DISCOVERING
montessori Montessori Children • Discover learning is a joy that can last a lifetime. • Learn spontaneously and creatively.
• Learn at their own pace. • Develop to their greatest potential. • Are encouraged to choose work and make decisions.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
AIDAN MONTESSORI
SCHOOL aidanschool.org
admissions@aidanschool.org 2700 27th St., N.W., Washington, D.C.
Ages: 18 months-12
202-387-2700 THE CHILDREN'S HOUSE
OF WASHINGTON
thechildrenshouseofwashington.com chowdirector@gmail.com
3133 Dumbarton St., N.W.
Washington, D.C.
Toddler: Nearly 2-3; Primary: 3-6
202-342-2551 WATERFRONT ACADEMY
waterfrontacademy.org info@waterfrontacademy.org
60 I St. S.W., Washington, D.C.
Ages: Toddler-Early Adolescent
202-484-0044 MARYLAND
THE BETHESDA
MONTESSORI SCHOOL
bethesdamontessori.com admissions@bethesdamontessori.com
7611 Clarendon Rd., Bethesda, MD
Ages: 3-6
301-986-1260 BUTLER SCHOOL
butlerschool.org amy@butlerschool.org
15951 Germantown Rd.
Darnestown, MD
Ages: 18 months-14
301-977-6600 CHILDREN'S HOUSE AT
HOLLY HILL MONTESSORI
hollyhillmontessori.com hollyhillmontessori@gmail.com
19137 Mateny Hill Rd.
Germantown, MD
Ages: 2-5
202-246-0547 CRESTVIEW MONTESSORI
SCHOOL crestviewmontessori.com
info@crestviewmontessori.com 4728 Western Ave., Bethesda, MD
Ages: 3-6
301-910-4728 THE JULIA BROWN
SCHOOLS juliabrownschools.com
9760 Owen Brown Rd., Columbia, MD
9450 Madison Ave., Laurel, MD
3400 Queen Mary Dr., Olney, MD
1300 Milestone Dr., Silver Spring, MD
Ages: 18 months-Grade 3
301-447-5700; 301-622-7808
MONTGOMERY MONTESSORI INSTITUTE
montessori-mmi.com pamela.montessori@hers.com
10500 Darnestown Rd., Rockville, MD
Montessori Teacher Education
(Adult) 301-279-2799
TOP HAT MONTESSORI
tophatmontessori.com info@tophatmontessori.com
18243-A Flower Hill Way
Gaithersburg, MD
Ages: 2 months-K
THE WOODS ACADEMY
woodsacademy.org admissions@woodsacademy.org
6801 Greentree Rd., Bethesda, MD
Ages: 3-6
301-365-3080 VIRGINIA
BROOKSFIELD SCHOOL
brooksfieldschool.org brksfield@aol.com
1830 Kirby Rd., McLean, VA
Ages: 2-6
703-356-KIDS CARDINAL MONTESSORI
cardinalmontessori.com cardinalmontessori@gmail.com
1424 G St., Woodbridge, VA
Ages: 3-12
703-491-3810 CHILDREN'S HOUSE
MONTESSORI SCHOOL
montessoriofarlington.com office@chms-arlington.com
2425-A North Glebe Rd., Arlington, VA
Ages: 2-6
703-276-1360 44 December 2018 washingtonFAMILY.com
THE CURIOUS MINDS
MONTESSORI SCHOOL
curiousminds.org info@curiousminds.org
24963 Ashgarten Dr., Chantilly, VA
Ages: 3 months-6
703-722-2400 GREEN HEDGES
greenhedges.org kvazquez@greenhedges.org
415 Windover Ave., N.W., Vienna, VA
Ages: 3-Grade 8
703-938-8323 HA'PENNY MONTESSORI
SCHOOL hapennyschool.com
director@hapennyschool.com 20854 Stubble Rd., Ashburn, VA
Ages: 10 weeks-6
703-729-5755 HOLLY BROOK
MONTESSORI SCHOOL
preschoolmontessori.com info@hollybrookmontessori.com
2455 Gallows Rd., Dunn Loring, VA
Ages: 3-5
703-573-7800 HUNTER MILL
MONTESSORI SCHOOL
preschoolmontessori.com info@huntermillmontessori.com
2709 Hunter Mill Rd., Oakton, VA
Ages: 2 years 9 months-5
703-938-7755 LITTLE OAKS MONTESSORI
ACADEMY lomamontessori.com
info@lomamontessori.com 13525 Dulles Technology Dr.
Ste. 103, Herndon, VA
Ages: 8 months-6
571-336-2559 MONARCH CHRISTIAN
MONTESSORI kidslovemonarch.com
kidslovemonarch@gmail.com 15120 Enterprise Ct., Ste. 100
Chantilly, VA
Ages: 18 months-6
703-961-8281 MONTESSORI SCHOOL
OF ALEXANDRIA
montessorischoolofalexandria.com montschoolalex@vacotmail.com
6300 Florence Ln., Alexandria, VA
Ages: 3-12
703-960-3498 MONTESSORI SCHOOL
OF CEDAR LANE
preschoolmontessori.com info@cedarlanemontessori.com
3035 Cedar Ln., Fairfax, VA
Ages: 3-6
703-560-4379 MONTESSORI
SCHOOL OF FAIRFAX
montessori-fairfax.com msofx@aol.com
3411 Lees Corner Rd., Chantilly, VA
Ages: 18 months-12
571-323-0222 ONENESS-FAMILY SCHOOL
onenessfamily.org admissions@onenessfamily.org
6701 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase, MD
High School: 9411 Connecticut Ave.,
Kensington, MD
Ages: 2-High School
301-652-7751 RESTON MONTESSORI
SCHOOL restonmontessori.com
office@restonmontessori.com 1928 Isaac Newton Sq., Reston, VA
Ages: 3 months-Grade 6
703-481-2922 THE RIDGEMONT
MONTESSORI SCHOOL
ridgemontmontessori.com office@ridgemontmontessori.com
6519 Georgetown Pike, McLean, VA
Ages: 18 months-6
703-356-1970 SUNSET HILLS
MONTESSORI sunsethillsmontessori.com
office@sunsethillsmontessori.com 703-476-7477
11180 Ridge Heights Rd.
Reston, VA
THE LAST WORD
Holiday Parties
getting your kids involved
H olidays guarantee entertaining, in one form or another.
It’s easy to get overwhelmed with the chaos of hosting,
cutting dramatically into family time during a season
which should be above all, family-centric.
I countered this once by asking our son and daughter to be
servers at a small dinner party we hosted. To my surprise,
they took on the task with creative fanfare, devising a plan to
emerge dressed “alike.” Our petite daughter stuffed herself
into her younger brother’s khakis and plaid shirt, and with a
mustache drawn on her face, appeared side-by-side with her
khaki, plaid-shirted and mustached brother to greet guests,
take drink orders, hand out water glasses and clear appetizer
plates as needed. They called themselves “Bob and Bob” and
ended up stealing the show. They enjoyed their popularity,
and my husband and I appreciated their helpfulness, since
we were stretched with finishing the meal and welcoming
our guests.
This positive experience reinforced my commitment to invite
the kids into the process of planning and executing a dinner
party so they participate in a meaningful way. After all, we
want our kids to get excited about hosting friends. And
we want them to take pride in their contribution. But, we
probably also need to broaden our definition of involvement.
Your kids may be little performers reminiscent of “Bob and
Bob,” but here are many other fresh ways to pull kids into the
experience of hosting.
BY TALIA GREENBERG HUDGINS
can receive prepared nametags. Alternatively, make sharpies
and disposal nametags available for guests.
» If you have a budding DJ in the family, ask him to
organize a playlist for the night and keep the tunes coming.
» If your child is a natural behind the camera, have him
Preparing for the dinner party
or her photograph the evening and offer to send pictures to
guests afterwards.
invitations, address envelopes and attach stamps.
runner” to deposit guests’ coats to a bedroom.
» Under your supervision, have children help create guest » For the child who has nonstop energy, name them “coat-
» Design the menu with your kids. Make a grocery list. For »
your child who loves to cook, assign parts of the meal to do
solo or participate in.
» Let them get crafty. Appoint a child to make decorative
nametags for guests and cards identifying food items for
a buffet-style meal. Fancy name cards designating where
each guest is to sit also adds a nice touch. Also, consider
a poster for the front door welcoming guests and another
poster labeling the guest bathroom door. Ask kids to research
holiday quotes and write them out on heavy paper using
their best handwriting. Display artistically around the house.
The day of the dinner party
» Assign a child to help set and decorate the table.
» Task a child to manage a “station” where arriving guests
Nominate the child who prefers to be outside to greet and
hold the door for guests.
» If any of your children play musical instruments or sing,
challenge them to entertain guests over coffee after dinner.
» Encourage literary children to recite a piece of holiday
poetry like Clement Clarke Moore’s “Twas the Night Before
Christmas.” Enlisting children’s help requires patience and intentionality.
Sometimes, it’s easier for parents to do things themselves
without getting the kids involved. But doing so keeps them
from experiencing the rich rewards of hosting and feeling
involved, a great entrée into a life of friendship and service.
Kathryn Streeter is a D.C.-based mom and blogger.
washingtonFAMILY.com December 2018 45