Montessori Play And Learn: A Parent's Guide to Purposeful Play from Two to Six

Now, Lesley Britton, the leading Montessori practitioner in England for more than twenty years, will show parents how to bring Montessori home. If you would like to facilitate the development of your child's unique personality, make it possible for him to develop to his full intellectual capacity, and help him become socially and emotionally well adjusted, then this is the book for you.

Montessori Play and Learn is packed with ideas, activities, and games that can fit into your normal routine and help supplement preschool learning for your child. For planning your home, introducing your child to the supermarket or the neighborhood, and helping him discover other people and cultures, this book provides valuable tips and insights that help parents and children grow and learn together.
-- Create hundreds of learning opportunities from everyday life
-- Learn dozens of games and activities to help prepare children for mathematics, reading, science, and writing
-- Make your home environment as stimulating for your child as the best Montessori preschool

"Montessori Play and Learn" is a great tool to have in applying this learning method at home. It isn't difficult or complicated but does require dedication to achieve your goal. In other words, buying and reading this book and performing only a handful of the ideas on an irregular basis will not get your child where you'd like him/her to be. Activities are broken down by age groups, and games can be something as simple as putting 10 bottles of herbs and spices on the table for your child to smell and explore. Other tips included exploring the neighborhood, setting the dinner table, allowing them to do tasks (such as applying lip balm) you'd normally do for them (this gives them a sense of accomplishment), and other activities that stimulate our children's inborn motivation to learn. Worth finding a used or out-of-print copy until Crown decides to publish a revised edition.


great for parents wanting to educate in the home   March 21, 1998
Stacy (Wonderous New England)
32 out of 33 found this review helpful

If parents are the first teachers, and home is the first school, then this is the instruction manual! Great ideas for helping young children learn in a way that they enjoy. Easy to follow examples trancend Montessori-these are activities every parent should do with their child.


Excellent Montessori resource for the home   February 17, 2006
C. DePaula (Florida)
23 out of 23 found this review helpful

I was looking for a good way to teach my preschool son at home using some elements of the Montessori method. However, I wanted to go at my own pace and in a relaxed way. If you need a more regimented and structured Montessori method at home read Elizabeth Hainstock's books. Leslie Britton's book is well-written, concise and hits all the main points. I really like the games and activities designed for children from two to six. I am able to pick and choose and with home materials to teach my son at home. My son is two so he's only able to participate in a few exercises. Can't recommend it enough.


A must for parents with small children   July 8, 2001
Jennifer R Wagnon
20 out of 22 found this review helpful

Parents often wonder what activities they can do with their children to help them learn, this book is crammed with great ideas! The activities are mostly simple to set-up, they are fun for the kids and help kids learn a variety of skills. Every parent of an under-five should own this book.


Informative & practical, easy-to-implement activities!   April 12, 2007
z hayes (TX)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

My daughter will be attending a Montessori preschool in a couple of months [she's 2], and I wanted a practical manual that would introduce me to Montessori methods I could implement at home. This book is full of practical ideas, and is filled with activities and games thatare easy to implement in the home, and as a follow-up to preschool learning. The book covers topics like who is Maria Montessori, what is the essence of the Montessori method,how to use the Montessori method, planning your home around your child[child's bedroom, living room, kitchen, bathroom, hall &stairs, games & activities] , exploring the neighborhood[in the backyard, in the park, in the countryside, in the city, going to school], & discovering about the world[the human family, journeys & explorations, the universe]. There are lots of practical & useful activities & games that one can implement with relative ease in the home or outside. The ideas in this book go a long way to helping stimulate a young child in line with the Montessori method.