An interesting interview on WNYC’s New Tech City with Dr. Ari Brown.

Americans will buy millions of smartphones, tablet computers and other digital tech this holiday season, and many of those gifts will be given to children.

Nineteen percent of kids between the ages of two and five know how to use a smartphone application, while just nine percent can tie his or her shoelaces, according to a 2010 study conducted as part of a year-long ‘Digital Diaries’ research project on the influence of technology on children by the internet security company AVG.

The AAP [American Academy of Pediatrics] suggested kids two years old and younger be completely screen-free and that older children should get no more than two hours of screen time a day [this includes “background” exposure].

Dr. Brown weighs in on the longterm effects of digital technology on childhood development and what parents should think about when deciding when their kids should get their own smartphones or Facebook accounts.

“Kids who have even one device — one electronic device [including TV] — in their room, much less two or three, are getting significantly less sleep a night,” Brown said.

At The Montessori House we’re big proponents of more sleep for children … and we’re not too enthusiastic about digital media (TV, computer, video games, smartphones, etc.) for children.  The Montessori classroom emphasizes interaction with the “real” world, not a digital facsimile; three dimensions of space, dimensions of time, sound, smell, feel, and taste, not to mention the psychological “dimensions” from interacting with family, friends, other people, pets, animals and the world inside and outside.  Nothing on a screen can compare or provide children the physical, intellectual, emotional and developmental richness!

In any event, for the most part we keep digital media out of our classrooms; children in our community receive plenty of media exposure outside school.

An interesting article in the WSJ “Playing It Too Safe?”   If playgrounds are boring, kids don’t want to play or don’t have sufficient challenge — physically or mentally

Some child-development experts and parents say decades of dumbed-down playgrounds, fueled by fears of litigation, concerns about injury and worrywart helicopter parents, have led to cookie-cutter equipment that offers little thrill. The result, they say, is that children are less compelled to play outside, potentially stunting emotional and physical development and exacerbating a nationwide epidemic of childhood obesity.

“We don’t give our children enough roaming space to help them test their limits or to help them become confident in their physical skills,” says Kathryn Hirsh-Pasek, a professor in the department of psychology at Philadelphia’s Temple University. “Sometimes when we protect people too much they never learn to take healthy risks.”

“It’s important that play environments are as safe as necessary, not as safe as possible,” Dr. Sandseter says, adding that broken and fractured arms and legs shouldn’t be considered serious injuries.

The article mentions several “provocative playgrounds” in the U.S. including:

• Hoboken’s Pier C, with an 18-foot slide
• Boston’s Esplanade Playspace with a 65-foot zipline.
• Memphis, TN’s Shelby Farm Park with the Queens Swing
• Maplewood MN’s Applewood Park with the Mobius Climber
• Saratoga Spring UT’s Neptune Park with a 30-foot high climbing pyramid
• Atlanta’s Chastain Park with a group swing and 8-foot wide slide

If your family is interested in exploring a scholarship (a.k.a. financial aid) at The Montessori House for 2013-14, now is the time to start the process. 

First, you apply to The Montessori House: please have a look at our Timing and Tips for 2013-14 Admissions.  If you haven’t visited the school, we suggest you call us to arrange a tour for yourself (we recommend you come for a tour during the school day without your child, if possible).  Please call us at 201-816-8343 to arrange a time.  

Starting now you can prepare your scholarship application on-line through School and Student Services by NAIS.  Your application needs to be completed by early February, 2013 (for September, 2013).  

NOTE: THE SCHOLARSHIP PROCESS FOR 2013-14 HAS CLOSED.

Scholarships are provided by The Friends of Montessori Foundation, and they consider your financial need as well as the depth of their own resources when making scholarship decisions.  

Generally, The Montessori House will offer your child a place for enrollment in January, and ask you to commit with a $750 Reservation Deposit.  You’ll hear about your scholarship (if any), at the same time we ask you sign an Enrollment Agreement and complete your tuition deposit (about mid-March).  Note, the award may be subject to verification of information you submitted; for example receipt and evaluation of 2012 tax returns that you may not have sent to SSS/NAIS before March.  

If Friends of Montessori Foundation cannot meet your calculated need, then you may choose to withdraw and receive a refund of your Reservation Deposit.  However, if the Foundation meets your need (or determines that you have not demonstrated a financial need), then you would not be eligible for a refund if you decide to withdraw.  

Of course, before deciding to reserve a place for your child, you can wait to hear from the Foundation regarding your scholarship.  But, without a reservation in place, by mid-March we may have filled up your preferred sessions for 2013-14.

Feel free to contact us by e-mail (admissions@themontessorihouse.com) or by phone (201-816-8343) with questions.

The Montessori House has regained electric power and plans to reopen on its regular schedule Monday, November 5th.  Right now we can confirm that we will have After Care, but we’re still waiting to hear if Ms. Lisa is available for Suzuki Violin after school.  

In case repairs elsewhere cause a further loss of electric power (which we consider possible but unlikely), we suggest parents check our phone message after 7 a.m. on Monday to confirm that school is open (201-816-8343).

As of Saturday morning, we again have power at The Montessori House.  We’re inspecting our facility and checking with teachers, and hope to re-open Monday on our normal schedule. 

By Sunday afternoon, parents will receive a special communication on our final plans for Monday, November 5th.

The Montessori House school is still closed as we continue to have no electric power on Friday, November 2nd.

The most up-to-date information continues to be found at 201-816-8343. We will update our information by 6:00 a.m. Monday. Please call 201-816-8343 after 6:00 a.m. Monday for the latest information.

Finally, we have extended our deadline for any payments that were due November 1st.  Please deliver November 1 payments on the first day school is open. 

 We hope all families are safe, and that your electric power (and ours!) is restored this weekend!

The Montessori House is still closed today,Wednesday, October 31st.  Happy Halloween! (Trick or Treat?) 

The school has not elecrtric power, and until power is restored we cannot re-open.

We have very limited access to the internet.  The most up-to-date information can be found by calling 201-816-8343 — we will update our message each day by 6 a.m. to let you know our status.  

For the most up-to-date information,  PLEASE CALL 201-816-8343

The Montessori House is closed today, Monday, October 29th. 

It is likely school will also be closed tomorrow, Tuesday, October 30th. 

We will provide an update on school closing as follows:

1. Here in NEWS on the website.
2. Via the phone message at 201-816-8343.
3. Via e-mail to our 2012-13 parents and teachers.  

In case you see no further update in NEWS, we’ve probably lost internet communications. 

Generally, for the most up-to-date information,  PLEASE CALL 201-816-8343.

On Monday, October 8, 2012 (Columbus Day), all Montessori classes are in session on the usual schedule.

Many school in NJ are in session.  Here’s a quick sampling:

• Tenafly Public
• Cresskill Public (minimum day)
• Paramus Public (minimum day)
• Elizabeth Morrow
• Bergen Academies
• Oakland Public

In fact, The Montessori House will be open Monday-Friday on the regular schedule all of October; the next holiday with a school closing is Thanksgiving — school is closed November 21, 22, 23 (Wed. Thur. Friday).