Hi, I’m Shai — parent, Montessori enthusiast, PhD student, and the writer behind this space. I created Exploring Montessori as a personal journal — a quiet corner of the internet where I can reflect on our family’s evolving journey with Montessori at home.
This blog isn’t about perfection. It’s not about Pinterest-worthy shelves or ticking off developmental milestones. It’s about something slower and deeper: being present, observing closely, and learning alongside my child as we move through everyday life together.
I first discovered Montessori quite by accident — while researching an entirely different topic in early childhood education. I came across a paper that mentioned the method, and something about it stayed with me. The more I read, the more curious I became. It wasn’t the materials or the layout of the environment that initially drew me in, but the ideas themselves: a deep respect for the child, an emphasis on independence, and a belief in learning as a natural, self-driven process.
What fascinated me most was the way Montessori reframes the adult’s role — not as a constant instructor, but as a careful observer and quiet guide. It offers a vision of parenting and education rooted in trust, patience, and presence. Montessori isn’t just a method; it’s a way of seeing children as whole beings from the very beginning. That shift in perspective changed not only how I understood learning — it changed how I began to show up in daily life with my son.
We began small. A mirror, Montessori mobile (munari) when my son was just two weeks old, and a few simple toys placed on a low shelf. At the time, I focused on things — materials that were developmentally appropriate and “Montessori-aligned”. I was trying to get it right. But gradually, what started to change wasn’t just the objects in our home — it was the way we moved through our days.
We began to slow down. To observe instead of direct. To follow his lead, rather than rush to the next step. Montessori gently challenged me to let go of control and step into curiosity — to see my son not as someone to shape, but as a whole person already becoming himself.
This process hasn’t been linear. There are days when the shelf is messy and the rhythm is off. Some seasons invite deep reflection and study; others are about simply keeping up with the flow of family life. But through it all, I return to the heart of this work: seeing my child with fresh eyes and offering him a space to grow at his own pace.
I write here not as an expert, but as a fellow learner — someone who is continually fascinated by Montessori and committed to weaving it into the real, imperfect, beautiful rhythm of home life. As a PhD student in Education, I also enjoy exploring the theory and wider research that informs Montessori practice, and I hope to bring that perspective into my reflections without losing sight of the everyday, grounding moments that matter most.
Exploring Montessori is where I hold all of this — the theory and the practice, the learning and the unlearning, the joy and the mess. I’m so glad you’re here. Whether you’re new to Montessori, deep into the journey, or simply curious, I hope you find something here that resonates with you.
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