Parent Resources

For all of our Forest City Village School parents, the parent handbook is your number one resource to find all up to date school policies.

Book Recommendations

To continue at home the magic that is happening at Forest City Village, we recommend the classics written by Maria Montessori, such as The Montessori Method and The Absorbent Mind. We also have a list of other books that parents at Forest City Village will find helpful for applying the methods used at school to home life. These recommendations are approachable and concise.

Beyond the books on Montessori education and philosophy, we also recommend excellent parenting books to support the conscious discipline used at the school.

  • Montessori: A Modern Approach: The Classic Introduction to Montessori for Parents and Teachers

    Montessori: A Modern Approach has been called the single best book for anyone -- educator, childcare professional, and especially parent -- seeking answers to the questions: What is the Montessori method? Are its revolutionary ideas about early childhood education relevant to today's world? And most important, especially for today's dual-career couples. Is a Montessori education right for my child? Her book offers the clearest and most concise statement of the Montessori method of child development and education available today. Amazon Link

  • The Montessori Home: Create a Space for Your Child to Thrive

    Too often, the toys, games, and other materials meant to educate young children end up being a detriment instead. If you're overwhelmed and your kids are overstimulated, it's time to reset your space by applying the principles of the Montessori method at home so you can be a calmer, more attentive parent.

    Author and certified Montessori guide Ashley Yeh tackles each room of the home and explains how to provide young children with the accessibility they need to complete practical life skills on their own, tapping into their innate desire to "do it myself." Amazon Link

  • Raising Good Humans: A Mindful Guide to Breaking the Cycle of Reactive Parenting and Raising Kind, Confident Kids

    A kinder, more compassionate world starts with kind and compassionate kids. In Raising Good Humans, you’ll find powerful and practical strategies to break free from “reactive parenting” habits and raise kind, cooperative, and confident kids. With this book, you’ll find powerful mindfulness skills for calming your own stress response when difficult emotions arise. You’ll also discover strategies for cultivating respectful communication, effective conflict resolution, and reflective listening. In the process, you’ll learn to examine your own unhelpful patterns and ingrained reactions that reflect the generational habits shaped by your parents, so you can break the cycle and respond to your children in more skillful ways. Amazon Link

  • How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk

    Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish's time-tested methods to solve common problems and build foundations for lasting relationships, including innovative ways to:

    Cope with your child’s negative feelings, such as frustration, anger, and disappointment

    Express your strong feelings without being hurtful

    Engage your child’s willing cooperation

    Set firm limits and maintain goodwill

    Use alternatives to punishment that promote self-discipline

    Understand the difference between helpful and unhelpful praise

    Resolve family conflicts peacefully

    Enthusiastically praised by parents and professionals around the world, Faber and Mazlish’s down-to-earth, respectful approach makes relationships with children of all ages less stressful and more rewarding. Amazon Link

  • Raising Anti-Diet Kids: A Parent's Actionable Guide to Ditch Diets and Cultivate Body Respect

    Too much time feeling obsessed with food and unable to find peace and freedom around food, much less your body? Worried that you'll pass on your quirky food habits and food and body shame to your growing child? This book is for you.

    Raising Anti-Diet Kids is your guide to understanding why negative habits begin around food, how to change your behaviors, the best way to talk with your kids about meals, snacks, sugar, their body and so much more. You'll finally be able to feel like you and your child can relax around food and appreciate your bodies. Amazon Link

  • Rethinking Discipline: Conscious Parenting Strategies for Growth and Connection

    As parents, it can be challenging to relate to your child and embrace calm, especially in times of conflict. Rethinking Discipline helps you rethink your child’s behaviors so you can focus on teaching valuable life skills while staying connected—even in the most difficult moments.

    Featuring actionable strategies that deliver results, this step-by-step guide to conscious parenting gives you everything you need to improve your family’s communication and connection. Learn how to apply the basic principles of conscious parenting to stay calm in the moment, respond mindfully to misbehaviors, and develop your child’s emotional awareness and problem-solving skills. Amazon Link