Benefits of Parent Child Classes

When my oldest child Sophia was an infant, I enrolled in a parent-child class that was offered by Post Oak. At the time, I was working as an intern in a Primary class and was halfway through my Primary Montessori training program.

Every Thursday afternoon, I left during my lunch break to meet Sophia and her caretaker at the class. I relished this special time with Sophia in the middle of my work day. There we gathered in a beautifully prepared space with a 0-3 Montessori guide, several other parents, and their babies. 

In this environment, Sophia was free to explore safely. At times, I held her and we watched together. Other times, she courageously crawled away from me, ready to expand her understanding of the world around her. I met other parents and learned from their experiences. I got to know Sophia better and we strengthened our relationship as I learned more about how best to support her. Now, I am thrilled to offer parent-child classes at Post Oak and hope parents and children enjoy them as much as Sophia and I did. 

Parent and child classes offer the opportunity for parents to take time out of their busy day and focus on being together with their children. Without the distractions of our daily lives, we get to observe the children, be fully present with them, and share in the joy of their discoveries and acquisitions. 

The children are free to explore an environment that has been intentionally designed for their size and abilities and to meet their developmental needs. In this space, children find interesting materials and activities that spark their curiosity and encourage concentration and repetition. 

There are moments during each class when we are observers, staying out of the way while the children focus on their chosen activities. At other times, we share joint attention with them, collaborating on a task together, attuned to their interests, and giving language to their experiences. We always allow the child to lead and show us what they are interested in learning.

Taking time to observe helps us understand when a child needs us, and also when not to intervene. Offering the right amount of support gives the child a sense of security, while still allowing them to do what they are capable of in the moment. Through observation, we can discover what skills the children are developing and how to prepare the environment to satisfy their needs. 

During parent-child classes, we get the opportunity to interact with other parents and learn from one another. Fostering a sense of community and building a support network reminds us that we are not alone in our parenting journey. Observing other children allows us to appreciate both the universal characteristics of young children and the uniqueness of each individual child.

During our time together we explore topics such as:

• How to support the development of movement, language, and social-emotional skills.
• How to foster the natural growth of independence through secure attachment, collaboration, and opportunity;
• How routine, consistency and order help children feel secure, which supports optimal learning; 
• How to set limits and boundaries with respect and love; and how we can view behavior as communication and respond with curiosity and compassion.

My Sophia, who began her journey at Post Oak in a parent-infant class, is now a senior at Post Oak High School. I look back fondly on our time together in those classes, and I know they were the beginning of something very special—for Sophia, for myself, and for our relationship. 

As a new parent, I felt supported by the community we built and grew in my confidence as a mother. The classes helped me learn to trust Sophia’s intrinsic and universal human drive to learn and grow. They showed me how to observe to be able to meet her needs, and reinforced the notion that a strong, secure, relationship supports all areas of development.

Sophia learned what it felt like to explore, to make her own choices and discoveries in an environment suited to her development, with the security of a lap to crawl back to or a hand to hold when needed. This supportive, nurturing environment—full of opportunities for independence and self-directed learning—has continued throughout each level at Post Oak. 

As we see Sophia off to college next year, I know her experiences at Post Oak have given her the confidence and capability to meet the new challenges ahead with curiosity and excitement. I trust that in this next phase of her development, Sophia will take all the necessary risks for growth with the security of knowing she has all the support she needs.