Midweek Creations - Child's Choice

Many of you may already do this and for some this may be a novel idea, but I think one of the best way to create with your child is often allow them to direct the creations. I mentioned before providing an array of different painting tools for your child to explore with, but I think on a day to day basis you should plan for your child to choose art. This means not sitting down at a prescribed time, but getting out some paint, crayons, paper, glue, etc. in the morning and seeing what your child chooses to do. A great option, if you have room, is to set up an art shelf or corner where the materials are always available. This is great way for you to also observe your child and see what activities you do want to have planned for art for those times when you want to integrate art into other works or story times. Also, be prepared for your child to ask for something that you may not have laid out, such as a bag of glitter so that they can shake their newly created work in and decorate it, and either have them help you retrieve or prepare it or have other choices available.

Montessori Mondays - 31 to 40 of 101

This is Part IV of looking at 101 Ways to Help a Montessori Child by Barbara Hacker. Like before, I have put the main parts of each point in bold and added some of my own commentary in parentheses and italics. Enjoy!

31. Tell and re-tell family based stories. For example, "On the day you were born..."

32. Look at family pictures together. Help your child be aware of his/her extended family, names, and relationships. (in addition to getting out your treasured family photo album, I think a wonderful idea is to create a small photo album for your child that he can get out and look at whenever he wants too - for those children not yet reading or at the stages of being able to read soon, label each picture with mommy, daddy, grandma, etc. so that your child will be familiar with how those words look)

33. Construct your child's biography, the story of his/her life. A notebook is ideal so that it can be added each year. Sharing one's story can become a much loved ritual. It can be shared with the child's class at birthday time.

34. Assist your child to be aware of his/her feelings, to have vocabulary for emotions and be able to express them.

35. Play games together. Through much repetition children learn to take turns, to win and lose.

36. Together, do things to help others. For example, take food to an invalid neighbor, contribute blankets to a homeless shelter, give toys to those who have none, etc.

37. Speak the language of the virtues. Talk about patience, cooperativeness, courage, integrity, cheerfulness, helpfulness, kindness, etc. and point out those virtues when you see them demonstrated. (practice the virtues yourself as well and you will teach by doing)

38. Refrain from giving your child too much "stuff." If there is already too much, give some away or store and rotate.

39. Memorize poetry and teach it to your child and recite together.

40. Put up a bird feeder. Let your child have responsibility for filling it. Together learn to be good watchers and learn about the birds you see.

Friday Notables - Nursery University

There has been a story circulating the news recently of a mother suing her child's preschool because it did not prepare her child sufficiently for entrance into Harvard. For the majority of people living in smaller cities this news story is hard to believe and we take this woman for a crazy person. Recently though, Marc H. Simon and Matthew Makar directed a really insightful documentary entitled Nursery University on how exhausting and crazy the competition for admission into top preschools is in New York City. I think anyone who has a small child just entering preschool or who works at a daycare or private preschool should see this film. It is entertaining and unbelievable at the same time and will likely stir conversations on parenting and education. Probably the easiest way to view the film is to use Netflix's watch instantly feature. Enjoy!

Midweek Creations - Homemade Bubbles

As the weather warms up, stores are bringing out their summer items like swim suits, sunscreen, outdoor toys, and bubbles. Here is a fun and easy way to make your own homemade bubbles that work just as well as the store bought kind. Your child will love being able to help measure out the "ingredients" and stir them together. You can even use pipe cleaners as your bubble wands if you twist a small circle at the end or a clothes hanger to make really big bubbles.

What you'll need:
3 cups of water
1 cup of liquid dish soap
2/3 cup of corn syrup

Add all the ingredients together in a large bowl and stir them together until well mixed.

Montessori Mondays - 21 to 30 of 101

This is Part III of looking at 101 Ways to Help a Montessori Child by Barbara Hacker. Like before, I have put the main parts of each point in bold.. Enjoy!

21. Assign regular household tasks that need to be done to maintain the household to your child as age appropriate. (Perhaps setting silverware and napkins on the table, sorting, recycling, dusting, watering, plants, etc.)

22. Attend school parent education functions.

23. Arrange time for both parents to attend parent-teacher conferences. Speak together in preparation for the conference and write down questions to ask.

24. Talk to your child clearly without talking down. Communicate with respect and give the child the gift of language, new words and expressions.

25. When talking to your child, physically get on his/her level, be still, and make eye contact.

26. Sing! Voice quality does not matter. Sing together regularly. Build a repertoire of family favorites.

27. Refrain from over-structuring your child's time with formal classes and activities. Leave time to "just be," to play, explore, create.

28. Teach your child safety precautions. (Deal with matches, plugs, chemicals, stairs, the street, how to dial 911, etc.)

29. Teach your child his/her address, phone number, and parents' names.

30. Count! Utilize natural opportunities that arise.

Friday Notables - KidsGardening!

This is a great time of year to introduce your child to the wonders of nature and caring for plants and flowers. A perfect one stop resource for any family interested in starting a little garden is kidsgardening.org. This is an article and activity rich website created by the national gardening association. I would highly recommend checking out the classroom projects link in addition to the family room as many of the activities are perfect for expanding your gardening experience into a learning moment and can be easily modified. Visit by clicking here: www.kidsgardening.org

Midweek Creations - Rainbow streamers

St. Patrick's day is tomorrow and what better way to celebrate than with a craft. Toddlers love to tear tissue paper and after finishing their streamers will probably want to dance around with them. Why not introduce them to some wonderful celtic music at the end of this project and of course don't forget to wear green.

What you'll need:

small paper plate
tissue paper in various colors
tape
crayons (black and gold)

First, let your toddler decorate his plate with black and gold crayons. This will become his pot of gold. Once your toddler is done with that, show him how to tear tissue paper into long strips (if they aren't perfect or end up as tiny pieces don't worry; let your toddler do this for the experience and you can tear some long strips while sitting next to them). After you have several strips of tissue paper, fold the paper plate in half and tape them on the inside of one of the open ends taping the entire plate shut into a half circle after you are done. Enjoy!

Montessori Mondays - 11-20 of 101

Part II in the continuation of breaking down 101 Ways to Help a Montessori Child by Barbara Hacker. Like last week, I have put the main parts of each point in bold and on a few I will be adding some of my own tips; those are in parentheses and italics. Enjoy!

11. Read together daily. With younger children stick to books with realistic themes. (Try to include lots of books with real life pictures vs. illustrations as well - most toddlers are drawn to those)

12. See that your child gets to school on time. (As a teacher, I am a big advocate of this one - it is so hard for a young child to find his/her place in their environment if everything is already in full swing; it can also disrupt the concentration and focus of those children already there as they want to be able to greet their friends)

13. Allow sufficient time for your child to dress himself/herself.

14. Allow your child to collaborate with food preparation and encourage your Extended Day child to take at least some responsibility for preparing his or her own lunch.

15. If possible allow your child a plot of land or at least a flower pot in which to experience growing things. (with spring fast approaching this is a great time to begin introducing your toddler to the responsibility of caring for growing things and instill a love for investigating nature)

16. Take walks together at the child's pace, pausing to notice things and talk about them.

17. Help your child be in a calm and prepared mood to begin school rather than over stimulated and carrying toys or food. (especially if other toddlers are already at school, having toys or food in hand when your toddler walks in the door puts them in the mind of the defensive with the thought of "mine, mine, mine"; without that distraction your child can focus on the transition of coming to school and will able to say goodbye and deal with those emotions a little better)

18. Eliminate or strictly limit TV watching and replace with activity oriented things which involve the child rather than his/her being a passive observer. When the child does watch TV, watch it with him/her and discuss what is being seen.

19. From the earliest age give your child the responsibility to pick up after himself/herself, i.e., return toys to their place, put dirty clothes in laundry basket, clear dishes to appropriate place, clean off sink after use, etc. This necessitates preparing the environment so children know where things go.

20. Hug regularly but don't impose affection. Recognize the difference.

Friday Notables - Scholastic.com

Scholastic is probably best known for their book clubs and book fairs they do at schools. I would highly recommend checking out their website, though, as they are a great resource for anyone looking to become a part of the literacy campaign and they have some wonderful activities for children from 0-13. Stop by their website and check it out. www.scholastic.com

Midweek Creations - Easy Kites for Windy Weather

I have fond memories of flying kites during elementary school and while toddlers love to see them being flown, it may be difficult and frustrating for them to begin flying a kite being so young. A great alternative is to get a kite for yourself so they can begin to see how to fly one (and maybe help you hold it once you get it in the air) and then pick up a few balloons and some string to make a kite for your child. You can either fill the balloon up with helium or not (you can challenge older toddlers to make their balloon fly when they run with it) and have your child decorate it with some markers. Be sure to give them a loop for their wrist when tying the string and give them plenty of room and time outside to explore their new found kite.

Montessori Mondays - 10 of 101

Across the board there is one list that is consistently posted on websites or given as a handout to parents who are researching Montessori education: 101 Ways to Help a Montessori Child by Barbara Hacker. While it is an outstanding list, taking all 101 at once, for me at least, can be a little counterproductive. Unless you have a highlighter, after about #25 the suggestions begin to blur together and you end up with a "well that was nice" feeling and a "I'll have to try that" when in truth you may have trouble even recalling the tips. So, for the next few weeks, I will be posting 10 of the 101 ways at a time with the hopes that it will make the list a little more effective and encourage you to really focus on one or two of the suggestions. I have put the main parts of each point in bold and on a few I will be adding some of my own tips; those are in parentheses and italics. Enjoy!

1. Read about Montessori education and philosophy and how it applies to your child. (In addition to this blog, check out montessorimom.com and Montessori:The Science Behind the Genius by Angeline Lillard)
2. Subscribe to the The Michael Olaf Catalog. This wonderful publication is a clear introduction to Montessori for parents as well as a source book of ideal toys, materials, books, etc. for the home. (www.michaelolaf.com)
3. Take the time to stand back and observe your child carefully and note the characteristics he/she is displaying.
4. Analyze your child's wardrobe and build a wardrobe aimed at freedom of movement, independence, and freedom from distraction.
5. Make sure your child gets sufficient sleep.
6. Make going to bed and getting up a calm and pleasant ritual.
7. Teach grace and courtesy in the home. Model it. Use courtesy with your child and help your child demonstrate it.
8. Refrain from physical punishment and learn ways of positive discipline.
9. Have a special shelf where your child's books are kept and replaced after careful use.
10. Make regular trips to the public library, and become familiar with the librarians and how the library works and enjoy books together. Borrow books and help your child learn the responsibility for caring for them and returning them.
    

Friday Notables - Llama Llama Misses Mama

The llama llama books are popular among many young children these days, but I have found that Llama Llama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney is a great book for young toddlers who are attending or are about to attend school or day care. The book deals with separation anxiety in that first day of going somewhere new which is something that every child and parent will experience. This book helps put some of those feelings of being sad and scarred that mama won't come back into a beautiful picture book. I really like that the book tells the little llama and the readers that it is okay to miss your mama rather than just moving from being sad to enjoying school. At the end of course, mama comes back for little llama. Although some of the text can be a little long for young toddlers, they do love the repetitive and rhyming nature of llama llama and mama llama. It is also a great book to introduce emotions to your toddler because they can clearly see a change from sad to happy in the illustrations. Definitely a book worth reading once or twice. Have a great weekend!

Midweek Creations - Recycled Paintbrushes

One way to make an ordinary activity like painting into a memorable moment of discovery is to reinvent the paintbrush. Children love dipping ends of cardboard tubes into paint and making circles or circles inside of squares with yogurt containers. Get creative one day and have your child look through your recyclables to find new things to paint with and begin a conversation about recycling. It's a great way to get your child's imagination going and create some neat art as well.