We make Montessori education fun, affordable, and accessible to families at home. Curriculum and support for homeschooling parents at www.childoftheredwoods.com. Aubrey Hargis, M.Ed. is an author, parent coach, and educational consultant best known for her empathetic approach and appreciation for the magic of childhood. David Hargis, M.A., is an educator and technologist who has made things for all kinds of learners - from K-12 to college to adult. Together, they founded Child of the Redwoods in 2017 to help parents unlock the power of Montessori in their homes.
In this episode, we’re exploring how the Montessori method builds early reading skills through movement, sound games, and meaningful language. We're explaining why writing comes before reading in Montessori and how your child’s natural development makes reading not only possible, but joyful. If you’ve ever wondered when to start teaching reading or how to do it without pressure, this is the episode for you.
_________________________...
Why do siblings go from fighting to playing like best friends in a matter of minutes? In this episode, we explore the roots of sibling conflict and how Montessori-inspired strategies—like grace and courtesy lessons, collaborative activities, and setting a foundational expectation of love—can help build lasting bonds between children. Discover practical ways to nurture friendship and harmony at home, even through the chaos.
_____...
Burnout doesn’t become you—but if you’re homeschooling more than one child with Montessori, it might feel inevitable. In this episode, you’ll learn how teach more than one child in different planes of development at the same time without exhausting yourself. With the right expectations and support, Montessori can do the heavy lifting so your kids grow and learn together, and you're able to sit back sometimes and laugh with them...
You can homeschool more than one child, even if they’re different ages, have wildly different interests, and constantly interrupt each other. The secret? Stop trying to teach them the same way and start thinking like Maria Montessori.
In this Power Hour, Aubrey and David unpack why multi-age learning isn’t just manageable, it’s ideal.
_______________________________
RESOURCES:âś… Take our free quiz to see what kind of homeschooler ...
Ever feel like Montessori is a game of ping pong? *Ping* It's all about following precise lessons and materials!, *Pong* it’s about letting kids do whatever they want all day.Well, put those table tennis paddles down, friends! Montessori is NEITHER a strict script NOR a total free-for-all. It’s a balance, a sweet spot of freedom within structure.
Montessori is not something you unwrap and serve. And most definitely doesn't include a plastic toy. So if you’ve tried it and felt like it didn’t “work", well -- friends -- you’re not alone—and the problem isn’t you or your child.
In this episode, we're sharing what actually makes Montessori work and why treating it like a boxed curriculum leads so many parents to confusion, frustration, and self-doubt.
Because Montesso...
Montessori is about following the child... right? Then why do so many of us feel completely lost when we try? In this episode, we're unpacking one of the biggest misconceptions in Montessori homeschooling: the idea that “following the child” means stepping back entirely. We get it! You’re trying so hard to respect your child’s independence and let them lead—but instead of feeling confident, you’re wondering if you’re doing enou...
You can have all the Montessori knowledge. The shelf. The printables. The golden beads. But if you skip this one skill? Your homeschool won’t thrive.
In this episode, Aubrey and David reveal the most essential—and most overlooked—skill in Montessori homeschooling: observation. Not lesson planning. Not curriculum shopping. Observation.You’ll learn why focusing on how to teach matters more than what to teach. When you observe first a...
Have you ever felt like you’re doing everything “right” with Montessori - buying the materials, setting up the shelves, giving lessons - yet it still doesn’t seem to work?
In this episode of Montessori Power Hour, Aubrey and David reveal the number one reason parents get stuck when trying Montessori at home. Spoiler: It’s not about your effort. It’s about missing the method!
Plus, we celebrate Earth Day with Mr. Bunny, sharing fun, M...
As Montessorians, we believe the method has value for humans at every stage of life, starting at the earliest moments and continuing on until our final days. However, there are definitely periods when we are showing signs of readiness for something new. What are those signs? How do we know when our toddlers are ready to begin their journey with the Primary materials? Join Aubrey and David on YouTube as they explore thi...
Something strange happens in the Primary years that doesn't happen to us as adults, and it has to do with order. No, this is not the same thing as tidiness, so step aside Marie Kondo, although we share your love of containers for things that spark joy! Understanding the child's sensitivity to order is key, so join us for an episode all about how to engage your Primary child. Plus, we'll be featuring our stegosaurus pla...
In this episode, Aubrey and David talk about ways to make your Valentine's Day celebrations a little more Montessori. They also teach a simple -- yet enormously satisfying -- work that you can quickly pull out for your kids. It lends itself to Montessori scissor precision practice + geometrical explorations, and...the results are always amazing! Say hello to concentric hearts!
For more Montessori mag...
Little brains learn MORE when little fingers are involved! Join us Live as we talk about hands-on learning that is inherent in Montessori. We'll discuss the 10 core subject areas that are featured in all of our programs, and we have an Awesome Lesson for you! We're going to give you a sneak peek into our latest theme Pigment and show you how a simple prism in your window can be a HUGE opportunity for learning.
Read more
Nothing invites a child to a lesson like a good old fashioned MYSTERY. In Montessori, this is actually a key teaching tool, and hands-down one of our favorites! Join us for a Live chat on YouTube (or watch the replay!) as we talk about how to incorporate more 🕵️ skills into your homeschool.
Find the Arachnid Mysteries right here in our theme WEB: https://childoftheredwoodsmembers.com/product/web-theme/ Le...
In this episode, Aubrey and David talk about how to beat the winter blues with some fun, seasonally-inspired lessons.
For more Montessori magic, visit us at www.childoftheredwoods.com.
Join Aubrey and David as they discuss one of Maria Montessori's greatest works -- The Secret of Childhood! This is part 2 of 4 and covers chapters 8 to 17.
To learn more about our work, visit us online at www.ChildoftheRedwoods.com
Join Aubrey and David as they discuss one of Maria Montessori's greatest works -- The Secret of Childhood! This is part 1 of 4.
To learn more about our work, visit us online at www.ChildoftheRedwoods.com
In the modern world, most of us don't darn our socks because buying new ones is affordable - and because it seems daunting. But taking the time to teach your child basic sewing skills may have you rethinking your willingness to fix fabric rather than replace it by punching the buy button. With confident skills, your child will find sewing pleasant and extremely purposeful. And you only need a few materials to make it h...
Wanna see a magic trick? Like a real deal one that can't be explained away? Get a magnet and join us on YouTube for a free Awesome Lesson! We'll show you how to teach this simple yet inherently mysterious concept.
More experiments with magnets can be found in the Constellation theme Magnetic: https://childoftheredwoodsmembers.com/product/magnetic-theme/
Learn more about our work at Child...
In this special Spooky Season episode, Aubrey and David talk about how to help Littles navigate a creepy crawly holiday and why less is almost always more.
Visit www.childoftheredwoods.com for free and low cost Montessori resources for your home.
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.
Latino USA is the longest-running news and culture radio program in the U.S. centering Latino stories, hosted by Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Maria Hinojosa Every week, the Peabody winning team brings you revealing, in-depth stories about what’s in the hearts and minds of Latinos and their impact on the world. Want to support our independent journalism? Join Futuro+ for exclusive episodes, sneak peaks and behind-the-scenes chisme on Latino USA and all our podcasts. www.futuromediagroup.org/joinplus