We finally made it to the end of Barbara Hackers 101 Way to Help a Montessori Child. Enjoy the last few of her wonderful tips.
91. Tell them what you value in them. Let them hear you express what you value in others.
92. Always tell the truth.
93. Go to the beach and play in the sand.
94. Ride the bus; take a train -- at least once.
95. Watch a sunrise. Watch a sunset.
96. Share appropriate "news" from the newspaper: new dinosaur was discovered; a baby elephant born at the zoo; a child honored for bravery; the weather forecast.
97. Evaluate your child's hairstyle. Is it neat and not a distraction or is it always in the child's eyes, falling out of headbands, etc.?
98. Let your child help wash the car and learn vocabulary of the parts of the car. With this and other tasks take time to focus on the process for the child more than the end product.
99. Talk about right, left, straight, turn, north, south, east, west, in a natural way so your child develops a sense of direction and means to talk about it.
100. Place a small pitcher of water or juice on a low refrigerator shelf and a glass in a low place so your child can be independent in getting a drink.
101. Enjoy life together!
Monday, May 16, 2011
Friday, May 13, 2011
Friday Notables - Bumblebee at Apple Tree Lane
This week's Friday notable corresponds with the midweek creation for this week. Bumblebee at Apple Tree Lane by Laura Gates Galvin is a beautifully illustrated book that goes into great detail about the life of a queen bumblebee and this is a book that will grow with your child. A young toddler will be fascinated with the realistic images of bumblebees and flowers and will be able to absorb more of the facts about the bumblebees as they enter elementary school. One review of the book says this book even contains relevant information for middle school science studies on the world of insects. Since this book only comes in paperback, stress the importance of care when reading this book.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Midweek Creations - Egg Carton Bumblebee
Summer weather is well on its way this year and all the flying and crawling creatures are out in full swing. Many children are fascinated by bumblebees, but may not yet understand their importance in the growth of plants and flowers and the possible danger of being stung. I highly recommend checking out some books in the library - if there are no toddler bumblebee books look in the nonfiction children's section and just be extra careful so there are no torn pages. Once you have poured over the pages of your book, try this craft. There may be more dots than stripes on the bumble bee in the end, but it is more about the process and experience of creating for younger toddlers than the finished result. Enjoy!
What you'll need:
black and yellow paint
paintbrush
wax paper
crayons
glue
egg carton
scissors
marker
Cut out 2 adjoining indentions in the egg carton holder and let your child paint them with yellow paint. Set aside the cartons to dry and trace your child's feet with wax paper and cut out the tracings. Have your child color the remaining pieces of wax paper with black or brown crayons. Once the yellow paint has dried, show your child how to paint stripes on the egg cartons with the black paint. You can then cut out two small, long rectangles out of the leftover colored wax paper and have your child help roll them into small cylinders for the antenna. Once everything is dry, glue the feet in the middle for wings, the 2 cylinders on the head as antenna, and draw two eyes on the front of the carton.
What you'll need:
black and yellow paint
paintbrush
wax paper
crayons
glue
egg carton
scissors
marker
Cut out 2 adjoining indentions in the egg carton holder and let your child paint them with yellow paint. Set aside the cartons to dry and trace your child's feet with wax paper and cut out the tracings. Have your child color the remaining pieces of wax paper with black or brown crayons. Once the yellow paint has dried, show your child how to paint stripes on the egg cartons with the black paint. You can then cut out two small, long rectangles out of the leftover colored wax paper and have your child help roll them into small cylinders for the antenna. Once everything is dry, glue the feet in the middle for wings, the 2 cylinders on the head as antenna, and draw two eyes on the front of the carton.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Montessori Mondays - 81 to 90 of 101
Here is the next section of Barbara Hacker's 101 Ways To Help a Montessori Child. Like before, I have put the main part of each point in bold. Enjoy!
81. Teach your child his/her birthday.
82. Read the notes that are sent home from school.
83. Alert the teacher to anything that may be affecting your child -- lack of sleep, exposure to a flight, moving, relative visiting in home, parent out of town, etc.
84. Provide a place to just dig. Allow your child to get totally dirty sometimes without inhibitions.
85. Refrain from offering material awards or even excessive praise. Let the experience of accomplishment be its own reward.
86. Don't speak for your child to others. Give the space for the child to speak for himself/herself, and if he/she doesn't it's okay.
87. Apologize to your child when you've made a mistake.
88. Understand what Montessori meant by sensitive periods. Know when your child is in one and utilize it.
89. Learn to wait. Some things people want to give their children or do with them are more appropriate at a later age. Be patient, the optimal time will come. Stay focused on where they are right now.
90. Play ball together: moms and dads, boys and girls.
81. Teach your child his/her birthday.
82. Read the notes that are sent home from school.
83. Alert the teacher to anything that may be affecting your child -- lack of sleep, exposure to a flight, moving, relative visiting in home, parent out of town, etc.
84. Provide a place to just dig. Allow your child to get totally dirty sometimes without inhibitions.
85. Refrain from offering material awards or even excessive praise. Let the experience of accomplishment be its own reward.
86. Don't speak for your child to others. Give the space for the child to speak for himself/herself, and if he/she doesn't it's okay.
87. Apologize to your child when you've made a mistake.
88. Understand what Montessori meant by sensitive periods. Know when your child is in one and utilize it.
89. Learn to wait. Some things people want to give their children or do with them are more appropriate at a later age. Be patient, the optimal time will come. Stay focused on where they are right now.
90. Play ball together: moms and dads, boys and girls.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Belated Friday Notable - Top Mommy Blogs
Although I missed yesterday's post, I still wanted to offer a recommendation for a great place to start if you are looking for other blogs to follow. Topmommyblogs.com is a free blog directory and presents the highest ranking blogs voted on by readers and visitors in a very clean, concise format. In other words, the site isn't overpowered by lots of sponsor advertisements and the top ranking sites are listed in numerical order with a picture, brief description, number of votes and visits, as well as what category the blogs belong too. The category list is long, but not overwhelming, including topics of adoption, home schooling, politics, religion and spirituality, contests and giveaways, and eco-friendly. If you click on a category, the site will adjust the rankings to those sites just in your category. Another minor perk, if you do decide to check out a blog it is opened in a new tab or window, taking away the hassle of always hitting the back button to go back to the rankings. Click here to check out the site and have a great weekend!
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Midweek Creations - Textured Mother's Day Card
Today's midweek creation is a card for mom that is great for talking about textures. Later you can sit down with your child and trace the raised letters "m" "o" "m" preparing them for reading and writing later on. Enjoy!
What you'll need:
Heavy construction paper
rice, small beans, or small shaped pasta (elbow or small shell pasta works best)
glue
plastic bag (optional)
Write out "mom" with glue on a piece of construction paper folded in half. You can also draw a heart around the word if you would like. Choose a few beans, rice, or pasta and show your child how to carefully place them over the glue. Once your child begins to engage in the activity let them take over the work staying close just in case they need help. Once done, let the card dry and then write a message inside. Another nice touch to add is cover your child's hand in a small amount of glue and place it on the inside of the card. Put the card inside a bag of rice (you can have your child help you scoop some rice into the bag) and have your child shake it gently. After the inside dries, you will have a nice, raised image of your child's hand - a perfect signature for little hands that can't write just yet.
What you'll need:
Heavy construction paper
rice, small beans, or small shaped pasta (elbow or small shell pasta works best)
glue
plastic bag (optional)
Write out "mom" with glue on a piece of construction paper folded in half. You can also draw a heart around the word if you would like. Choose a few beans, rice, or pasta and show your child how to carefully place them over the glue. Once your child begins to engage in the activity let them take over the work staying close just in case they need help. Once done, let the card dry and then write a message inside. Another nice touch to add is cover your child's hand in a small amount of glue and place it on the inside of the card. Put the card inside a bag of rice (you can have your child help you scoop some rice into the bag) and have your child shake it gently. After the inside dries, you will have a nice, raised image of your child's hand - a perfect signature for little hands that can't write just yet.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Montessori Mondays - 71 to 80 of 101
Here is the next section of Barbara Hacker's 101 Ways To Help a Montessori Child. Enjoy!
71. Help them become aware of sounds in words. Play games: what starts with "mmmm?" "what ends with 't'?"
72. Organize the child's things in appropriate containers and on low shelves.
73. Aid the child in absorbing a sense of beauty: expose him/her to flowers, woods, and natural materials, and avoid plastic.
74. Help your child start a collection of something interesting.
75. Talk about the colors (don't forget shades), textures, and shapes you see around you.
76. Provide art materials paper, appropriate aprons, and mats to define the work space. Provide tools for cleaning up.
77. Evaluate each of your child's toys. Does it help him/her learn something? Does the child use it? Does it "work," and are all pieces present? Is it safe?
78. Refrain from doing for a child what he/she can do for himself/herself.
79. Provide opportunities for physical activity -- running, hopping, skipping, climbing. Teach them how. Go to a playground if necessary.
80. Teach children how to be still and make "silence." Do it together. Children love to be in a meditative space if given toe opportunity.
71. Help them become aware of sounds in words. Play games: what starts with "mmmm?" "what ends with 't'?"
72. Organize the child's things in appropriate containers and on low shelves.
73. Aid the child in absorbing a sense of beauty: expose him/her to flowers, woods, and natural materials, and avoid plastic.
74. Help your child start a collection of something interesting.
75. Talk about the colors (don't forget shades), textures, and shapes you see around you.
76. Provide art materials paper, appropriate aprons, and mats to define the work space. Provide tools for cleaning up.
77. Evaluate each of your child's toys. Does it help him/her learn something? Does the child use it? Does it "work," and are all pieces present? Is it safe?
78. Refrain from doing for a child what he/she can do for himself/herself.
79. Provide opportunities for physical activity -- running, hopping, skipping, climbing. Teach them how. Go to a playground if necessary.
80. Teach children how to be still and make "silence." Do it together. Children love to be in a meditative space if given toe opportunity.
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