Montessori from the Start

The Child at Home, from Birth to Age Three

By: Paula Polk Lillard, Lynn Lillard Jessen

Narrated by: Randye Kaye

Length: 9 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

What can parents do to help their youngest children in their task of self-formation? How does the Montessori method of hands-on learning and self-discovery relate to the youngest infants? This authoritative and accessible book answers these and many other questions.

Based on Dr. Maria Montessori's instructions for raising infants, its comprehensive exploration of the first three years incorporates the furnishings and tools she created for the care and comfort of babies. From the design of the baby's bedroom to the child-sized kitchen table, from diet and food preparation to clothing and movement, the authors provide guidance for the establishment of a beautiful and serviceable environment for babies and very young children. They introduce concepts and tasks, taking into account childrens' "sensitive periods" for learning such skills as dressing themselves, food preparation, and toilet training. Brimming with anecdote and encouragement, and written in a clear, engaging style, Montessori from the Start is a practical and useful guide to raising calm, competent, and confident children.

©2003 Paula Polk Lillard and Lynn Lillard Jessen (P)2017 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Parents who embrace Montessori's approach will find this a marvelous guide to child rearing, and prospective teachers wishing to gain insights into the Montessori method will value it as a clear and concise introduction." ( Library Journal)

Good aside from some bias

I think this is great resource about Montessori but have to note that there are random statements that show the author can be jaded at times. References to “classical” art and music and statements about “proper” grammar show a strong penchant for classism and racial bias. This book doesn’t take into account that Montessori should be inclusive to all dialects, classes, and cultures. When the author mentions these; ignore it. Montessori was made for neurodiverse learners experiencing poverty. However in this book neurodiverse learners are ignored and not discussed. I hope the author does better but I also hope readers know that Montessori is more thoughtful about these things than the author. Still this is a very detailed helpful resource.

Very informative, but...

I can honestly say that I learned quite a bit about the Montessori approach at home. However, it seems too unrealistic at times, not really considering the ups and downs of child rearing. The real life examples given picture the child and family's life as always joyful and peaceful. The tone is condescending most of the time and it even tells you that you are "a bad mother if", which is unrespectful and totally subjective. I found it to be a stressful read at times. I think a lot can be done to make this book purely informational with realistic expectations and guidelines. The narrator doesn't really help with this either. I couldn't find similar books for this age group though, so give it a try!

Good information, not the best presentation

I'm glad this wasn't my first introduction to Montessori. There's some good wisdom to be found here, but I found the presentation to be quite intimidating and judgmental. I just wished for a bit more of an encouraging guide (and maybe a little more acknowledgement of just how hard it is to be a parent?) I think if I'd read this right when right when my son was born I would have been too overwhelmed to give it a chance, when in reality the steps that I've taken in Montessori have been a great experience.

Clinical, Informative

If you take this cold book to heart, you're going to be a judgmental parent that everyone hates. This book describes the author's interpretation of Montessori in a condescending tone, but the content is excellent. The author dictates the reasons behind certain practices, and the descriptions of situations are complete. The book ends on a sour note, though: there's no accommodation for varying socioeconomic status or physical/mental capability of kids, and the conclusion is a shame fest describing Charlie, a wonderful boy who is perfect in every way, as if to say your own kid could never be as good because you're not as perfect as Patricia and Andrew.

organization of chapters

it would be more helpful to hear all the newborn aged suggestions at one chapter. I found the organization of the book not easy to absorb but the information is interesting. a very good perspective on the Montessori method.

helpful new information!

i've read multiple baby books but after reading this book i'm in love with the montessory theory. this feels like the one and only baby guide needed for the first 3 years of a babys life. It covered topics on baby sleeping, potty training and discipline...as if the other popular baby books information had been originally derived from this guide. after reading this book i've enrolled in the Monti Baby subscription to begin incorporating the right toys in my home. i will definalty aim to take a montisorri course for my 2nd pregnancy. highly recommend to all parents!

Easy logical dialog

I really like how it was presented. Its divided into specific categories of development so easy to go back to and give it a listen once your child has outgrown the stage of development he or she is in.

A wealth of information and inspiration

The information in this book is invaluable. It is easy to follow and easy to listen to. The narrator is excellent and has a calming effect. I feel so empowered after this “read.”

Great Content, Terrible Narration

I absolutely love this book. The content is excellent, and I even own this book in print. Listening to Randye Kaye narrate it, though, is physically painful. Her vocal cadence and sing-song tone of voice as she reads, along with the over-pronunciation of each word makes listening to this book a miserable experience. Only the best content could make such a terrible vocal performance worth enduring. I recommend the book... in print.

Informational for first time parents interested in the methods of Montessori

I became interested in Montessori after learning about the idea of a floor mattress and wanted to know more about how to raise a baby with Montessori’s methods. This is our first baby and I’m open to all information. There were parts of this book that resonated with me and gave me something new to consider or think about, and other ideas seemed pretty extreme. To me it seems like most baby books are like that. The narrator is very robotic and unpleasant to listen to at first but once I got into the content of the book it didn’t bother me as much. I would recommend this book to other new parents who are interested in Montessori. I’m sure if you’re familiar with Montessori, a lot of the information would seem repetitive, but for me it was all new.