By: Alex Chiu<\/p>\n
In the fall of this past school year, The Montessori Children\u2019s Academy (MCA) was proud to host Dr. Eileen Kennedy-Moore as a guest speaker for a Speaker Series event.\u00a0 Dr. Kennedy-Moore shared her professional insights on a variety of parenting topics, balanced with her own honest experiences as a mother of four.\u00a0 She was an engaging speaker, and she enlightened everyone who attended this special event. \u00a0Her focus on the topics in her book Smart Parenting for Smart Kids<\/em> stirred up lively conversation.\u00a0 The book, which is filled with vignettes and strategies for raising smart kids who will become healthy, happy, and independent adults, raised a great deal of interest and intrigue among the audience members.<\/p>\n In order to keep the conversations going, MCA sponsored a Parent Book Club featuring Smart Parenting for Smart Kids<\/em> in the spring of 2016.\u00a0 Twenty parents from all three MCA campuses participated in the six weekly sessions, with each week zeroing in a different topic of discussion taken from sections of the selected book. \u00a0A Head Teacher at each campus guided the conversations where parents exchanged personal experiences about the challenges of parenting, asked questions, and bonded over the content of the conversation.<\/p>\n The Book Club provided a platform for delving into a variety of issues that were commonly experienced by members of the group, and together, using the book as a guide, they brainstormed methods for better understanding and helping their children.\u00a0 Certainly this was the common denominator for the group – all parents seek new techniques for working with their children as they grow up.<\/p>\n We reached out to Dr. Kennedy-Moore and invited her to share some background information about why she wrote Smart Parenting for Smart Kids<\/em>. She shared the following:<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the comments that my co-author, Mark Lowenthal, and I hear a lot from parents in our practices is \u201cMy kid is smart, but\u2026\u201d The \u201cbut\u201d could be that their children get very upset when they make mistakes, or they have trouble getting along with other kids, or they constantly argue with adults\u2026 These parents know that their children are bright, but they worry because they also know that it takes more than school smarts to create a satisfying life\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n This book is about helping children develop inner strength and outward empathy. The world tells bright children that their performance matters; they need us, their parents, to tell them that they are much more than the sum of their accomplishments. They need to know that we love them for their kindness, curiosity, imagination, determination, and sense of fun. Qualities like these aren\u2019t necessarily impressive, but they matter deeply.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n MCA\u2019s Director of Montessori Development, Camilla Nichols-Uhler, added that many of the tenets in Dr. Kennedy-Moore\u2019s book complement Montessori education, making this book choice something which dovetails with what our parents are learning about how their children work within a prepared Montessori environment.\u00a0 She explains:<\/p>\n \u201cIn Montessori classrooms, teachers guide the children to develop solutions to challenges and problems in a practical way while at the same time gaining self-confidence.\u00a0 Children find ways to be successful working independently and in groups through each stage of their development and throughout their Montessori education.\u00a0 The focus is not just on academics, but also on developing the whole child.\u00a0 <\/em>Smart Parenting for Smart Kids and the Montessori philosophy share the value of nurturing the whole child.\u00a0 Parents learn how to lay the best foundation at home just as we lay the foundation for our students\u2019 academic, social, and emotional growth while at MCA.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n Our Book Club facilitators and parent participants enjoyed Dr. Kennedy-Moore\u2019s book and the discussions about positive parenting that ensued at the club meetings.<\/p>\n Mrs. Gallo, one of the club facilitators, shared her experience with us:<\/p>\n \u201c<\/em>I thoroughly enjoyed hosting the MCA Book Club. \u00a0The parents were great and really positive and supportive of each other. \u00a0We had five parents and most were able to attend the entire series. We typically started out with the chapter topic, but often parents had parenting issues that they wanted to talk about.\u00a0 The biggest takeaway from the series was tuning into the child by reflecting what the child is saying. \u00a0This enables the child to know that you heard him or her and allows the parent to slow down and focus on the child.\u00a0 I think a forum for parents to come together and discuss parenting concerns is so needed\u2026 \u00a0All-in-all it was a positive experience\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n With so many challenges facing parents and children today, having a place where people can come together to exchange ideas and glean insights from experts and peers can alleviate some of the stress of parenting.\u00a0 It can also foster feelings of confidence when parents realize that they are not alone and that there are people and resources out there to support them in their efforts to be the best parents that they can be.\u00a0 As the saying goes, \u201cIt takes a village.\u201d<\/p>\n A parent participating in our Book Club commented:<\/p>\n \u201cThe Book Club offered me an opportunity to pause and reflect on some of the struggles I face as a parent in addressing my children\u2019s needs. \u00a0I found it helpful to hear other parents\u2019 experiences and to discuss strategies with them\u2026. \u00a0I enjoyed participating in the Book Club and found it helpful, overall.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n We were thrilled by the positive response to our inaugural Parent Book Club and are looking forward to hosting another in the 2016-2017 school year.\u00a0 Stay tuned to learn when it will be held and which book will be the focus for the next set of meetings!\u00a0 If you were unable to be a part of our Parent Book Club this year, we recommend that you add Smart Parenting for Smart Kids<\/em> to your summer reading list. And while you\u2019re at it\u2026 Here are some other titles you may want to check out while traveling, lounging poolside, or just taking a lemonade break in your backyard:<\/p>\n By: Alex Chiu In the fall of this past school year, The Montessori Children\u2019s Academy (MCA) was proud to host Dr. Eileen Kennedy-Moore as a guest speaker for a Speaker Series event.\u00a0 Dr. Kennedy-Moore shared her professional insights on a variety of parenting topics, balanced with her own honest experiences as a mother of four.\u00a0 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[3,87],"tags":[90,89,26,96,92,17,5,46,4,54,78,93,9,94,95,68,6,91,88],"coauthors":[13],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7icff-3B","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":849,"url":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/2019\/04\/10\/the-mca-parent-book-club\/","url_meta":{"origin":223,"position":0},"title":"The MCA Parent Book Club","author":"Alex Chiu","date":"April 10, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"By Alex Chiu with Jacqueline Pisciotto and Imelda McShane \u00a0 MCA is delighted to be hosting its 4th Annual Parent Book Club at two of our campuses this spring. This year\u2019s featured book is Raising Resilient Children by Dr. Robert Brooks and Sam Goldstein. The book, selected by MCA\u2019s Director\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Montessori in your Home"","block_context":{"text":"Montessori in your Home","link":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/category\/montessori-in-your-home\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Raising-Resilient-Children-Book-Cover-203x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":742,"url":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/04\/creating-a-montessori-community\/","url_meta":{"origin":223,"position":1},"title":"Creating a Montessori Community","author":"Alex Chiu","date":"October 4, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"By Alex Chiu Parents who choose Montessori for their children\u2019s education hopefully find themselves embarking on an educational journey that goes beyond what their children learn within their classroom walls. An equally important aspect to Montessori education is creating a community among the children, parents, teachers, and administrators, and then\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"benefits of Montessori\"","block_context":{"text":"benefits of Montessori","link":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/tag\/benefits-of-montessori\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/acorns-300x225.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1364,"url":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/2024\/08\/23\/the-montessori-childrens-academy-and-cora-hartshorn-arboretum-and-bird-sanctuary-a-match-made-in-nature\/","url_meta":{"origin":223,"position":2},"title":"The Montessori Children\u2019s Academy and Cora Hartshorn Arboretum and Bird Sanctuary: A Match Made in Nature!","author":"Tori Inkley","date":"August 23, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"By Camilla Nichols, Senior Director of Montessori Development In a quaint neighborhood in Short Hills, New Jersey, within walking distance from the train station, lies a hidden gem; a sanctuary, nestled in the woods known as Cora Hartshorn Arboretum and Bird Sanctuary (CHA). The arboretum was developed by Cora L.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Care of Environment"","block_context":{"text":"Care of Environment","link":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/category\/care-of-environment\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/IMG_7750-rotated.jpg?fit=240%2C320&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1235,"url":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/2023\/12\/29\/the-absorbent-mind-supporting-mcas-youngest-learners\/","url_meta":{"origin":223,"position":3},"title":"The Absorbent Mind: Supporting MCA\u2019s Youngest Learners","author":"Tori Inkley","date":"December 29, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"by Bernadette Fasolas, Director of Hiring and Montessori Educationand Tori Inkley, Executive Director \u201cAbsorbent Mind\u201d is a term coined by Dr. Maria Montessori to describe the natural absorption of information by a child from birth through the age of 6 years. A child in this age range has been described\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Early Child Education"","block_context":{"text":"Early Child Education","link":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/category\/early-child-education\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/MMCM1.jpg?fit=440%2C650&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":687,"url":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/2018\/04\/04\/building-community-through-books\/","url_meta":{"origin":223,"position":4},"title":"Building Community through Books","author":"Alex Chiu","date":"April 4, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"by Alex Chiu Some of our MCA parents are currently participating in MCA\u2019s Parent Book Club meetings at our Morristown and Short Hills campuses. They are reading The Childhood Roots of Adult Happiness by Edward Hallowell and discussing the five key elements that maintain the joy of childhood for children\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Early Child Education"","block_context":{"text":"Early Child Education","link":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/category\/early-child-education\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Book-Blog-Photo-300x186.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1260,"url":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/2024\/02\/26\/the-montessori-childrens-academy-celebrates-montessori-education-week-2024\/","url_meta":{"origin":223,"position":5},"title":"The Montessori Children\u2019s Academy Celebrates\u00a0Montessori Education\u00a0Week 2024","author":"Tori Inkley","date":"February 26, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"by Camilla Nichols, Senior Director of Montessori Developmentand Tori Inkley, Executive Director During the week of February 25 \u2013 March 2, 2024, several hundred students at\u00a0The Montessori Children\u2019s Academy\u00a0(MCA), along with Montessori students from around the world, will celebrate Montessori Education Week! Montessori Education Week is an annual event that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Citizens of the World"","block_context":{"text":"Citizens of the World","link":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/category\/citizens-of-the-world\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/MEW1.jpg?fit=316%2C238&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/223"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=223"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/223\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":494,"href":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/223\/revisions\/494"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=223"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=223"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=223"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=223"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n