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RIE®️ is a respectful childcare method created by Magda Gerber. With it's emphasis on intentional caregiving and predictable environments RIE®️ is beautiful. In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy discuss RIE®️ and how its principles are similar and different to Montessori for infants and toddlers. We share our experiences with RIE®️, which parts speak most to us, and which parts we find challenging.  Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2021/05/MontessoriRIEbabiestoddlerspodcast.html

Montessori bedrooms can look and feel a lot of different ways depending on a family's space. In this episode, we talk about how they have used Montessori to create their children's sleeping spaces. They explore the qualities that are important to find in Montessori bedrooms. Finally, they address some of the challenges of creating a bedroom space including sharing rooms and what toys to have in the bedroom.  Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2021/04/shelf-help-ep-49-montessori-bedrooms.html 

This week we return to the topic of screen time and answer some listener questions about how we approach certain screen time scenarios. Questions included how we approach sports, restaurants and traveling. Again, we stress that every family will make decisions that feel right for their own individual families and children.  Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2021/04/montessoriscreentimeqa.html

Tiny babies can interact with their environment in so many interesting ways. The Montessori mobiles offer a variety of interesting experiences for babies to explore in developmentally appropriate ways. In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy talk about their experiences with Montessori mobiles. We address a variety of mobiles, when to introduce them, and how we use them.  Show Notes here: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2021/04/shelf-help-ep47-montessori-baby-mobiles.html

Screen time can be a hot button issue for many parents. This week, Nicole and Amy approach screen time from a Montessori perspective. We discuss some Montessori principles that influence our choices to limit screen time with our families. We share how much screen time we allow and what television shows we show our children.  Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2021/03/shelf-help-ep-46-how-we-approach-screen.html 

As the world slowly reopens, many of us are looking forward to seeing family and friends again. In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy discuss how they approach family members and friends who may not be into or know about Montessori. How do we open up these parenting conversations in these cases? This episode includes a discussion on how we approach grandparents, cousins, screen time, and playdates.  Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2021/03/shelf-help-ep-45-when-grandparents-and.html

In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy talk about raising intuitive eaters and developing a healthy relationship to food. We talk about how we balance offering choice, providing structure, and trust when it comes to eating. We share some of the challenges our families have faced and some of the ways we are scaffolding our kids to success.  Show Notes here: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2021/03/shelf-help-ep-44-food-struggles-and.html

Themed shelves for every holiday? Weekly shelf rotations? Open ended toys? In this week's episode Nicole and Amy discuss toy rotations in their Montessori homes. We talk about how we approach toy rotations, themed work, and our rotation rhythms. From our own observations, to actually choosing toys, we talk about everything toy rotations.  Show Notes here: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2021/02/shelf-help-ep-43-little-shelf-rotation.html 

Deciding on a school can be difficult choice for many families. In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy talk about what they look for when deciding on a Montessori school for their children. They examine some of the "must haves" and some of the things that would give them pause about specific schools. They also have an honest discussion on the pros and cons of public verses private Montessori schools. Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2021/02/shelf-help-ep-42-choosing-montessori.html 

In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy address breastfeeding and weaning. From those early newborn days through toddlerhood, Montessori parents can enjoy a breastfeeding relationship with their children. We discuss how to create an environment to support that relationship, and how to respectfully stop nursing when the time comes.  Show Notes here: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2021/02/shelf-help-ep-41-montessori-and.html

Amy is back with her new baby Frances! In this week's episode, we catch up with Amy to see how she and her family are adjusting to their new baby. This week we talk about using Montessori from birth and how that can be different in many ways from mainstream parenting. Nicole and Amy discuss Montessori newborn basics including care routines, playtime, and helping siblings to adjust.  Show Notes here: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2021/02/shelf-help-ep-40-fourth-trimester.html 

With Amy still on maternity leave we have another question and answer session! We talk about a variety of topics including the Montessori approach to chore charts, to baby routines, and baby gates. Nicole and Amy also have a long discussion about toddler independence, separation anxiety and what to do when toddler's say "no!" Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2021/01/shelf-help-ep-39-q-part-2.html 

Amy's baby has been born and she is officially on maternity leave. Today we have part 1 of a pre-recorded question and answer session where we answer a variety of Montessori questions submitted on our Instagrams. We talk about everything from Montessori with older kids, play spaces for 1-year-olds, and how to approach kids that aren't interested in independent work.  Show notes found here: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2021/01/shelf-help-ep-38-baby-is-here-lets-q.html 

With Amy on maternity leave, Nicole welcomes her husband Morgan to Shelf Help. They discuss how they started using Montessori and his role within their home. He shares his favorite and least favorite parts of Montessori at home. We also discuss how to get on the same page with Montessori with your parenting partner and answer listener questions about dads and Montessori.    Find Show Notes here: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2021/01/shelf-help-ep-37-being-parenting-team.html

In the last episode for 2020, Nicole and Amy chat about their birth stories. As Amy's due date approaches, we reminisce about our previous pregnancies, and birth experiences. From hospital births with interventions, to pain free unmedicated labor, we talk about how our babies were born and the first times we met each of our children. (CW: Miscarriage)

The Montessori approach to potty learning looks a lot different than a traditional "potty training" method. In this week's episode Nicole and Amy introduce the concept of potty learning and talk about what that process looks like for their families. We discuss everything from toilet awareness with infants to transitioning to undies and what happens when there is an accident.  Show Notes found here: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2020/12/shelf-help-ep-35-introduction-to.html

Holiday celebrations look different for every family. As Montessori families we are looking for ways to include our children in our celebrations in active and meaningful ways. In today's episode, Nicole and Amy discuss their Christmas traditions and how they include their children in the celebrations. From secular to religious ideas, we discuss how we will celebrate this holiday season. Show Notes: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2020/11/shelf-help-ep-34-christmas.html

There is a lot of pressure for young children to freely share toys and navigate social situations on their own. As Montessori parents, Nicole and Amy don't make their children share and instead let their children use toys for as long as they want. In this week's episode, we discuss how we approach sharing, waiting, and the emotions that come from learning to relate to other people. Show Notes Here: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2020/11/shelf-help-ep-33-why-we-dont-make-our.html

The Montessori math curriculum is one incredible part of a Montessori education. From concrete to abstraction, children use hands on mathematical materials to learn the ins and outs of mathematics. In this week's episode, Nicole and Amy dive into the world of Montessori math explaining a little about how it works, why it works, and how we support our children's mathematical minds at home.  Find show notes here: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2020/11/shelf-help-ep-32-beauty-of-montessori.html

Nicole and Amy are back from fall break to talk about the holidays! In this week's episode, we are catching up and sharing how we approach Santa in our homes. While every Montessori family will find their own rhythm when it comes celebrations. We also address the Tooth Fairy and Easter Bunny. Honest Santa discussion starts at 23 minutes. Show Notes found here: https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2020/11/shelf-ep-31-our-approaches-toward-santa.html