Guiding Children with Respect and Connection: A Montessori Approach to Positive Parenting is an evidence-based approach developed by Dr. Jane Nelsen. It teaches adults how to guide children with kindness and firmness, helping them develop responsibility, self-control, empathy, and problem-solving skills.
Unlike traditional methods focused on control or rewards, Guiding Children with Respect and Connection helps you understand the reasons behind children’s behaviour and strengthen your connection with them.
This program is ideal for both parents and educators.
What You’ll Learn
- How to replace power struggles with cooperation
- The difference between punishment, permissiveness, and true discipline
- 52 practical tools for everyday challenges
- Techniques to build mutual respect and a lasting connection
- Ways to nurture resilience and independence in children
Course Format
- Six interactive sessions (2½ hours each)
- Includes discussion and experiential learning
- Repeat free anytime to refresh your skills
- All materials included
Dates: August 25, September 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29
Time: 6.30 pm – 9.00 pm
Cost: $225 for all six sessions. Partners can attend for free.
Location: Via Zoom. The link will be sent two days before the first course.
Facilitator
Mark Powell
Mark Powell first read Guiding Children with Respect and Connection: A Montessori Approach to Positive Parenting for his Montessori training in New York in 1994. This foundation helped him successfully manage 6-9 and 9-12 classrooms in the US and Australia for 27 years. Mark trained with Jane Nelson herself and also has an M.Ed. specialising in Conflict Resolution.
He has published widely on Montessori education and designed many classroom materials now sold around the world. As a Montessori trainer, he has delivered many workshops at international conferences and consulted for dozens of Montessori schools. In 2021, Mark joined Montessori Australia as Director of Education Services. He gives regular workshops on a variety of topics, although bringing this unique approach to relationship building to Australian parents and educators is a mission dear to his heart.
He is the father of Bella, his 16-year-old daily reminder of why these skills are so important!
Summary of Sessions
Session One
This session sets the tone for the course by allowing participants to introduce themselves and their families to create a safe atmosphere where present challenges and future goals can be discussed openly. The power of using questions rather than commands is introduced with role play, as well as a tool for interrupting a child’s tantrum by offering connection and encouragement. Each session concludes with a segment called Parents Helping Parents that offers one volunteer an opportunity to get help thinking through a situation with their child that they find challenging.
Session Two
Jane Nelson reminds parents that it’s very liberating to give up the notion that we are the only one who isn’t a perfect parent! The challenge is to become more aware of what is happening sooner and to model healthier ways to resolve conflict. This session looks at what happens in the brain when you “flip your lid” in an argument with your child (or anyone else for that matter). Another activity looks at children’s brain development and why children can’t always understand concepts like ‘no’ and ‘sharing’ as soon as adults think they can. The Positive Time-Out tool is demonstrated which flips the punitive Time-Out punishment on its head!
Session Three
This session presents the Alderian concept that all human behaviour is oriented towards gaining belonging and significance. Through their “private logic” children may arrive at mistaken beliefs about how to feel connected and that they matter. The Mistaken Goals activity looks at how misbehaviour originates in these mistaken beliefs, and how to draw children out of these patterned behaviours. An activity on sibling rivalry shows parents how to respond more effectively to children’s fights. The powerful demonstrations Candles offers parents a way of explaining to their children that they don’t have to compete for their love in an age appropriate way. The discussions It’s Not Your Job to Make Your Child Happy reminds parents that allowing children to feel their feelings is part of raising resilient human beings.
Session Four
In this session, parents explore how their own childhood experiences and beliefs can influence their reactions to their children’s behaviour. In the role play Mr & Ms Punishment, the five possible responses to misbehaviour are examined and participants uncover how adult behaviour can unintentionally reinforce mistaken goals. Tools such as Routine Charts and Family Meetings are introduced to build cooperation, mutual respect, and problem-solving skills in the home. Parents leave with practical ways to use structure and encouragement to reduce power struggles.
Session Five
This session deepens parents’ understanding of key Positive Discipline tools such as curiosity questions and encouragement. Parents experience how connection must come before correction, and learn to distinguish between praise from true encouragement. Interactive activities like the Wheel of Choice and Decide What You Will Do empower adults to share responsibility with children and to follow through with kindness and firmness. Participants begin to see how subtle shifts in language and attitude can transform family dynamics.
Session Six
The final session goes deeper into the power of modelling by helping parents identify their own “lifestyle priorities” through the Lifestyle Slogans and Top Card activities. These powerful activities help parents gain insight into how patterns learned in their own childhoods may be affecting their current relationships. Activities such as The Four Rs of Recovery and Mistakes as Opportunities to Learn reinforce that both adults and children are always learning, and that effective apologies can actually strengthen relationships. The Follow-Through Activity offers parents an alternative to punishment and logical consequences, reminding them that being clear about their own actions and motivations is more effective than trying to control their young person’s behaviour directly. The final part of the session brings everything together with a warm Ball of Yarn closing which invites parents to reflect on their learning journey and celebrate growth, strengthening the connections among participants and reminding them that they are not alone in their parenting journey.
