The Real Secrets to Raising Readers

In this intense era of screens, our children’s connection to books can feel more elusive. We want our children to love reading, but this hope is often mixed with some frustration. Coaxing, reminding, begging, bribing: these may seem like ways to fix the problem. But they tend not to create a long-term love of reading. 


So what are the secrets to getting children to read more books?


In Montessori, we try to look at ourselves first to determine what we can shift within ourselves and in our children’s environment. Here are two helpful questions to ask in this process:


Do we limit our children’s access to electronic entertainment?

Do our children see us reading at home?


These are two of the most powerful secrets to raising children who love to read.


The Role of the Environment and Example Setting


When many of us were growing up, screens weren’t constantly competing for our attention. Television hours were limited, and when friends weren’t around, we often turned to books. Getting lost in a story was both exciting and deeply satisfying.


For many of us, those early experiences shaped not only our imaginations but also our academic lives, as the habit of reading can make schoolwork and later studies easier and more enjoyable.


Today, we face new challenges with our children. Setting limits on screens takes real effort, and finding time to model reading can feel nearly impossible. Yet these two factors—limits and example setting—remain essential.


Boundaries Around Screens


Setting limits isn’t only about how much time children spend with electronic devices, but also where they use them. When devices are used in private spaces, they become part of a child’s daily rhythm in a way that’s hard to monitor and even harder to moderate. Keeping electronics in common areas makes it easier to create balance and accountability.


Of course, sometimes limiting screen use simply doesn’t feel practical. There are times we need quiet. We have housework that needs to get done. We may feel like it’s easier when our children are occupied with an electronic distraction. However, in those moments, it can help to think about our priorities: Would a little more noise or clutter in the living room be worth the trade-off of better balance for our child? Sometimes short-term inconveniences create long-term growth.


Why Limits Matter


Creating limits teaches children far more than when to turn off a screen. It teaches them about moderation, balance, and boundaries, the very skills they’ll need as independent, responsible adults.


When we give in to tantrums or constant demands for entertainment, children learn that persistence in protest leads to results. They are hard-wired to test limits because that's how they find out where those limits are. Our job is to stay steady, calm, and consistent. Children actually find comfort in knowing that the adult is in charge of the boundary.


Read With Them


In addition to setting boundaries for electronic use, another critical step is making reading a part of daily life. If we want our children to read more, a first step is to read to them, even when they’re capable of reading on their own.


  • For young children, make story time a daily ritual.
  • For older children, share interesting news articles, recipes, or stories from your day.
  • Create a quiet, well-lit reading nook in your home.
  • Designate “screen-free” times in the evening when everyone (adults included!) reads.


When children see us reading, it normalizes the habit. It communicates the message that reading isn’t just for assignments or school, but rather is part of a full, rich life. Children who grow up surrounded by books and readers begin to see reading as something enjoyable and deeply human.


In the end, the “secrets” to raising readers aren’t really secrets at all. They’re about creating an environment that invites curiosity, setting limits that protect attention, and modeling the joy of learning every single day.


Come visit us here in Sarasota to see how we help make reading a joyful experience for children!

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Bridging Home and School: How Seeds of Life Montessori Academy Aligns with Homeschooling Values While Offering Unique Strengths

By Jeff Chaffin • July 21, 2026
In an era where many families seek personalized, child-centered education, homeschooling has seen significant growth. Parents value the flexibility, deep family bonds, individualized pacing, freedom from screens, and nurturing of intrinsic motivation that homeschooling can provide. These aspirations lie at our core. At Seeds of Life Montessori Academy (SOL Montessori) in Sarasota, Florida, our authentic Montessori program—rooted in over 150 years of proven methodology—mirrors many of homeschooling's core values while addressing common challenges through professional expertise, community, and resources that most home environments find difficult to replicate consistently. Shared Foundations: Child-Led Learning and Independence Both homeschooling and Montessori education prioritize the child as an active participant in, their own development rather than a passive recipient of instruction. Homeschool families often follow the child's interests, allowing deep dives into topics at their own pace. Similarly, Montessori classrooms embody Dr. Maria Montessori's principle of "follow the child." Teachers prepare an environment rich with hands-on materials that invite exploration, then step back to observe and guide as needed. At SOL Montessori, this looks like children choosing work that captivates them—whether mastering practical life skills like food preparation (echoing homeschool kitchen involvement) or exploring geography with geo specific physical artifacts that ignite imagination. Our bilingual (English-Spanish) immersive environment further supports cultural awareness and language acquisition in a natural, family-like way. Practical life activities are a hallmark in both approaches. AMS (American Montessori Society) resources highlight how parents can incorporate Montessori-style self-care and household tasks at home, such as folding laundry or meal prep with real tools. Since SOL Academy is a verified AMS school, committed to high-fidelity Montessori practices in our classrooms, these activities are daily norms, scaled to the child's abilities, fostering confidence and responsibility without external rewards or punishments—nurturing the intrinsic motivation many homeschool parents cherish. The Power of Relationships and Community Homeschooling often strengthens family bonds through dedicated time together. Montessori extends this by creating a "family-like" multi-age community. Our 3-year age cycles (e.g., ages 3- 6 in Primary, 1st-3rd grade in Junior Elementary, etc.) allow children to form deep, consistent relationships with teachers and peers—older children mentor younger ones, reinforcing learning through teaching, while younger ones gain inspiration. This mirrors sibling dynamics at home while scaling those benefits to a broader, diverse peer group. Children build essential social skills, empathy, and collaboration in ways that a single-family setting often finds difficult to sustain consistently amid the varying rhythms, transitions, and scheduling commitments. SOL Montessori maintains an average 7:1 teacher-to-child ratio , enabling highly individualized attention. Our dedicated teachers and supportive administrative structure allow for truly personalized instruction tailored to each child—support that even the most committed homeschooling parents, while balancing multiple children, household responsibilities, or work demands, can find challenging to sustain at the same level of consistency and depth. Expertise and Individualized Support. One of homeschooling's strengths is tailored support, but it can be challenging for parents without specialized training to address diverse sibling needs consistently, especially in areas like neurodiversity. SOL Montessori's teachers hold AMS-aligned credentials involving extensive coursework, practicum, and ongoing professional development—significantly surpassing standard requirements and placing them among the most highly prepared educators in early and elementary education. Our founder, Maria Eva Chaffin, brings deep expertise as an inclusion specialist, with advanced degrees, doctoral research on how to support educators and teams to achieve the best possible individual outcomes for every child, and thousands of hours working child development specialist and educators around the world. Maria regularly shares her experience and resources via @montessori_behavior on Instagram. Through our sister organization, Montessori Behavior, Maria and the SOL team provide training and consulting to teachers and administrators around the world. Maria is now a sought-after international consultant and speaker and SOL Montessori Academy serves as a model school for other chools and academies globally that are seeking to leverage the success of SOL within their own organizations. Teacher preparation—including professionally, mentally, and emotionally—plays one of the most critical roles in early childhood development and education. With this extensive in-house expertise and experience, SOL teachers create a truly unique environment where every child feels secure, loved, and free to explore their passions with confidence. This foundation of co-regulation, nervous system awareness (drawing on Maria’s extensive training and research on the polyvagal theory), and deep understanding of child development, empowers the team to enable every child to thrive authentically. Montessori's research-backed methods align with modern neurology, emphasizing hands-on materials over screens. We prioritize real-world interaction, nature integration, and minimalism —reducing overstimulation while maximizing focus and joy. Addressing Homeschooling Challenges  While homeschooling offers flexibility, families often cite isolation, limited socialization opportunities, inconsistent access to specialized materials, parental burnout, gaps in advanced subjects or extracurriculars, and the extensive travel and car time required to shuttle between various activities and functions as hurdles. Many also experience the constant pressure to manage or negotiate screen time—whether as a reward, distraction during transitions, or to fill scheduling gaps—which can conflict with desires for screen-free, hands-on learning. SOL Montessori complements or serves as a robust alternative: Proven Curriculum & Materials: 150+ years of refinement with self-correcting, sequential materials that "teach" independently while teachers facilitate. Community & Socialization: Multi-age classrooms provide natural peer modeling and friendship-building. Sustainability for Families: Professional educators handle daily instruction, freeing parents to be emotionally available for their children while drastically increasing the quality of family interaction , advocacy, or work. No Screens Emphasis: Deep, tactile learning that builds concentration and creativity. Bilingual & Inclusive Excellence: Tailored support in a diverse, welcoming setting serving Sarasota-area families. Parents partnering with us often report the best of both worlds: Montessori at school reinforcing homeschool values at home, with easy extensions via AMS parent resources and SOL parent educational events. Why Choose SOL Montessori for Your Homeschool-Minded Family? If you're drawn to homeschooling for its personalization, independence, and whole-child focus, Seeds of Life Montessori Academy offers a proven, professional embodiment of those ideals— plus the infrastructure, expertise, and community that amplify outcomes. Our approach ensures mevery child, including those with unique needs, receives the support to flourish. We invite you to schedule a tour and see the calm, purposeful environment where children lead with joy and purpose. Discover how our model school can partner with your family’s vision.