Are you looking for a gift for a three-year-old? There are a lot of gift ideas here. I hope you find this list helpful! Scooter (AU here) - three is a great time to start scootering if your child hasn't already. This is the same scooter we have and still use at five years. Screw Board - promotes fine motor skills, coordination, concentration and focus. Silk Streamer - I like this for playing outside with the wind; we've given it as a gift many times. Children's Measuring Tape - for exploring length and math concepts at home. Children's Stop Watch... Read more →

My youngest recently turned five, and just before his birthday, I panicked because I couldn't think of a suitable gift. So I made a list of his favourites and some wish list items to help for his birthday and Christmas. If you have a four or five-year old I hope find this list useful!! Children's Yoga Mat & Yoga Flash Cards - we love this yoga mat and cards from Mindful & Co Kids; you can use the code MINDFULFRIENDS20 at checkout for 20% off your order! Check out the different mats, we have and the Nature Print. Colour Change... Read more →

This post is sponsored by Goodevas. The development of gross motor skills is essential for children all year round. Simple things like going for a nature walk preferably on uneven surfaces, running up mounds of grass, climbing trees or balancing on tree logs are all wonderful ways children can explore the outside world while developing gross motor skills. But how can children develop their gross motor skills while inside? We can set up a fun obstacle course think jumping through hoops, climbing through indoor tunnels, and throwing mini bean bags. We can set up a fort, perhaps using a blanket,... Read more →

This is the first in a new series about mindfulness with kids. I want to share some practical, easy and fun ways to bring little pockets of quiet, calm and focus into your life and the lives of your children. Today we are starting with children's yoga. Yoga is one of my favourite mindfulness activities. I've attended yoga classes throughout my life, in all different life stages it's been there for me. My three children are very active with sport so they enjoy the physical aspect of yoga. It's a way for them to physically slow down and listen to... Read more →

Today I want to share with you some wonderful personalised Montessori inspired materials for the home, and perhaps some for the classroom from Benedykt and Sylvester. Personalised materials with the child's name on them are fantastic for letter and name recognition, and for making the child feel extra special! Some of my favourite products include: Personalised Solid Acacia Wood Children's Place Mat - we have this and love it, it's durable and easy to wipe clean. Personalised Set of 6 Wooden Children’s Paint Brushes - perfect stocking stuffers or as gifts to friends and family. (I've just ordered these for... Read more →

Did you know that Beginning Montessori are closing? After ten years of making (by hand) quality Montessori materials, Carrie and Shane have decided to close up shop. Beginning Montessori has a special place in my heart as my children have used almost all of their materials. When Otis was little, Beginning Montessori were one of only a few stores making infant materials. I wish Carrie, Shane and their two sweet daughters all the very best for the future!! When you order from Beginning Montessori you know you are ordering from the best. Carrie was part of the first class of... Read more →

Are you looking for some beautiful Montessori toys for your children? Only recently I took the plunge and ordered some materials from Heir+Loom Kids. I love the combination of the timbers they use and how well they work with the Montessori philosophy. While they have traditional Montessori materials like the interlocking discs, palmer and pincer grasp blocks they also have new materials like the toddler peg toys and the first jigsaw. You can tell someone with a Montessori mind is behind this company. It should come as no surprise that Janishi Hightower designer, maker, and, owner of Heir+Loom Kids has... Read more →

What are you up to this weekend? We are hoping to visit a castle or two, there are so many castles and ruins around our area. If you are looking for some reading here are a few Montessori related links are articles that I've been enjoying this week. Jeff Bezos says he will use his riches to open Montessori preschools at Chalkbeat! Have you seen the Toggler?? The Toggler allows young children to use-out-of reach light switches. It's easy to install, completely removable and can be re-used on other switches. Designed in Canberra. Pre-Orders are open here. Use the promo... Read more →

You know I love a good floor bed! All of my children have slept in floor beds. We start using the floor bed almost from birth for daytime naps and for nighttime sleeping when we feel they are ready. Caspar and Otis used a single mattress on the floor and it worked perfectly. We didn't have any mold or mildew and I just vacuumed underneath it weekly. It takes a while for the child to find the edge and learn how to get down but it's fantastic for their spatial awareness and of course independence. Today I want to show... Read more →

Today I'm sharing a fantastic idea for creative kids, perhaps as a gift or as an activity for the school holidays! Out of all of my children, Otis (six years) enjoyed this the most! I also have a discount code for you at the end of the post. All tees and products shown are c/o My Monster. The idea here is simple, in the kit you receive a tee or jumper (colour and size of your choosing) and a set of Monster stickers - bodies, eyes, mouths, arms, legs, and, accessories. The child arranges the stickers on the tee (or... Read more →

Over a year ago I came across Artventure, online art classes for children. Otis (then 4-5 yrs) loved it straight away. While we do a lot of open ended free art at home it's fantastic for the children to be able to independently choose a lesson and learn some really important art skills. The lessons are aimed at primary school aged children however many are well suited to preschoolers too! Each lesson is presented via a short 8-12 minute video. We simply put one of the laptops on the art table and let the boys go for it. The videos... Read more →

Today I'm sharing some ways I get a little bit of extra nutrition into my children's diet. Both boys eat a wide variety of foods however as Otis eats very little I want to make sure what he does eat really counts, especially for breakfast and snack. This post features Mavella Superfoods which are all c/o Mavella (I have a discount code for you at the end of the post). My children do not eat breakfast cereal, I've tried so many different types, but they just don't want it! It's the same with toast. Both love a cooked breakfast (Caspar... Read more →

Can you believe Otis (pictured above) is turning six next week? Where does the time go? Here are a few articles I've been enjoying this week. 10 Montessori Quotes to Help Adopt a Holistic Approach to Parenting at parent.co. How The Montessori Method Applies to Today’s Workplace at Evernote. Montessori: Preparation For Life On A Rainy Day by Sveta Pais at The Huffington Post. 10 Things that Make a Preschool Great at Age of Montessori. Discovering Hexagons at A Life Sustained (I can't wait to try the bubble prints!) Spring Unit Part 2: Flowers, Butterflies and Birds at Three Minute... Read more →

Otis has a wood working box which contains lots of wood off cuts, nails, wood glue and his hammer. He will often make his own creations with a couple of pieces of wood. It is a creative process and he's learning lots of great skills! We were recently introduced to Buildme Wooden Toys and I instantly loved the concept. I knew both my boys would love it too! Buildme Wooden Toys are perfect for children who love to build, who love woodwork and love to use a screwdriver and hammer! In the box you receive all the pieces you need... Read more →