bottoms up!

Here's a little video of Elise pouring her own drink - one of her most favorite things to do!

Happy weekend, friends! 

washing dishes with a toddler

Dr. Maria Montessori called them 

the humble tasks of daily living:

sweeping

dusting

folding laundry

preparing a meal

scrubbing the floor

watering plants

washing dishes...

basically, any task that we adults would refer to as a "chore."

I try to include Elise in as many of these tasks as I can.

Not because it makes my life easier

(Actually, it usually makes my life more difficult - ha!)

but because it is so satisfying to her,

the little adult-to-be!

I had been struggling to find a safe way to include Elise in dish washing...

but a porcelain sink, fragile dishes and toddler hands

 just seemed like too dangerous of combination.

Then, I saw Sixtine washing dishes at her house,

and I realized Elise didn't need to use the sink

- a basin of warm, soapy water would work just as well!

Brilliant!  

(Not me, obviously(!), Sixtine's mom, Deb!)

Elise started out washing the dishes from our afternoon tea party.

It was so much fun, she washed all the dishes leftover from lunch, too!

I just stood across from her at the sink and rinsed.  Easy peasy.

It was the highlight of my week - and it's only Wednesday! ;)

a dignified nose...

Sometimes incorporating the Montessori philosophy at home can seem daunting, but really it can be as simple as putting out a box of tissues for your child - and teaching her how to blow her nose!

In The Secret of Childhood, Dr. Montessori famously describes showing a group of children a simple lesson on how to blow their noses.  At the end of the presentation, all the children start clapping.  At first she is surprised, but then she realizes that she's touched upon a sensitive topic for the children and this is their way of thanking her.  Prior to this lesson, the adults in the children's lives had only nagged them about their dirty noses; no one had actually shown them how to keep their noses clean.  By demonstrating for them how to discretely blow their noses, Dr. Montessori "had not only treated them with justice but had enabled them to get a new standing in society."  She writes, "I have come to appreciate the fact that children have a deep sense of personal dignity.  Adults, as a rule, have no concept of how easily they are wounded and oppressed."

Elise came down with a cold this weekend, and when I went to the store to pick up a few "sick kid supplies" I made sure to include a special box of tissues just for her.  Needless to say, Elise quickly became a expert nose blower.  ;)  Occasionally, she would need a gentle reminder, but for the most part, she was very conscientious about getting a tissue whenever her nose began to run.  I mean really, no matter what age, who wants snot all over their face?  And, for that matter, who wants to run around nagging and wiping other people's noses?!   Not in this house - even the smallest achievements of independence bring everyone joy around here!

Also, if you're wondering whether Elise emptied the whole box of tissues (Believe me, I was wondering if that was going to happen, too!) - she did not.  There are actually still tissues in the box as we speak.  A few months ago, when Elise was still interested in emptying the wipes container multiple times a day, she had another runny-nose cold.  Instead of a whole box of tissues, I just put out a few in a basket for her to use.  So, if the thought of letting your little one loose on a box of tissues makes you squirm, go ahead and limit the quantity!

Here's to health and personal dignity! 

happy valentine's day!

Here's a little video from Elise's first day skiing at Bridger Bowl.  We had so much fun!  I love sharing the things I love with the people I love..... sharing the mountains with my little daughter and sharing Montessori ideas with all of you!  Yay!

Hope your life is full of love today and always!  :)

coffee filter hearts

We decided to show a little V-Day love this week by decorating our windows with colorful, coffee filter hearts.  Not only were they a blast for Elise (and me!) to make, but they put off a lovely, cheerful glow when the sun shines through them.

coffee filters - cut in the shape of hearts,

an assortment of squirt bottles filled with diluted food coloring,

and a cake pan to contain the mess!

(not pictured - a cookie sheet lined with paper towels for drying the hearts)

This activity ended up being perfect for Elise... while she's not quite interested or ready for drawing with markers or painting with paintbrushes, she LOVES squirting water out of bottles!  Also, this activity offered lots of opportunities for us to observe and talk about colors, and Elise is now really excited to identify heart shapes in the environment - lucky for us, they're everywhere right now!

Some more coffee filter art inspiration:

• Simple Heart Craft for Toddlers from No Time for Flashcards
• Coffee Filter Art 3 Ways from Parent Teach Play
• Color Blending from Montessori Beginnings