Montessori For Life
is a non-profit organization dedicated to
Protecting the rights of people who are in fragile times of life to have care that is dignified and respectful, individualized and non-institutionalized: women during pregnancy, delivery and birth, newborn persons during birth and early life, people with chronic illnesses, people living in poverty and elderly persons with memory problems.
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Mission Statement
Montessori For Life offers educational programs, presentations, retreats, and courses that empower birthing mothers, families, educators and healthcare professionals to offer respectful and individualized care based on continuous observation, following the example of Dr. Maria Montessori and Adele Costa Gnocchi (in regards to care of the newborn and the very young child) and Dr. Cameron Camp (in regards to care of the elderly person). Montessori For Life works internationally and will develop a headquarters and retreat center in Decontra, Caramanico Terme, Italy and publish its own materials in several languages.
Vision Statement
Individualized and respectful care offered to people in fragile times of life means addressing both their biological and psychological needs. Pregnant women, mothers with newborns, children under three, and elderly persons experiencing cognitive decline are all people who are living through fragile times who are 1) are in a sensitive transitional stage of life; 2) communicate in ways that require careful listening and observation; 3) desire to have a natural and non-medicalized life in every way possible and 4) desire to maintain control over their lives and be as autonomous as is possible.
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The Cosmic Task 0 - 3"It is important to recognize the essential nature of the transformations and the expressions of self that emerge in the first years of life - for the purposes of the human species. Today we understand that in order to save the planet, human life has a “cosmic task”- a term coined by Montessori - with our responsibility for the biosphere and the protection of all living species.
The sensitivity to such a task is not acquired all of a sudden in the adult phase, rather it is constructed step-by-step, beginning at birth. But this can only develop if we are indeed respecting the child's own nature and favoring all of his or her potential. It is truly the smallest children who, without any awareness of it happening, perform the initial part of the 'cosmic task' of our species. It is a necessary step in the first two years of life, which celebrates the work of the hand, a distinguishing feature, along with language, of being human." Grazia Honegger Fresco |
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Karin Slabaugh is an early childhood educator who found Montessori through her book Peace and Education. She was deeply inspired by the idea that simply respecting the basic needs of children allow them to internalize respect. They are more peaceful because their needs are met and they know how to be at peace with others because they are at peace with themselves.
Karin has worked with children ages 3 months to 3 years in Montessori environments and has more recently focused on newborn observation.
She collaborated with Lupita Alvarez to create this non-profit organization, Montessori For Life with the mission to offer parents, caregivers and healthcare professionals ideas of how to apply Montessori Core Values with newborns and the youngest children, with elderly persons who have cognitive decline and dementia and for anyone who is fragile.
Karin traveled to India in 2009 for the International Montessori Congress: it’s theme was Sadhana - daily activities that are done in repetition and produce deep concentration - peace in action. She presented a poster at the 2013 Congress on the History of Birth to 3 Montessori in Italy and at the 2017 Congress she gave a Breakout Session on the work of Grazia Honegger Fresco’s article: The Cosmic Task of 0-3. While in India, Karin toured the Theosophical Society where Montessori offered courses and in Rome she has been researching the historic sites where Montessori lived and worked. Her curiosity for the original Montessori 0-3 has brought her to Italy where she now lives in order to devote herself to working for the newborn which Montessori called “education from birth as a help to life.”
Karin offers courses, presentations and workshops offering an understanding of how to respect the basic needs of the most fragile people.
Karin has worked with children ages 3 months to 3 years in Montessori environments and has more recently focused on newborn observation.
She collaborated with Lupita Alvarez to create this non-profit organization, Montessori For Life with the mission to offer parents, caregivers and healthcare professionals ideas of how to apply Montessori Core Values with newborns and the youngest children, with elderly persons who have cognitive decline and dementia and for anyone who is fragile.
Karin traveled to India in 2009 for the International Montessori Congress: it’s theme was Sadhana - daily activities that are done in repetition and produce deep concentration - peace in action. She presented a poster at the 2013 Congress on the History of Birth to 3 Montessori in Italy and at the 2017 Congress she gave a Breakout Session on the work of Grazia Honegger Fresco’s article: The Cosmic Task of 0-3. While in India, Karin toured the Theosophical Society where Montessori offered courses and in Rome she has been researching the historic sites where Montessori lived and worked. Her curiosity for the original Montessori 0-3 has brought her to Italy where she now lives in order to devote herself to working for the newborn which Montessori called “education from birth as a help to life.”
Karin offers courses, presentations and workshops offering an understanding of how to respect the basic needs of the most fragile people.