Montessori Parenting Series
We’re excited to offer a series of Parent Education online events, featuring guest speakers who are experts in applying Montessori principles to parenting. We know that children thrive when home and school work in partnership. We hope you will join us, ask questions, learn, and gain support for your journey as a Montessori parent.
Offered every Wednesday Evening on Zoom
October 5th through October 26th, 2022
- Eastern: 8:00 PM
- Central: 7:00 PM
- Mountain: 6:00 PM
- Pacific: 5:00 PM
Registration is free for parents associated with Montessori Thrive member schools.


October 5, 2022
Wisdom of Montessori Parenting
Mary Lou Cobb
What does Montessori mean? During this session, we will be joined by lifelong Montessorian Mary Lou Cobb as she shares her insights on the meaning of Montessori. Join us to learn what the key principles of Montessori are. Mary Lou will be discussing the 4 planes of development, human needs and characteristics, the prepared environment, and the importance of observation. All parents are welcome to come and ask questions.
Mary Lou Cobb is the founder and principal of Cobb Education Consulting, LLC. She guides educators, caregivers, and professionals of any industry to improve their programs and build communities that work.
Before establishing her own consulting firm, Mary Lou was the founder and head of The Cobb School, Montessori in Simsbury, CT for 45 years. She received her Montessori Primary Diploma in 1964 and taught for over 30 years before stepping out of the classroom to focus on administration and growing The Cobb School into a thriving, internationally recognized school.
Mary Lou was trained by Margaret Stephenson and mentored by Mother Isabel Eugenie and Margot Waltuch, all of whom were trained by Dr. Maria Montessori.
Mary Lou is a founding board member of the Montessori Administrators Association (MAA), the Montessori Training Center of New England (MTCNE), and the Montessori Schools of Connecticut (MSC). Mary Lou also served on
SPHERE, a coalition of CT independent schools dedicated to diversity and inclusion.
This session will be geared towards parents of any age group!

October 12, 2022
Parenting Preparedness Pathway
Frances Rivera
This session is geared for parents with children aged 0-6!

October 19, 2022
Parenting Mindset Hacks For Joyful Communication
Lorena Seidel
Let me guess...
You've promised yourself you would be a peaceful parent this school year, but you're still yelling. Well, you're not alone! Many of us have already fallen off the "intentional" parenting wagon a few times this year. Join us for a parenting session with Lorena Seidel to learn the science and art of creating, sustaining, and most importantly, repairing your parent-child connection and harmony so that you can go to bed knowing your parenting is working without causing emotional harm!
Are you ready for joyful communication? This talk will help you:
- Develop a state of mind that allows you to speak with love, respond effectively, and rise above all challenges.
- Replace yelling, threats, punishments, and permissiveness with strategies that work and create connection.
- Use everyday challenges to grow your family's emotional intelligence.
Lorena Seidel M.Ed. is a Social Emotional Learning {SEL} Consultant, a certified Montessori teacher, a trained Positive Discipline Educator, a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction MBSR}teacher, and a mother of three. She helps adults create a more positive relationship with young children and a more peaceful home and classroom environments.
Lorena has helped thousands of parents and teachers stay strong, calm, and remain effective even under the most stressful moments. She has guided them to develop their children’s social, emotional, and life skills. Lorena has transformed the home-life and the parent-child relationships of hundreds of families- for life!
A sought after speaker who has delivered keynote addresses and lectures at local, national and international conferences such as the American Montessori Association and British Columbia Montessori Association. Lorena speaks at libraries, organizations, and mom groups such as MOPS and Holistic Moms Network. Lorena gives talks at a variety of Montessori and independent schools, including Sacred Heart University. She has been interviewed for several online summits, including being featured alongside Simon Sinek for the Early Childhood Leadership Conference. Lorena’s articles have been featured at NYMetroParents, Motherly, Welcome Parenthood, and more.
Lorena is also the author of The Purposeful Child: A Quick and Practical Parenting Guide to Creating the Optimal Home Environment for Young Children. Lorena lives in Connecticut with her husband and three daughters.
This session will be geared towards families with children of any age!

October 26, 2022
The Importance Of Routine And Order During The First Plane Of Development
Sarah Cummins
The first plane of development is truly a fascinating time to be a parenting. There are so many sensitive periods during this time that can be taken advantage of. A sense of order and consistency can play such a huge role in the development of your child. Join us for an evening with Sarah Cummins to discover the development of your young child. You'll learn some tips to help you navigate their needs.
Sarah Cummins is passionate about her work for children and believes that children are born with a desire to learn and interact with the world and it is our job, as the adults, to meet their needs and to provide opportunities for them to explore.
She has a bachelor’s degree in education, a Montessori Diploma from AMI (Association Montessori Internationale and also the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH). With nearly 20 years’ experience in Education as a teacher, SENDCo and a Headteacher, she am now delighted to be able to share my experience with the next generation of teachers as a lecturer and also support parents and professionals in their roles with children.
She is also a mother of four, two adult girls and two preteen boys! She faces the same joys and challenges as a parent and can sympathise with navigating your way through it.
Sarah looks forward to working with families to empower them. She is a parent coach that has helped several families discover their child's love of learning.
This session will be appropriate for parents with children aged 0-6 years!