"Anyone who wants to follow my method must understand that he should not honor me, but follow the child as his leader."
Maria Montessori
How incredible is Montessori, seriously! Her method has so much wisdom and knowledge. The more I implement it at home the more I see how it fits naturally and perfectly into child's development process. I would like to share Montessori inspired activities that I have been introducing to my 22 months old daughter at home.
At least once a week we bake biscuits or cookies together. I ask my little miss to pour ingredients in a bowl and mix them up. If possible I let her taste ingredients and use this opportunity to introduce as much language as possible. I have got a cute chef's set for cooking, it is just adorable. Cooking teaches a wide range of skills from volume and science to basic math and language plus offers sensory experience.
I try to offer my girl as many kitchen chores as I can that are easy enough for her to handle. Can you tell she enjoys it A LOT! She is crushing egg shells using pestle and mortar. This teaches cause and effect, concentration and hand control and encourages to apply pressure. BTW here is what you can do with egg shells.. pretty amazing..
I swap toys and prepare new activities when I notice she has lost interest for them. This allows to follow her interests naturally.
"Round and round the garden" is a fantastic rhyme to help to build brain connections between hemispheres through making two little hands interact.
This classic activity often can be found in Montessori classroom: a surprise box with a something "precious".
This is one of her first simple transferring jobs. This activity encourages some beautiful concentration!
Fine motor job with feathers. Teaches deeper concentration, colours, problem solving skills and develops fine motor.
This is the time when I start to introduce some simple rules, like "eating only at the table". My little miss still believes that sitting down while eating is overrated, however, we established that we eat ONLY at the table. She does it standing up, but one battle at a time. Every time before the meal I tell her: "at home we eat at the table" and she answers: "Okey, mama". I also try to encourage her to place her toys and activities back on the shelf after she is done playing with it.
This wooden peg activity is the most popular one at the moment. (A small tip: every time I create similar activity I place 10 objects, and every time she finishes stacking peg, I count them out loud for her).
Practicing transferring with a spoon.
Pouring activity with some craft materials and glass jug + shot glass.
Fine Motor activity with a Parmesan shaker and straws.
Taking care of self..
Learning about birds, their sounds and matching birds to pictures. Reading this beautiful Sounds of the Wild. Birds book that replicates birds' singing is like magic to her.
Here we go. This is some insight into our every day life.
What have you been up to?
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Here are some great books to check out:
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Lovely ideas. I love the transfer and sort activity especially. The blue objects are so attractive. I've never seen that exact quote before. Can you tell me where it's from?
ReplyDeleteThank you, Melissa, you are very kind! Blue clear shells do feel nice to hold in hands too. Sorry, I can not tell which book exactly it is from, I just know it is a quite famous quote! If I find out, I will let you know! Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteDid my previous comment appear twice? Oh, my. Sorry about that! :) Had posted on my phone.
DeleteI know that in one her addresses, Montessori said that, "Anyone who wants to follow my method must understand that he should not honor me, but follow the child as his leader." I wonder if that's where this quote originated? I was just a bit surprised to read the shortened version, as I think it could read to some with a different meaning ... meaning that we should actually be leading the child, rather than seeking his/her leadership. I guess it depends on who you assign the pronoun "his" to, however - it's technically confusing either way ;p
Ah!!! Wow! Thank you so much, Melissa, I love when people make me think! So true!! I will change it to the full quote because you are right, it makes much more sense! She is saying that do not get focused on one theory but use child as a guide. Every child is unique !!! It is such a humble way to speak! Montessori is a true inspiration! And please, do not worry about posting it twice! I am very happy to read responses even if the are doubled ;) thank you again! :)
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ReplyDeleteWhat great activities for play and learning! I am featuring this on Makeovers & Motherhood's Welcome Party Wednesday this week! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteOh you made my day! :) thank you!!!:))
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