Do you feel inspired when in nature with your child? Taking a nature walk is such a fantastic activity to do with a child, it's free and the learning opportunities are endless. The Montessori theory is that as soon as the child can walk we should allow them to do so as much as possible. It's freedom of movement. Once the child starts walking all Montessori parents are encouraged to take them on nature walks. For a very young child this could be down the driveway. As the child gets older and more capable the nature walks can get longer.... Read more →
Where do you buy Montessori, child size mops, brooms and carpet sweepers? When I first started Montessori in the home with my children I would see lots of examples and see pictures in blogs but my question always was 'where do you buy all these things?'. Here it is, a really good list of options and ideas for mops, brooms, dustpans and carpet sweepers. This top list is for suppliers in the US and the bottom list is for suppliers in Australia. Why would we want a child sized mop or broom? Young toddlers love to imitate and work along... Read more →
Do you have a two year old? Are you wondering what you can do with them, what activities might be suitable for this age group? Here are some of the Montessori activities I was doing with my child when he was two. Above is Pasting. Threading/sewing work. Cut an egg (with a knife). Counting work. (Pictured Tumble Down Counting Pegs) Matching work. Mashing. Use a whisk (shell peas, peal a mandarin and cut cheese). Make orange juice. Wash the table (and so much more practical life work). Magnet work. Learn to peel. Use basic puzzles. (Pictured Geo Shapes Puzzles) Use... Read more →
When my first child was young we bought and used one of most popular brands of toothpaste from the supermarket. It was the same brand I used as a child. I didn't think anything of it. But then I realised he was swallowing so much of it. Our water was already fluoridated, did he need more fluoride in his system? It made me look around for more natural toothpastes (and more eco friendly toothbrushes). My first discovery was Jack N' Jill Toothpaste which is still today my children's favourite and for years my children have used their compostable toothbrushes. However... Read more →
Getting children dressed in the morning can be a huge stress. We all want our children to dress themselves, look presentable and do it quickly! I've written before about not offering too much choice. Keep good/best clothes out of reach unless this is the occasion they are dressing for. For some children especially toddlers just giving a choice of two to three outfits might be enough. Yes, clothing needs to be super accessible and the dressing area needs to be kept tidy. But why do we want our children to dress themselves? "Children who feel respected and competent develop a... Read more →
You know I am really passionate about children's environments. Specifically Montessori orientated environments in the home. I honestly believe no matter where you live, the size of your house or which country you live in - you can create a Montessori home, you can create Montessori inspired environments. What do I think are essential elements of Montessori inspired home environments? Light. Music. Natural materials. Plants. A globe. Books. Puzzles. Texture. Colour. Comfort. Warmth. Baskets. Flowers. Children. Love. Be unique, be interesting, be creative! Please feel free to share your Montessori inspired environment or activity and join in our Montessori at... Read more →
Are you looking for new CDs or music to enjoy with your children? Today I wanted to share with you some of our favourite CDs for children and I also have five sets of headphones for a giveaway (we have also been provided with one set of the iFrogz Little Rockers Headphones for the purposes of review). We spend heaps of time in the car and it's nice to have some fun music to put on. We often just chat or play games but if someone isn't well of if we are all tired music can be uplifting and fun.... Read more →
I attended a yoga class this morning with a new friend. She is a retired teacher who has worked in Montessori schools. When it comes to education and children we are totally on the same wavelength. It's a nice feeling when you are on the same wavelength as someone else. Parenting can be difficult and it is even harder if you don't have a support team, a network, a tribe that you can rely on. It's difficult when you can't find anyone on your wavelength. It's difficult when your friends and family parent differently to you. It can be very... Read more →
Teach me about my body. Kids just seem to soak up information about their own bodies. From which foods are healthy, blood and their circulatory system to their bones and skeleton. We have the first discoveries book The Body which is fantastic for little ones to get a grasp of these topics. Today I wanted to look at some of the fun materials about the human skeleton that are suitable for toddlers and preschoolers. Australia: 1. Skeleton Floor Puzzle - 15 Pieces (currently on sale 20% discount only $47.99), 2. Tuzzles Skeleton Puzzle, 3, Melissa and Doug Human Body Magnetic... Read more →
Are you interested to know what the best selling Montessori books are? I have read and recommended many Montessori books but I was interested to know - what is everyone else reading? It was fun and surprising to see this list. 1. Montessori Letter Work. By Bobby and June George. 2. Montessori from the Start. The Child at Home, from Birth to Age Three. By Paula Polk Lillard and Lynn Lillard Jessen. 3. Teach Me to Do It Myself. Montessori Activities for You and Your Child. By Maja Pitamic. 4. How to Raise an Amazing Child the Montessori Way. By... Read more →
Cooking with children is something I have always enjoyed and found really natural. However I know some children are not so interested and I know some parents find it too time consuming and messy. Here are my top ten tips for enjoying cooking with kids. Be flexible and casual. Never force or bribe a child to cook. We want them to be engaged and enthusiastic. It's ok to encourage "would you like to pick something out of this recipe book to cook", "do you want to bake banana bread, it's going to be very yummy" but also accept it if... Read more →
Following yesterday's post here are a few of the activities I was doing with Otis when he was 18 to 23 months old. Age isn't so relevant, it's only a guide. It depends on what your child finds interesting, what skills they have and what skills they are working on. Children of this age are often more interested in gross motor activities - if your child at this age is more interested in moving and climbing that is totally fine too. Playing pegging/stacking game. Threading with pipe cleaners. Learning to brush teeth (note low mirror). Trying some pegging. Playing with... Read more →
On Monday evening I was listening to a presentation for parents on Montessori in the home regarding practical life. The talk was aimed at school aged children (ages 3+). A friend sitting next to me whispered "but what can I do with my one year old". Heaps! There are heaps of practical life and other Montessori orientated activities you can do at home with your one year old. Here are some examples of the activities I was doing with Otis at twelve to eighteen months. Please use common sense and safety, some children who are mouthing will not be ready... Read more →
I haven't known Megan for a long time however since reading her blog Montessori and Me I really felt a connection to her parenting style. I have found Megan really relatable and down to earth yet inspiring. She writes with real clarity and is passionate about Montessori. Today I am thrilled to share with you Megan and her story. Can you tell us a little about yourself, your family and where you live? I was born and raised in the U.S. While I was studying my degree in Child & Family Development (Human Development) in Georgia, USA. I met my... Read more →
Where do we store materials that are out of rotation, when they are not on the children's shelves? Most of our materials are stored in this large cupboard. The materials are not categorised however like materials are stored with like. The drawers are not packed but each has materials in them. It's really good to have a defined area like this. If the materials don't fit then we have too many things. Large items which don't fit in these drawers go in our storage room, but there are only a couple of Montessorish items in there. We purchased this cupboard... Read more →