The Montessori Notebook podcast :: a Montessori parenting podcast with Simone Davies

S1 E9 All about how Nicole Kavanaugh makes raising 4 children (and a dog) look easy the Montessori way

Mar 27, 2020

Nicole Kavanaugh, a mother of four children, discusses Montessori parenting strategies, sibling relationships, creating intentional environments, self-care, DIY Montessori activities, and partner support. She shares insights on handling disagreements, accommodating different age groups, balancing family dynamics, dealing with miscarriages, and the importance of child-led activities.

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Introduction

00:00 • 2min

Understanding Arabata: Balancing Doshas for Well-being

02:25 • 5min

Family Dynamics and Montessori Parenting

07:54 • 18min

Creating a Prepared Environment in Montessori Education

26:12 • 22min

Exploring the Significance of Child-Led Activities

48:22 • 13min

Navigating Montessori Education with a Partner

01:01:16 • 7min

Navigating Loss and Hope After Miscarriage

01:08:46 • 5min

Montessori Philosophy in Family Life

01:13:27 • 4min

Guidance on Addressing Destructive Behavior in Active Children

01:17:05 • 5min

On today's podcast I had so much fun chatting to Nicole Kavanaugh of The Kavanaugh Report, mother of four children (and a dog), raising four children in a Montessori way. So if you've ever thought it might be easy to raise children in a Montessori way with one child, but struggled once there were some siblings involved, this episode will help you breathe a sigh of relief and give you an insight into how it can be a more relaxing way to parent, even in larger families.

We cover so much in this conversation including:

dealing with 4 children who may be needing her help and how she gets them to help each other
what Nicole does when siblings are in disagreement
the different needs of a second plane child (6-12) and how they view the world
how Nicole uses her spaces in an intentional way to meet everyone's needs
how she looks after herself
some of their favourite practical life activities and the value of including children around the home
ways to give maximum effort to a toddler/preschooler
Montessori DIY ideas and her favourite thrift store finds
what she's learning about with her fourth child
their experience using a floor bed
how she gets her husband on board with the Montessori approach
how they maintain their partnership with 4 young children
and, something now often talked about, how she dealt with her miscarriages

I also talk about how I use Ayurveda to support being a Montessori teacher and parent and give an introduction to Ayurvedic principles. As well as answer a listener question about when a child throws, hits and laughs.

For full show notes, click here: https://www.themontessorinotebook.com/raising-four-children-in-a-montessori-way/

Want even more Montessori inspiration?

- website: themontessorinotebook.com/the-montessori-notebook-podcast
- instagram: instagram.com/themontessorinotebook
- facebook: facebook.com/themontessorinotebook
- my online courses: themontessorinotebook.com/online-courses/

The Montessori Notebook podcast is hosted by Simone Davies. Edited by Luke Davies of Filmprov Media. Podcast art by Hiyoko Imai.