzoff, A.N., & Kuhl, P.K. (1999). The scientist in the crib: What
early learning tells us about the mind. New York, NY: Harper Collins, Inc.
Gupta, S. Go ahead, give your toddler a kitchen knife. (2015, September 15).
Retrieved from: http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/09/15/440277209/
go-ahead-give-your-toddler-a-kitchen-knife
Kotler, S. (2014). The rise of superman: Decoding the science of ultimate human
performance. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Inc.
Lillard, A.S. (2007). Montessori: The science behind the genius. New York, NY:
Oxford University Press.
Lillard A.S. (2013). Playful learning and montessori education. American Journal
of Play, 5(2), 157-186.
Wagner, T. (2012). Creating innovators: The making of young people who will
change the world. New York, NY: Scribner, Inc.
White, R.E. The power of play: A research summary on play and learning.
Retrieved from http://www.mcm.org/uploads/MCMResearchSummary.pdf
Page 16

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7 Montessori Ways to Support

Copyright © 2017 Monti Kids, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

be to activate the child’s own

natural desire to learn.”

Dr. Maria Montessori

Copyright © 2017 Monti Kids, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Learning Starts at Birth ..............................................................1

What is Montessori? ......................................................................3

7 Montessori Ways to Support Your Baby’s Learning ....8

About Monti Kids .........................................................................13

About the Authors .......................................................................14

Copyright © 2017 Monti Kids, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

85% of the brain is formed by age three

years. By age three, the brain has established a pattern of

processing information that will be used throughout life.

As such, a child’s early experiences affect the quality of her

brain architecture, forming the foundation upon which future

development rests. Early experiences also have a greater

impact on the developing brain because new experiences

experiences are ingrained at a deep level and have lasting

effects. Enhancing a child’s early years with Montessori

materials and guidance can help to fulfill and expand a child’s

long term potential.

Environment shapes brain development

box, numerous research studies show that children who grow

up in more stimulating environments do better than those

who have fewer opportunities to learn. Brain development

is activity dependent so everything a child touches, tastes,

sees, hears, and smells impacts the brain’s circuitry. Exposing

babies to a variety of age-appropriate stimuli, meeting their

developmental needs, and providing just enough challenge

Montessori is an educational approach that has been used

for over 100 years and trusted by over 20,000 schools

around the world. It is an ideal educational method for

young children that involves a series of toys, designed

through research, to meet their developmental needs. It is

comprehensive — addressing the child’s cognitive, physical,

have long recognized the many benefits of Montessori

provide the necessary competencies in a fast-changing

world where learning how to learn is the best foundation for

it prescribes learning through doing, involving as many

senses as possible to fully capture a child’s attention and to

promote the synthesis of information at every level. Children

learn best when they move. While we often consider them as

separate, motor development and cognitive development

are fundamentally intertwined, tapping into similar areas

of the brain. Numerous research studies show that when

educational activities incorporate movement, learners gain a

better understanding of content and remember that content

more accurately. Every Montessori lesson involves both mind

and body; even vocabulary is learned through incorporating

new words in movement games.

whether it be feeding herself or choosing and mastering

a challenging toy. Montessori fosters independence and

self-direction through the thoughtful design of each toy,

the adult interacts with the child. Enabling a child to act

independently helps her to grow in self-confidence and to

build up her internal locus of control, the sense that she

is capable and powerful. Studies show that when children

have more control over their learning, they work harder,

perform better, retain more information, and are more

creative and joyful.