Research has shown time and time again that parent involvement is critical to children’s success. We all want to take an active role in our child’s education, but sometimes it can be a challenge to discern just where our efforts are best spent.
At Little Scholars Academy of California (LSAOC), we serve children from six weeks to six years of age across our Infant, Toddler, and Primary environments. Grounded in authentic Montessori philosophy, our mission is to provide a peaceful and nurturing environment where scholars develop a sense of respect and responsibility for themselves and others.
Below are six critical areas that all parents can focus on to make a big difference in their scholar's journey.
1. Make Connections
Consider the whole school community and make connections with others whenever possible. This usually starts early, with your child’s Montessori guide. Let them know who you are, reach out whenever you have questions or concerns, and ask them how you might best support their work in the prepared environment.
Connections can also be made with school leadership. You likely met our administration during the tour and admissions process, but it is always wonderful to touch base when you can offer support or share positive feedback.
Connect Through Enrichments: Do you have a passion for movement, martial arts, or sports? Check in with our guides or enrichment facilitators for dance, karate, and sports programs.
Build Community: Introduce yourself to other families during morning drop-off, afternoon pickup, or special events. Any time we connect with others, we strengthen our community as a whole.
2. Volunteer
Schools always benefit from parent involvement. Whether it is helping organize a fundraiser, reading a book to a classroom community, or offering your unique talents and services, we welcome your presence.
We completely understand that most parents have busy schedules and that not everyone is comfortable with every type of volunteering, but we encourage all families to contribute in ways that feel comfortable. We also encourage parents to participate in our parent-school initiatives, which are critical to the ongoing success and support of our scholars and classrooms.
3. Keep Learning
As educators, we consider ourselves to be lifelong learners. We work hard to cultivate a joy of learning in the children we guide, so that they may carry that passion for knowledge throughout their lives. We hope the families we serve feel the same way.
Montessori education is a unique method of learning and teaching. In order to fully support your child’s growth, it really helps if you prioritize learning what you can about Montessori principles. By understanding child development, our prepared environments, and why Montessori does things differently, you will have a deeper appreciation of what goes on during your child’s school day and find nuanced ways to support them at home.
Staying curious extends beyond Montessori philosophy, too. If your child sees you nurturing your own passions and seeking out new information regularly, you set an example that will stick with them for a lifetime.
4. Support Learning at Home
Learning does not just take place within the confines of a classroom; it happens everywhere. Children spend a huge portion of their time at home, and while the home is a multi-purpose environment, it can also support children’s learning without needing to replicate classroom materials.
Here are a few simple ways to foster learning at home:
Keep Books Accessible: Source your local library or trade books with other families to keep reading materials fresh.
Play Board Games Together: Board games provide an opportunity to connect while embedding elements of problem-solving and turn-taking.
Spend Time in the Kitchen: Cooking and meal prep build important practical life skills, fine motor control, and early math concepts.
Choose Open-Ended Toys: Focus on toys that encourage thinking and imagination—such as art supplies, wooden blocks, colorful scarves, or building sets—rather than flashing, battery-powered items.
Read Together: Reading together daily builds literacy skills, language acquisition, and emotional connection.
5. Consider Different Forms of Advocacy
Parents are their children’s strongest advocates. Whether your scholar is navigating academic challenges or developing social-emotional skills, young children count on adults to convey important information. Open communication with your child's guide is key. If you have concerns, address them early and stay connected to discuss progress.
At the same time, a core hallmark of Montessori education is nurturing independence. We count on parents to help us teach children how to advocate for themselves as soon as they are developmentally ready:
Academic Advocacy: If your child craves a greater challenge in practical life, math, or language work, talk them through how they might express that interest to their guide.
Social Problem-Solving: If they experience a conflict on the playground, roleplay scenarios with them at home so they know how to resolve the issue peacefully.
Our children need us to stand up for them, but ultimately, our goal is to teach them to speak up for themselves.
6. Attend School Events
Being an active member of our school community is one of the simplest and most effective ways to support your child. Throughout the academic year, LSAOC hosts a variety of special events, such as our Back to School Night, Halloween Fun Fest, Winter Concert, Art Show, Family Fun Day, and seasonal celebrations.
Whether an event is educational or purely social, joining us whenever possible builds lasting connections between scholars, parents, and educators.
Experience the LSAOC Community
Having diverse voices and perspectives is part of what makes Little Scholars Academy of California strong, and we are deeply grateful for everything our families do to support our school.
Interested in observing our peaceful Montessori environments or learning more about our programs for infants, toddlers, and primary scholars? Schedule a private tour with our admissions team today to connect with our community firsthand!
