Montessori Parent Child Center

When Toddlers Reject the Potty… What’s Next?

Many toddlers start toilet learning with excitement—then suddenly lose interest. It’s a normal part of the journey, but it can feel frustrating for parents.

In our latest Oui Montessori blog post, we explore gentle, Montessori-inspired ways to re-engage your child, turning potty struggles into playful, confidence-building learning experiences.

Discover practical strategies and support for this common stage of development

Toddler Resisting the Potty? Gentle Montessori Toilet Learning Tips Gentle Montessori toilet learning tips to help your toddler regain interest in the potty. Playful strategies for a positive toilet learning journey.

Parenting is full of joys and challenges, and finding the right balance can sometimes feel overwhelming. That’s why I’m excited to share Oui Montessori—a space I’ve created to offer practical advice and Montessori-inspired wisdom to parents and caregivers.

📖 On the blog, you’ll find:
✨ Timeless insights (Lessons from a Montessori Pioneer).
✨ Tips on setting loving boundaries (Be the Pilot of Your Home).
✨ Reflections on how tools like cribs and playpens can support respectful caregiving (3 Surprising Non-Montessori Items I Embraced).

🌟 Explore the blog and more: https://ouimontessori.com/montessori-blog/

Happiest New Year! Wishing you and your little ones a healthy and joyful 2022!

We talked about the importance of not drawing for young children in class this morning. Here is a great follow-up article by Janet Lansbury.

Why Not Draw For A Child? - Janet Lansbury When we draw, mold, paint, or even build a sandcastle for our toddler, we can discourage her from doing those things herself. If she can’t do as well as mommy or daddy, why bother? The unfortunate result of this is that our children disengage from an activity that might have provided a creative ou...

We look forward to helping you bring the calm and joy of Montessori home!

"If your child is working on a drawing, for example, you don’t need to comment on every color selection. Wait until the end, when your child shows you the drawing, and then say something like, “Ooh, I see you chose to put the purple next to the brown — that’s so interesting!”"

Are You Overpraising Your Child? All those “Good jobs!” might be undermining kids’ independence and self-confidence.

Happy Thanksgiving to all our wonderful families! While this year's Thanksgiving feels different, we still have so much to be grateful for. I am thankful for all our amazing families who continue to make the Montessori Parent Child Center a reality and for your support during this challenging time. I am thankful for the children's smiles that greet me every week at the start of our classes and for being able to stay connected during this time of social distancing. May your family and loved ones have a wonderful and healthy Thanksgiving and may we all remember the blessings we have during this unprecedented time.

New Montessori Parenting Class - https://mailchi.mp/f58a80bb28f9/qa112320

Are there days when your child repeatedly tests limits? And is it on things they totally already know there are rules about?

Like, they ask for chips 15 minutes before dinner?
Or, extra iPad time,even though they used up their quota?
Or not to wear their jacket, even though there's fresh snow on the ground.

It feels like they are pushing buttons. Badgering, badgering, badgering...

Those kids are so smart!

Smart you say?

Aboslutely.

When kids have stuff weighing on them, one of the easiest ways to release it is through crying.

But when kids have stuff weighing on them, their thinking doesn't work so simply.

They don't think, "Hmmn...I need a good cry," and cry.

No.

They create these kind of pre-texts.

They push up against known boundaries, because it can get them where they need to go.

So, say they ask for the chips.

You give in. "Just one won't hurt..."

You offer one.

Of course they ask for more.

Not because they are trying to annoy you. Because they didn't get what they actually need.

The chance to work through feelings.

So, if you can, and if you have time to listen to the cry that will, inevitably come, try a calm, gently "No" the minute you realize what's happening.

That is, if you give in to one request, and your child does not go away happy, but returns with more requests, stop what you are doing and give that "No."

Do it with your full kindness, if you can, and your full loving attention.

Recognize the requests as a call for your help.

The limit will often be all they need to let go.

You'll hear a tirade of feelinsg, about the chips, the ipad, and probably a whole load of extra feelings and emotions about things that your child has tucked away.

Just hold that space for them.

When they've let go of what was weighing on them, you'll see a lightness.

The next time they ask for chips or the iPad, chances are it'll be a more "take it or leave it" request that they easily accept when you say no.

Have you seen the difference in your child? Some days they handle your "no's" just fine. Othertimes they spiral into tears?

Now you know that it's not your fault at all.

The new French nursery rhyme we've been learning in our classes. To be sung at a much slower tempo for little ones :) Happy singing!

Agnès Chaumié - Meunier tu dors - Enfance et Musique - Clip officiel http://www.aumerlemoqueur.com extrait de l'album "75 chansons, comptines et jeux de doigts" d'Agnès Chaumié et Hélène Bohy. Label "Enfance et Musique".

Online Montessori Parent-Child Classes - https://mailchi.mp/2aa60fb4bdb9/onlinemontessoriparentchildclasses The Fall 2 schedule is here. We look forward to helping you bring the joy and calm of Montessori home!

Our online Montessori Parent-Child Classes resume this week. We have a few openings in some of our classes. For more information, email us at [email protected]
We look forward to helping you bring the calm and joy of Montessori home!