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.