Summer is here! It's the school break, and the weather will hopefully get warmer. It's time to share some Montessori-inspired ideas to get you through this Summer.
Montessori
Let’s talk about the love of art!
Embarking on a journey of fostering children's holistic development, Montessori principles provide a roadmap for nurturing their unique potential through hands-on learning, individualized attention, and a respectful, prepared environment. Here are key Montessori principles that you may find beneficial:
Summer is here and going for a nature walk with your children every Friday can be lots of fun for them. Go to the library and let your Toddler pick out some books. Play outside and enjoy the world's wonders through your children's eyes; they are curious and enjoy observing nature and the living creatures there. Watching an ant or a worm is a scientific adventure for a Toddler!
Food plays a significant role in Montessori. Learning about foods (it’s a big part of the language area), growing food in our garden (where possible), and preparing food (cutting a banana, peeling an egg) are all part of the daily toddler mealtime routine to establish healthy eating habits.
During eating times, Toddlers practice important skills:
Play to Develop
Young minds see, hear and experience life from a first-time perspective, making practical life an exploration playground for children. Children tend to enjoy activities rooted in real-life environments such as taking walks in nature, going to the grocery store to help pick out foods to eat, cleaning and playing in a real kitchen—with real food, plates and silverware.
Maria Montessori fosters the idea that real purposeful work prepares one for real life. You may witness your child helping at home with mundane tasks, such as wiping up, pushing a chair in, pouring water, and cleaning and washing their hands. The traditional work of the family is referred to in Montessori as practical life work. It is the most critical area of education for life.
It's re-enrollment time, and in thousands of Montessori schools all over America, parents of four year old's are trying to decide whether or not they should keep their children in Montessori for kindergarten or send them to a local school.
Do you ever wonder why the Montessori method places such an emphasis on independence and responsibilities?
Establishing a routine while maintaining daily transitions is crucial to every family with young children. Evenings and weekends can feel hectic, overwhelming, and often never-ending. It is important to remember that children in the 3-6 age range absorb everything around them and want to be helpful. They're also growing their fine and gross motor skills and sense of order, making it imperative that children get opportunities to lean in and support as often as possible.
