Every Day Begins New

I finished reading The Purposeful Child a week ago on Kindle and it was one of those books that, even though is still relevant for me now that I have an almost four and six-year-old, I wish I had come across and read at the very beginning of my Parenting journey. I would also say the same for the book Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne which is another great read. I don’t read many parenting books, but I do like the ones that focus on simplicity in the home.

The Purposeful Child is a simple, practical read, that is easy to follow and focuses on aspects of Montessori, Waldorf, Social Emotional Learning and Positive Parenting. Lorena is a Parent Educator, Certified Montessori Teacher and mother of three. You can read more over on The Purposeful Child Blog.

Here is what the Purposeful Child is really about…..free play, time in nature, meaningful activities, creating things with head, hands and heart, simple living and being present. Less screens, yelling, bribing, threatening or punishments. More connection, trust, independence, resilience, emotional stability and kindness. –The Purposeful Child Blog

Book Contents;

Part 1- The Child.

• Reasons Children Do What They Do and What They Need to Thrive
• The Need for Love and Power
• Why Children Misbehave
• Children Need Worthy Role Models
• A Positive Family Dynamic
• Constructive Perceptions About self, Others and the World
• Children Need Rhythm
• The Need for a Prepared Environment

“We can help children learn, not by deciding what we think they should learn and thinking of ingenious ways to teach it to them, but by making the world, as far as we can, accessible to them, paying serious attention to what they do, answering their questions-if they have any- and helping them to explore the things they are most interested in“. -John Holt

Part 2- The Adult

• Becoming a Purposeful Parent
• Handle Conflict When You Are Calm
• Keep a Strong and Loving Attitude
• Use Encouragement Instead of Praise and Rewards
• Let Them Hear the Love: Strategies to Close the Communication Gap
• Choose a Method and Follow Through
• Make Time for Special Time

“The way parents speak to their children will become the way those children view themselves, and parents need to be sure to give children loving and compassionate inner voices.”- Lorena T. Seidel

“Often we save our patience and kindness for others and lack it when speaking with the ones who matter the most to us.“- Lorena T. Seidel

“We want to create an emotional climate that encourages children to cooperate because they care about themselves, and because they care about us. We want to demonstrate the kind respectful communication that we hope our children will use with us- now, during their adolescent years, and ultimately, as our adults friends.” Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish

Part 3- The Environment

• Learning through Everyday Life
• Welcome to My Purposeful Home
• A purposeful Kitchen
• A Place to Rest
• Self-Care Made Simple
• Playing with a Purpose
• Purposeful Time-Out
• Free Play
• Conflicts and Sharing
• Outdoor Play

“Never help a child with a task at which he feels he can succeed.” –Dr. Maria Montessori

“Realizing the peculiarly absorbent nature of the child’s mind, she has prepared for him a special environment; and, then, placing the child within it, has given him the freedom to live in it, absorbing what he finds there….The first aim of the prepared environment is, as far as it is possible, to render the growing child independent of the adult. That is, it is a place where he can do things for himself- live his own life-without the immediate help of adults”. -Dr. Maria Montessori

I enjoyed this book and came away not feeling overwhelmed like so many Parenting books can make you feel, but inspired. Like Lorena says in her book ‘Great parenting is not about perfection but about improvement‘.

Have you read this book or would like to recommend any other helpful Parenting books?