This book does a good job of breaking down the Montessori approach in a way that’s easy to understand and implement. There were so many great tips on creating a calm, respectful environment for children.

That said, some parts felt a bit idealistic! Still, the overall message was inspiring and served as a wonderful reminder to approach parenting with greater patience and intention.

My only real complaint is that the book was only available as a PDF on the NetGalley app, which wasn’t the easiest format to read.

Overall, it’s a good introduction to Montessori parenting with plenty of practical advice and thoughtful insights.

I should preface this review by admitting I’m not a full-fledged Montessori parent, at least not yet. That said, I think Maria Montessori’s values for kindness, curiosity, and peace can benefit any family, so any family can get something helpful from this book.

I love the clear organization this book uses to save busy parents time. I appreciate that the book starts with the “why” behind the Montessori method. The book culminates with specific Montessori-aligned activities, helpfully designated by the most appropriate ages for each activity, and an appendix of visuals to use with children (e.g., a chart with artistic depictions to help them identify and communicate an emotion). The book shines on how specific and practical it is - which is especially important because Montessori activities can seem like they’re only for parents who have a lot of free time, and this book helps a bit to dispel that idea.

Turner also asserts that Montessori parenting is not permissive parenting. Even though the book very occasionally seemed a bit soft or inconsistent in my opinion (e.g., the book emphasizes the importance of boundaries and manners but also suggests that it’s wrong to prevent children from being loud), I still think it’s a five-star resource for parents and teachers. Overall, Turner does very well at emphasizing the role of a Montessori parent as an authoritative guide who uses calm, consistent boundaries to allow children to develop independence within a safe environment. I found the book a bit difficult to read on the NetGalley app, so I would definitely like to buy a physical copy to keep as a resource!

Thank you to NetGalley for the free eARC. I post this review with my honest opinions. This review is cross-posted on Goodreads and will be posted on Amazon upon the book’s publication.

I liked this book. Practical information about child development to help you understand the “why” of your child’s behavior and why the Montessori approach is beneficial. I also found the tips for parents regulating themselves to be helpful. Lastly the aesthetics/room organization and flow was really interesting. Nothing super profound or new if you’ve been following Montessori for a while but I think it could be accessible to newbies.