the costume corner

As Halloween approaches, I've been trying to think of ways to introduce this kind of crazy holiday to my 15-month-old.  Don't get me wrong, I think Halloween is loads of fun, but it must be pretty confusing to a little person who is just trying to figure out reality.  People dressed as animals?  Masks?  Wigs?  Oh, my...

My solution:  temporarily transform our book nook into a costume corner.  I mean, what better way to explore the idea of wearing a costume than to try on masks and wigs with your friends and family?  In case you can't tell from the above photo, Elise thinks it's great!  ;)

A witch's hat, small masks, wigs, headband ears, and play scarves 

are simple, durable costume accessories for a toddler to experiment with.

Everybody's getting in on the fun!

10 more days 'till Halloween...

eee-hee-hee-hee-heeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

Click here to check out some of my favorite Halloween activity posts from the past!

e in the kitchen

At 15 months, there are lots of things Elise can do in the kitchen.  Here are a few of her favorites!

peeling - Onions, garlic, bananas, and clementines are all perfect for small hands.  (more inspiration here) 

scrubbing - Before preparing root veggies, I always invite Elise to wash them.  (more inspiration here)

measuring - Elise loves to add the ingredients - most make it into the bowl!  (get the recipe here)

mixing - As soon as I get out the whisk, Elise is ready to take over  (get the recipe here)
eating! - A view from the other side!  ;)  Elise and Nana love sharing snacks.  (Yes, that is Elise's Halloween costume!  It's a work in progress...)

Happy weekend!

    

naming the parts of the face

eyes,

ears,

mouth,

and nose...

Elise loves pointing to these features on her face, as-well-as looking for them on the faces of others.  To follow her interest, I put together three simple vocabulary-building activities on her language shelf - aka the bottom shelf of the bookcase in our living room.

felt board face

This is Elise's first time working with a felt board - also, her first time using a favorite classroom material from my teaching days!  ;)  She's not able to put the face together yet, but she loves taking it apart.  We've had lots of fun talking about the parts of the face, and playing little games with the pieces.  

small mirror

Of the three activities, this one is probably Elise's favorite.  We have a larger mirror at her height in our living room, but this one is just right for getting a close-up look at her face.  Elise thinks it's just perfect for giving herself kisses!  We've also been using it in combination with the felt board face.  

books of faces

Neither of these books is actually about the parts of the face, but I really like their realistic portraits of children.  Elise and I have enjoyed looking through them together, talking about the parts of each child's face.  I know there are books out there that focus more on the parts of the face, so if you have any favorites in your home, please share!  

If your toddler is a little older, or you like to plan ahead, here are two great posts full of face and body part activities:

• {Toddler Explorations} Faces - Part 1  (A Life Sustained)

• It's All About Me - For Toddlers  (Sorting Sprinkles)

a little tour: e's coat rack

Help me to do it all by myself!  One of the first principals I learned in my Montessori training was to picture these words written across the forehead of each child.  Although this was easy for me as a teacher, it's much harder for me to remember these words as a mama.  It's clear how satisfying it is for my 15-month old to do things all by herself, but I continually catch myself doing things for her.

"Everyone knows that it requires much more time and patience to teach a child how to eat, wash, and clothe himself than it does to feed, bathe, and clothe him by oneself.  The one who does the former is an educator, the latter performs the lower office of a servant."  Maria Montessori, The Discovery of the Child

I admit that one of the reasons I do things for Elise is because it's easier and faster, but it's also because she's my baby and I like doing things for her! Keeping all this in mind, I've been trying to put my energy and love into creating more spaces like the one pictured above for Elise.  A row of hooks hung at her height and a low stool create a perfect spot by the backdoor to practice getting dressed to go outside.  It also shows Elise that she is an important part of the family, and that someday soon she will be doing this task independently!

How do you support your child's independence?  Please share in the comments!

an autumn nature table

I love the idea of a nature table:  a special place to display natural treasures found outdoors.  The objects on the table change with the seasons, reflecting and celebrating the rhythm of the year.  Some nature tables I've seen are more whimsical than others, but either way, they instill a sense of wonder in children and adults alike.

When Elise woke up from her nap to find the leaves, seeds, and pebbles we collected on our morning walk carefully arranged, she was so excited and fascinated!  She spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the nature table with all of her senses.  I wasn't sure if any of the leaves or seeds were edible, so I did have to place some limit on her sense of taste!

I actually decided not to get out the camera because I didn't want to interrupt Elise's experience, so I'll close with a photo from our walk instead...

^The Yellowstone River is the longest undammed river in the lower 48 states, 

and we're lucky enough to live just a few minutes away!^  

Here's to a weekend full of adventure!

Have you set up a nature table?  I'd love to pick up some tips and inspiration for next time!  Please share your experience in the comments, or if you've posted about it, share your link!