Haley Turner's Peaceful Montessori Parenting is an insightful and practical guide for parents seeking a nurturing and respectful approach to raising their children. Rooted in Montessori principles, this book emphasizes fostering independence, empathy, and emotional intelligence while creating a calm and harmonious home environment.

Turner’s writing is clear, compassionate, and relatable, making complex educational concepts accessible to parents of all backgrounds. The book is rich with actionable advice, from setting up a Montessori-inspired space at home to using gentle communication strategies that empower children to make thoughtful decisions. Turner also provides helpful real-life examples, making it easy for parents to visualize how these techniques can be integrated into their daily routines.

One of the book's standout features is its focus on the parent-child relationship. Turner encourages readers to model the behaviors they wish to see in their children, emphasizing mutual respect and mindful parenting. Her advice is not prescriptive but adaptable, recognizing that every family’s journey is unique.

Peaceful Montessori Parenting is an invaluable resource for anyone looking to adopt a more intentional and peaceful parenting style. Whether you’re new to Montessori or looking to deepen your understanding, this book offers a wealth of wisdom and inspiration. Highly recommended for modern parents seeking connection and balance.

I was already familiar with many of the methods, aims and objectives of Montessori prior to reading the book and have long believed it to be an excellent way of helping children to grow and develop. This book lays out the Montessori method in a clear and understandable format for parents and is very user friendly.

I felt this book would be good for a person new to Montessori or a review for those needing a refresher but nothing super new.

This book was an introduction to the Montessori Parenting method, and it's probably one of the best ones I've read so far: it's very informative, with lots of references to other sources, yet very accessible.
There's many elements that I really liked about it. First and foremost, there were many links between the Montessori method and research studies, with specific examples (which is especially useful if one wants to further their learning about one specific topic). Secondly, it emphasises the concept of "Montessori beyond the shelf" (applying Montessori beyond the traditional materials and aesthetic) and adapting some Montessori principles for a more accessible lifestyle, which is not often talked about but can be a game changer.
There's plenty of exercises for the parents and a few activity ideas for kids. I know I will revisit this over and over and I'd highly recommend it to every parent interested in this method.

I've always wanted to learn what makes Montessori classes so different and this book did a fantastic job explaining it all. It broke it down into easy to follow sections which is always helpful. I don't agree with all aspects of it but I'll definitely implement some of the strategies with my toddler.

A good present idea and informative book with a relaxing tone about parenting. Inspiring for even when your children or pupils are older.

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.