NAMTA proudly announces its participation in an international initiative to bring Montessori principles into the lives of more families. The Parent Support Initiative is sponsored by the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), Montessori Australia Foundation/Montessori Children’s Foundation (MAF/MCF), the Maria Montessori Institute (London), and NAMTA.

The program is based around eight foundational Montessori principles: Movement, Independence, Communication, Taking Time, Environment, Activity, Self-Discipline, and Love. Each topic is introduced by a thirty-second PSA (public service announcement), which can be placed on websites for viewing, sent to television stations to air as public service announcements, or shown at a school information session to initiate a discussion. Each PSA will be followed up by a double-sided flyer, similar to those sometimes given by pediatricians to their patients’ parents, available as a free download on the participating websites.

The initial set of PSAs and flyers will target children from birth to thirty-six months, but the project aims eventually to develop materials applicable all the way through adolescence.

For further depth, a ten- to fifteen-minute DVD will be developed for each key principle, illustrating the principle and the supporting actions introduced in the PSA and flyer. An accompanying booklet will offer a more detailed examination of Montessori in the home and school environments. Accompanying materials for school-based parent meetings will include PowerPoint presentations, posters, photos, and other promotional materials. The DVDs, booklets, and supporting materials will be available for purchase through the sponsoring agencies (AMI, NAMTA, MAF/MCF, and MMI).

Volunteer Giving Plan

The project is now seeking foundation and school support. Already primed with a total of $24,000 in grants and another $24,000 services in kind, this project has to double this amount to complete the planned packages.

The need to support development of these groundbreaking materials presents schools with a unique opportunity. For a gift of $225, you can become a supporting school and receive the first four packages (Movement, Independence, Communication, and Taking Time), shipped to your school free of charge. Or, for a gift of $525, you can be a sponsoring school and receive all eight packages as well as international recognition of your sponsorship on all eight sets of materials.

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