Latest news with #Montessori
Chicago Tribune
2 days ago
- Health
- Chicago Tribune
The Birches in Clarendon Hills earns Montessori credentials
The Birches Assisted Living & Memory Care first opened in Clarendon Hills nearly 26 years ago. Now, the private, locally-owned senior living community has been designated as the first Gold Credentialed Montessori Inspired Lifestyle community in Illinois by the Center for Applied Research in Dementia. That organization develops, innovates, and applies its Montessori Dementia methodology with a specialized team of diverse scientific professionals, according to information from CARD. It stated Gold-level organizations have demonstrated at least one exemplary and innovative achievement in applying Montessori principles. This milestone is met by following the lead of the residents, who decide together on an initiative that is important to them and how they would like to pursue that initiative. Additionally, every Gold-level community must complete a half-day credentialing visit by CARD staff and develop a sustainability plan. 'The team at The Birches is devoted to building a true Montessori Inspired Lifestyle for their community, earning them the highest Gold level credential,' CARD representatives said in a statement. 'They have not only embraced the foundational tenets of the program, but exceeded expectations through innovation and continued learning.' 'Achieving Gold credentialing is not just a badge of honor, it's a natural reflection of who we are,' said Jacqueline Sander, executive director and chief executive officer of The Birches. 'We believe that aging should be a journey of growth, not decline.' Sander said that by using the Montessori approach, the Birches empowers its residents and team members to thrive, physically, emotionally, and socially, every day. 'Communities that embrace the Montessori Inspired Lifestyle see healthier and happier residents, reduced use of medications, fewer behavioral symptoms, more engaged families, and improved staff satisfaction and retention,' she said. Sander said the major difference supporting the Montessori Inspired Lifestyle versus other communities is the culture that has been built at The Birches. 'Each person, resident and team member, is treated with respect, dignity, a choice, a voice, and so much more,' she said. 'Our team has created a failure-free environment. We try things together, collaborate on initiatives together, create new clubs or committees as inspired, adjust spaces based on current interests, needs, and trends, and create the home, with resident-driven decisions, that we would be proud to live in ourselves.' Sander said The Birches' team was originally trained by nationally known authors and trainers, Tom and Karen Brenner, in 2002 on the Montessori Methods and philosophy for those living with memory loss. 'Since then, we have built upon this foundation with a focus on using Montessori Methods to support our successful aging culture over the years for all members living and working in our community,' she said. 'Applying Montessori Methods is a tool in our toolbox to support our residents and their families with a focus on choice and empowerment. It allows our team to support them where they are at, encourage growth, adjust our offerings to their personal lifestyle when needed, and much more.' That is important, Sander said, because there isn't a 'one size fits all' when caring for residents. 'Individuals living in a community each have individual wants, needs, lifestyle choices, purpose, and value to contribute,' she said. 'Our community embraces the possibilities.' Sander said the culture that has been fostered at The Birches using Montessori Methods has attracted quality new hires looking to make a difference in their day and the way the culture retains long-tenured team members. 'Knowing they have the permission, flexibility, and capability to truly make a difference in the lives they touch, in a way that is resident-driven and resident-focused, has been truly priceless,' she said. The Birches, located at 215 55th St., currently supports 82 residents and has the capacity of 90 apartments, located on two acres, with varied private apartment styles.
7NEWS
2 days ago
- 7NEWS
CCTV in childcare: safety net or security risk?
Parents are demanding answers over plans to roll out security cameras in childcare centres. But cybersecurity experts warn the move could put children in even greater danger. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today After a string of horrifying abuse cases inside Australian daycare centres pressure is mounting for a national CCTV solution. In Melbourne, Joshua Brown is facing 70 charges relating to child sexual abuse, while a childcare director at a Montessori centre in Brisbane allegedly allowed her convicted husband to work at the centre. Meanwhile, Brisbane childcare worker Nicolas James Parisi has been charged with an alleged indecent act involving a four-year-old child. Governments and industry are considering CCTV for 17,000 centres nationwide. But there's now a growing chorus of concern that surveillance might do more harm than good. Parent Melody Glaister said the system is broken. Her six-year-old daughter was once under the care of alleged serial offender Joshua Dale Brown at a childcare centre. 'She had to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases,' Glaister told 7NEWS chief reporter Chris Reason. 'CCTV cameras are not going to fix that problem. 'The whole thing is just broken. It's a mess.' While she agrees CCTV could have a place in centres, she is worried about the risk of these sensitive images being accessed by unauthorised individuals. 'The problem with CCTV is obviously the images that it captures and then making sure where that's stored and how is that information going to be protected as well,' she said. 'If that ends up in the wrong hands, that's disastrous.' Cybersecurity expert Ahmed Khanji warns that most cameras already in use are shockingly easy to hack. He showed 7NEWS how easily hackers could tap illegally into unsecured feeds from driveways to living rooms with just a few clicks. Khanji said childcare footage would be no exception. 'There are over 2 million connected devices online in Australia. Most don't even have passwords,' he said. 'More than 95 per cent would be vulnerable to an attack.' He fears security cameras could actually help predators, not prevent them. 'I mean, it horrifies me and I'm a cybersecurity professional.' Khanji warns there simply aren't enough trained experts to securely manage a nationwide rollout. The United Workers Union is also pushing back on CCTV in centres. 'That is thousands of hours of filming of children. And how do we keep that safe?' Carolyn Smith, early childhood education director with the United Workers Union, said. The union wants increased staff, training and checks. They are calling for two educators per room, no matter the number of children and stronger checks and balances on working with children approvals plus a national oversight of CCTV data — if it's used at all. Centres have to ensure 'those educators are trained and really well supported and empowered to raise issues'. As a parent, Glaister slammed the ease of obtaining and keeping a working with children check, even during ongoing investigations. 'That piece of paper means nothing to me now. It should mean everything. But it doesn't,' she said. 'But if we don't learn from this, then sadly, incidents could happen again and more parents and children could be impacted by those.'
ABC News
3 days ago
- ABC News
Childcare director who employed convicted child sex offender husband as gardener sacked
A childcare centre director who employed her convicted child sex offender husband to do maintenance and gardening has been sacked. Andrew William Vassel, 45, was last week fined in the Beenleigh Magistrates Court for breaching protection reporting obligations by failing to tell authorities about the work he was doing at the south-east Queensland centre. His wife, Amanda Louise Vassel, was stood down from her position at Beenleigh Montessori Early Learning Centre and has now been fired. Since the revelation came to light, one parent has withdrawn their two children from the centre. Approximately 50 children attend the centre in Logan, south of Brisbane. The court heard on Thursday the convicted child sex offender, who was previously subject to reporting conditions, had also dressed up as Santa at a Christmas party some years ago, although he said he did not "recall" having done so. There is no allegation he offended against children at the centre. Queensland police last week said Ms Vassel had also been charged in relation to the incident. Ms Vassel has been contacted for comment. Vassel appeared before the Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Thursday last week, where he pleaded guilty to two charges in relation to his employment at the centre. New South Wales court records show Vassel faced trial in 2007 and was convicted on two child sex abuse offences. He spent eight months in prison. The court heard he had been a reportable offender for a 15-year period from 2008. Police in June had received a tip-off that Vassel, who the court heard was also a landscaper for Brisbane City Council, was working at the centre. The court heard he had told police he did not think he needed a Blue Card because he was only working outside of centre opening hours. However, the court heard witnesses told police they recalled Vassel dressing as Santa at a Christmas party. His lawyer, Rachel Carson, told the court Vassel had memory recall issues and "doesn't specifically recall" playing Santa, however "accepts the version of three witnesses". He was fined $1,000 for each breach. In a statement released last week, the Beenleigh Montessori owner said they had been aware Vassel did not hold a Blue Card but had not been aware of his criminal history. "I was horrified to learn of his criminal history prior to his engagement at the Beenleigh centre," the statement read. They said they were deeply saddened by the circumstances and apologised to all affected staff and parents. Vassel had been employed at the centre as a contractor, and at the time of his court appearance, had not done work at the facility for more than a month. A Queensland Department of Education spokeswoman said on Friday the Early Childhood Regulatory Authority (ECRA) would be investigating the matter. "[The ECRA] is aware of this matter and will be undertaking an investigation, working closely with the Queensland Police Service," she said. "Approved providers have clear responsibilities under the legislation regarding who may and may not be at the service premises when care is being provided to children." Queensland police have been contacted for further comment.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
BCCL signs MoU for Montessori teacher training
Dhanbad: Govt owned Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with an NGO — Mahila Vikash Sikshan Prashikshan Samiti — to provide specialised training to teachers at the Montessori level, it announced on Monday. The initiative, launched under BCCL's corporate social responsibility programme, aims to strengthen foundational education by equipping teachers with modern teaching methods. As part of the MoU, 50 teachers from various schools have been selected in the first phase of the programme. These educators will undergo intensive training to enhance their understanding and implementation of Montessori techniques in classrooms.
Atlantic
3 days ago
- General
- Atlantic
The Mistake Parents Make With Chores
Each September at the Montessori school I run, the preschoolers engage in an elaborate after-lunch cleanup routine. They bustle through the room with sweepers and tiny dustpans, spreading crumbs all over the floor and making a bigger mess than they started with. If any scraps do make it into their dustpans, most of them spill out as the children exuberantly walk to the trash bin. It would be faster and neater to simply let the teachers do all the tidying up. But our goal is more than achieving a spotless classroom; it's also helping children develop motor skills, responsibility, confidence, and the ability to clean effectively on their own. Sure enough, by December, the children's sweeping efforts become more refined. By springtime, if not earlier, they start to pick up other messes throughout the day without a teacher's prompting. They haven't just learned to mop and scrub; they've taken ownership over their environment. Contrast this with my own house—where, in a half-hearted effort to encourage my children to take responsibility for our home, I've been known to say, 'You live here!' as they ignore the pile of dishes in the sink. After years in Montessori classrooms, I assumed that a culture of taking responsibility would develop spontaneously in my family. And it might have, had I not made some early mistakes. When my oldest daughter, as a toddler, stirred pancake batter out of a bowl, I wrested the spoon from her hand. When my son made an earnest effort to fold a pair of pants by himself, I immediately refolded them more neatly. After those moments, and countless other small ones like them, my kids' enthusiasm to help started to dwindle. As the researchers I spoke with told me, this pattern is common among parents who, in an effort to make chores more efficient, unwittingly thwart their child's desire to help. Granted, most kids, mine included, do some housework, and plenty of kids do lots. But research indicates that parents shoulder much of the burden. A small 2009 study of dual-income, middle-class families in Los Angeles showed that chores accounted for less than 3 percent of household activities for the children, who were between the ages of 5 and 17, compared with 27 percent for their moms and 15 percent for their dads. Lucia Alcalá, a psychology professor at California State University at Fullerton who studies sociocultural and cognitive development, pointed out that lots of parents these days use chores to refer to tasks that solely benefit the child, such as cleaning their own room, rather than to duties that serve the whole family. The half a dozen researchers I spoke with said that many children do little when it comes to vacuuming the living room or taking out the trash. 'We give our kids a free pass,' David F. Lancy, the author and editor of multiple books, including The Anthropology of Childhood, told me. Many parents, he said, 'don't hold our kids accountable for self-maintenance or contributing.' The free pass Lancy refers to may hold back children, who stand to learn much from chores. These complex, multistep activities require sustained focus, planning, problem-solving, and a commitment to working toward a goal—all valuable skills for anyone to develop. Put together, these skills may lead to strong executive function. For young children, chores can also be intrinsically rewarding. When a kid folds a pile of laundry, they've created order out of chaos. Seeing their success, children can start to develop a sense of self-competence and self-efficacy —the belief that they'll succeed at a given task—which may boost their confidence. On a physical level, household tasks can lead to stronger fine-motor skills, which are essential for, say, zipping a jacket and handwriting, and which teachers report have been declining over the past several years. To help with these deficits, some parents seek occupational therapy for their children. But for many kids, at-home practice will suffice. A National Geographic article from earlier this year recommends activities such as squeezing sponges and pouring cups of water to improve grip and coordination. But helping with the dishes could naturally have kids wringing out sponges and emptying glasses into the sink, no special setup required. Not only is incorporating skill-building into necessary tasks easier on parents; it can also help children feel like they belong, researchers told me. Chores are 'social glue,' Lancy said. They integrate a child into the family and give them a purpose —and kids are eager to be involved. Studies have found that young children have a willingness to pitch in and support others. Angeline Lillard, a professor and the director of the Early Development Laboratory at the University of Virginia, told me that in one study she helped run, when children were given the choice between pretending to do a task, such as washing dishes or baking cookies, or doing one for real, most children opted to do it for real. When asked about their choice, the children said that they had opted for the real task because they wanted to contribute. According to Suzanne Gaskins, a cultural-developmental psychologist who has spent nearly 50 years studying children and their families, the motivation to engage in chores is simple: 'Children want to go where the action is.' And there's a lot more action in a real kitchen than in a pretend one. Many parents might insist that their kids don't want to help out—and they may have a point. Typically, very young children are the ones who are most excited to mimic their parents and lend a hand with laundry. But a toddler's contributions are often clumsy and, like the efforts of my Montessori preschoolers in September, may actually result in more work for the adult—so the adult shoos the child away. After enough times hearing 'Go play,' the child will get the message, Michaeleen Doucleff, the author of Hunt, Gather, Parent, told me. Other parents may turn a simple chore into an involved lesson, with lots of talking and micromanaging, rather than allow the child to participate on their own. As Doucleff explained, this dynamic turns the child off as well. Much more effective is finding a middle ground between the two extremes. What this looks like will vary based on the kid. 'A child could peel one carrot or even just watch,' Doucleff said. This approach might demand some patience and flexibility from parents at first. Children aren't going to be instantly capable at something they haven't had the opportunity to practice. But getting kids in the habit of helping early is much easier than convincing an older child who has never done chores to give them a try. For parents with resistant kids, their best hope is to avoid bribes, allowance, other incentives, and chore charts, and instead turn chores into a social activity. Saying 'Let's do this together' can make a task more engaging, Barbara Rogoff, a distinguished professor of psychology at UC Santa Cruz, told me. And, if that fails, parents may have to simply enforce their expectations, Cara Goodwin, a child psychologist, said. Although kids may not like being held accountable at first, many will eventually gain satisfaction from a job well done. None of this is as easy as it seems. I believe wholeheartedly in teaching children practical life skills, yet I still inadvertently turned my oldest two children off chores by micromanaging my first and shooing away my second. Guiding my students to tidy up came naturally. But once I had children of my own, I learned how a 3-year-old earnestly asking, 'Can I help?' could sound like nails on a chalkboard. I'll admit that when I was exhausted, short-fused, and desperate to get dinner on the table, my children's budding self-efficacy wasn't front of mind. I have four kids now. Over the past few years, welcoming all of their help has become easier, partly because I realized that I could spend more time with them if I included them in my routines. As my littlest ones tagged along with me, unloading the dishwasher, pulling clothes out of the dryer, and even mixing pancake batter, my older ones started asking to join in. Perhaps they wanted to be where the action was. Or maybe they wanted, as Gaskins suggested, 'to give back to the people they love'—a common motivation for kids. When Gaskins told me this, her theory sounded a little idealistic. But when I asked my kids why they do housework, they all said it was because they wanted to help me. Turns out they were eager to pitch in all along. They were just waiting for me to let them.
