Miss Crystal's Lower Lights Montessori School

A little TLC for Ms. Crystal. I felt quite pampered by my tiny friends.

“Firm and kind.” Not firm and harsh. Not kind and permissive. Firm and kind. Those two words can change everything about how we raise our children. Boundaries don’t have to come with anger. Discipline doesn’t have to be loud or mean. Kindness isn’t weakness. It’s possible to lead our children with both strength and softness. With boundaries and compassion. With conviction and connection. If you’re trying to break generational cycles of yelling, fear, punishment, or emotional disconnection—this is how we begin. 🧡 Share this with someone who’s parenting differently on purpose. 🔖 Save it for the days it feels hard. 💬 Comment below—what are you trying to do differently?

Sometimes the best thing we can give our kids is a little space to feel bored.
Not constant stimulation.
Not a packed schedule.
Not a screen every time there’s a quiet moment.

Because in those quiet, “I don’t know what to do” moments that’s where creativity starts to bloom.
That’s when they turn cardboard boxes into castles.
That’s when they find magic in mud, in sticks, in stories they make up themselves.

Let them be bored.
Let their minds wander.
That’s where curiosity blossoms.

“If mothers were flowers, I would pick you.”

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1AL1Gr5dnB/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Let’s normalize childhood. Not the polished version. Not the quiet, tidy, easy-to-manage kind. But the real thing. Here are 10 things we forget are completely normal in childhood: 1. Being loud 2. Making messes (a lot of them) 3. Moving constantly—wiggling, jumping, spinning 4. Taking forever to do simple things 5. Having big emotions over small problems 6. Wanting to do it “by myself!” 7. Interrupting when you’re mid-sentence 8. Asking the same question 10 different ways 9. Needing connection more than discipline 10. Learning through play, not performance If your child is doing these things, they’re not broken. They’re not behind. They’re becoming. #letkidsbekids #liveleaflearn #HomeschoolMom #Homeschooling #childhoodunplugged #gentleparenting #consciousparenting #wildandfreechildren #slowparenting #peacefulparenting #raisinghumansnotrobots

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/9tqEgaKZBNzj4YJ1/?mibextid=xCPwDs

Social emotional learning 🩵 In the early years, fostering social emotional learning and play is essential. Through play, kids discover, regulate emotions, and build empathy. Social interactions teach cooperation and communication, vital for relationships. Integrating these into nature-based activities connects children with the environment, nurturing emotional intelligence and well-being 🌳 #natureschool #preschool #forestschool #outdooreducation #lexingtonky #homeschoolmom #kentuckymom #freeplay #alternativeeducation #homeschool #unstructuredplay #unschoolers #montessori #waldorfeducation #evergreennatureschool #lexingtonkynews #summercamp2024 #summercamp

Eating healthy has always been important to me and teaching children to enjoy a variety of foods that are good for their bodies is key. Here are some of the food we ate this week.

https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/habits.html

We recently had a lesson on the placement of our plates, bowls and cups. The children were enthusiastic about practicing so they helped set the table for a lunch with the dolls.

“Our care of the child should be governed, not by the desire to make him learn things, but by the endeavor always to keep burning within him that light which is called intelligence.”
— Maria Montessori