Heart & Hand Conference for Parents at Newton Montessori School

October 30, 2018 - Newton Montessori School is preparing to host its 2nd annual “Heart and Hand” conference which brings parents, caregivers, and educators together for an interactive day of learning. The event—officially titled “Heart & Hand: Everyday Montessori for Parents & Caregivers,” will take place Saturday, November 17, at Newton Montessori School (NMS) in Newton Centre.

“Caring for young children is rewarding, but it can also be challenging,” notes NMS Head of School, Beth Black. “We are often asked what ‘magic’ we use create serene, purposeful learning environments, as well as the techniques our teachers use to calmly manage those inevitable moments when kids have meltdowns. We’re looking forward to sharing ways families can apply key tenets of Montessori philosophy to their everyday lives with kids.”

“The Heart and Hand conference is packed with workshops that get adults more engaged in their children’s lives,” says Becky Alukonis, NMS Beginner Division Leader and a member of the conference planning team. “We want parents and other adults to come out of this conference with skills and tools they can use as soon as they go home that afternoon.”

This year, Heart & Hand offers interactive “How to” sessions including: how to set up a playspace that nurtures curiosity and independence; how to effectively redirect a child using respectful language; how to get kids interested in science and math through creative tinkering activities, how to avoid power struggles when toilet training; and more. There’s even a session on how to introduce your young ones to woodworking tools, taught by NMS Design Lab teacher, Merav Rosen.

In the conference landscape, Heart & Hand is a unique entity: a low-cost offering focused on de-mystifying Montessori specifically for parents and caregivers of young children. The entire format of the day—from the low registration cost to the half-day timespan—was designed to fit into the busy lives of parents and others who care for children under five.

“Last year, Heart and Hand participants included parents, grandparents, and au pairs,” Black explains. “Their participation really enriched the conference, so we are excited to offer this Saturday morning offering to them again. This year, we’re hoping to also draw in high school and college students who are studying Early Childhood development. Even though we will be sharing what we do, this is not a Montessori sales pitch—we are genuinely interested in supporting families in the important work of raising caring, curious, and confident children.”

Sze-kar Wan, a participant in the conference last year, agrees. “We learned so much about the Montessori philosophy, not only in theory but especially in practice,” Wan notes. “The visit to the classrooms and one-to-one conversations with the teachers were invaluable. The conference was a main reason we decided to enroll our two-year-old twins in NMS. Highly recommended!”

“Heart & Hand Conference: Everyday Montessori for Parents & Caregivers,” will take place Saturday, November 17, at Newton Montessori School, 80 Crescent Ave. in Newton Centre. Tickets include lunch and are $30 until 11/11, and $35 11/12 and later. Full conference information and the registration link can be found at www.newtonmontessori.org/heart-and-hand-2018.

Newton Montessori School is a diverse, thriving co-educational community serving students age Toddler through Grade 8, where students are encouraged to explore their natural curiosity.