15 June 2026

When Calm Becomes Contagious: The Emotional Blueprint We Give Children

Educating the Human Potential: The American Montessori Society Podcast

About

What happens when children borrow not just our words, but our emotions?

In this thoughtful conversation, Biff and Nicole explore how children learn emotional regulation by watching the adults around them. Drawing from Montessori principles, psychology, and real-life parenting experiences, they discuss why our reactions matter, how children absorb the emotional climate around them, and what we can do when we inevitably lose our cool.

Together, they discuss:

• Why children learn emotional regulation through observation
• The difference between expressing emotions and being controlled by them
• Practical strategies for calming yourself in difficult moments
• Why adults don't need to be perfect to be effective role models
• The importance of naming emotions and building emotional vocabulary
• How honesty, repair, and self-awareness help children feel secure

At the heart of this episode is a simple but powerful reminder: every time we regulate ourselves, we show children how to regulate themselves. Calm isn't something we teach—it's something we model.

Educating the Human Potential is a podcast about optimizing education for a better society, through a Montessori lens. Hosts Nicole Coman, a licensed educational psychologist specializing in school psychology and child development -- and a "Montessori mom" -- and Biff Maier, an American Montessori Society Living Legacy with decades of experience as a Montessori educator and school leader, engage with experts, educators, parents, and students. Each episode explores strategies to unlock human potential, offering thought-provoking conversations on learning, child development, and the evolving landscape of education. This podcast is presented by AMS, the American Montessori Society.

For more information about Montessori education, visit https://amshq.org/about-montessori/

And consider this AMS course for families interested in incorporating the Montessori philosophy into their day-to-day lives and parenting approach:
https://learn.amshq.org/parent-course-early-childhood