spooky spooning

What's spookier than a bowlful of spiders?!

A bowlful of hidden spiders, of course!!!!

EEEEEEEK!!!!!!!!!

This past week, Elise has enjoyed using her wire strainer 

to sift plastic spiders out of a bowl of red lentils.

If you don't have a wire strainer, try using a slotted spoon or just your hands.

It's quite thrilling to sink your fingers right into the lentils, and feel around for the spiders...  

that is - if you dare!!!!!

Happy weekend, friends!

pumpkin scrubbing

On a recent trip to the grocery store, we were delighted to discover 

the pumpkins had arrived!  Yipee!

Better yet, they weren't your typical, shiny grocery store sugar pumpkins...

Oh, no - these little gems were cheerfully coated in a layer of pumpkin patch grime,

just begging to be scrubbed!

As soon as we got home, Elise gathered her supplies and went to work:

This activity should more appropriately be titled "pumpkin spraying" 

because that is without a doubt the part that two-year-old Elise likes best  

- after the pumpkin, of course.  ;)

My girl is completely enamored with that little, orange squash,

greeting it each morning with a kiss 

and calling out a "Good bye, pumpkin!" every time we leave the house!

Spray, scrub, dry

repeat!

Even though out little sugar pumpkin has been quite clean for several days now, 

Elise continues to enjoy the whole process.  

That makes this Montessori mama happy because

nothing beats scrubbing for strengthening little fingers!

If you're uncomfortable about all that soap and water inside, 

try pumpkin scrubbing al fresco.

That's what we did last year, and it was a HUGE hit!

Happy 1st day of October, friends!

the wavy chopper

Last week, I introduced Elise to the wavy chopper, and it has totally transformed her experience in the kitchen. Now, in addition to scrubbing, scooping, and stirring - she can CHOP!

Here are a few tips I've come up with for using a wavy chopper with a toddler:

1.  The metal part of the wavy chopper is as sharp as a knife - only touch the handle.  

2.  Keep both hands on the handle when chopping.  This keeps little fingers safe, and provides some preparation for using an actual knife.

3.  Since both hands are on the handle, it's more comfortable to chop vertically, rather than horizontally.

^^^4.  When setting up a chopping activity, include a cutting board, a dish for the peel or any other scraps, a dish for the slices of fruit or veggies, and a dish for holding the wavy chopper when not in use.  

5.  Isolate movement: after each piece is chopped, set the wavy chopper down, and transfer the slice of fruit/veggie to the dish.  

^^^6.  Finish chopping before eating.  In the Montessori classroom, the children would also clean up before eating. We're still working on this one - Elise loves to sample!  Ha, ha - I do, too!  ;)

7.  Always supervise your child when using the wavy chopper!!!  It is a real tool, and it is sharp enough to cut fruits and vegetables.  While I rarely interrupt Elise when she's working, I don't think twice about reminding her to keep both hands on the handle of the wavy chopper.

A list of beginning foods to try chopping with the wavy chopper:

• banana
• cucumber
• wedges of peeled melon
• zucchini
• hard-boiled egg
• cheese  

OK, this is sort of off-topic, but are you feeling a little curious about what Elise is wearing in the above chopping photos?!  Well, if you are, here she is in all her unique awesomeness...

^^^I love her so much!!!!!!!!^^^

Hope you're all having a great week!

a little tour: e's practical life shelf

^^e's practical life shelf^^

A few lessons I've put together to support the development of Elise's coordination and control of movement...

 ^^posting toothpicks^^

 ^^fragile objects^^

 ^^transferring eggs (whole hand)^^

 ^^transferring pom poms (melon baller)^^

^^play dough^^

^^threading^^

Lately, I've been debating whether or not to continue preparing these types of lessons for Elise...  Is it as meaningful to spoon pom poms between two bowls on a tray as it is to scoop spices into a pot of soup?  Yes?  No?  While I don't think these lessons should replace authentic practical life exercises - cooking, cleaning, caring for oneself, etc - I do think they can be offered as a valuable supplement. 

Like authentic practical life exercises, these lessons:

• develop strength, coordination, and muscle control
• encourage concentration, carefulness, and precision
• provide indirect preparation for writing, reading, and mathematics
• foster independence 

Ultimately, the biggest benefit I see in preparing practical life lessons for Elise, in addition to including her in authentic practical life work, is that it offers her freedom of choice - she can decide when, where, and for how long she wants to work.  Honestly, at 21 months of age, she has limited freedom in choosing authentic practical life work - she often has to wait for me or work at my pace to reach my adult goals.  I know this will all change as Elise gets older, and I'll probably reevaluate the purpose of her practical life shelf several more times...  but for now, it stays.  

What do YOU think?  Do you prepare practical life lessons in addition to including your child in authentic practical life work?  Why or why not?  

toddler threading: cardboard tube "beads"

A few reasons threading is so great for toddlers:

• strengthens fine motor control
• encourages concentration
• develops hand-eye coordination
• supports a sense of order and sequence
• provides direct preparation for sewing
• provides indirect preparation for math and language

While Elise seemed ready to give threading a try, I didn't feel ready to spend $30 on toddler beads! Deb from Sixtine et Victoire shared some lovely threading and beading activities awhile back, and I remembered that one of them was simply made out of cut up paper towel and toilet paper tubes.  Free AND easy to make?  Woo hoo!  Plus, the large size of the cardboard tube "beads" would make them easier to thread and pose less of a choking risk if E decided to do any oral exploring.  

To class up our cardboard tubes a bit, Elise and I glued on some leftover wrapping paper before I cut them into "beads." If you're interested, please scroll down for a little photo tutorial. I know, it's probably a no-brainer, but sometimes detailed explanations come in handy - especially if your toddler is teething, or something, and you're sleep-deprived like me.  :)

  

^^Elise wore her threaded cardboard tube "beads" as a necklace all morning!^^

Of course, you don't have to make a necklace - half the fun of threading is in the un-threading!  ;)

adventures in table setting

If you never thought table setting could be exciting, then you've obviously never been a plate at our house...

I'd just been debating how to best include Elise in setting the table when she went ahead and figured it out all by herself - of course!  I am slightly anxious about the well-being of my dishes, but I definitely don't want to squelch her enthusiasm.  Plus, as wild as it may look, there have been no casualties so far - knock on wood!

Here's to the weekend!

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! 

spooning lentils through a funnel

My lovely friend Rachael took these photos of her son (and Elise's good pal!), Ezra, working on one of his favorite activities, spooning lentils through a funnel.  It looks so appealing - I can't wait to put together something similar for Elise to try!

When I was teaching, anything with a funnel was always a huge hit.

What concentration!

For bonus fine motor points,

Rachael said they worked together to pick all the lentils off the bottoms of Ezra's feet!  ;)

Thanks for the inspiration, Ezra and Rachael!

learning tower acrobatics

Getting in and out of the learning tower is as easy as...

When we first brought the learning tower home for Elise, I decided to model the proper way to climb in and out using the "ladder" on the side.  Climbing up was easy, but when I tried to back down, I realized I was too big and that I was stuck!  I struggled for a ridiculous minute or two before deciding that the only way out was over the top.  I definitely didn't want Elise to see THAT way modeled, so Hubs distracted her while I catapulted myself to safety!

Needless to say, I haven't been in the learning tower since.  As for Elise, she loves being up there!  She quickly figured out her own way of getting in and out, and although her technique is slightly unconventional, it works.  I admire her determination and independence - and upper body strength!  ;) 

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!

    

e's first "bank"

I made this simple activity by cutting a slit into the lid of a baking soda container.  Elise still puts things in her mouth, so I opted for large washers rather than real coins.  The satisfying "clink" they make when they land at the bottom of the container is definitely a big point of interest.  After all the washers are in the container, Elise usually gives it a shake or two before taking the lid off to retrieve them - an additional fine motor challenge!

I love watching Elise's mind work as she tries to figure out which way to orient the washer to make it fit through the slot.  I also kind of envy her casual flexibility - really, who sits like that?  ;)

inspiration from blogland

I want to share two blogs that I've come across recently that have given me a TON of inspiration.  As a Montessori mama, I'm always on the look out for ways to help my 14-month-old daughter become independent and successful in our home environment.  I'm sure I'm late to the party, and you've all been reading these blogs for ages!  If not, please click on the links below to read about two creative, Montessori-inspired approaches to parenting!

Here are two ideas that I just can't wait to try with Elise...

(Sixtine et Victoire)

This cheese and bread food preparation activity from Sixtine et Victoire takes me back to my teaching days.  The children in my classroom all had one thing in common: they all liked to eat, and they all LOVED eating food that they had prepared themselves.  I can't wait for Elise to experience this! The other day, I watched her use her finger to smear the yolk from an over-easy egg onto a slice of toast, so I think she may be ready to do a simple spreading activity like this one.

(Eltern vom Mars)

There are only a few things in life that Elise dislikes so far... being strapped into her car seat and having her hands and face wiped off after meals.  This bathroom set-up from Eltern vom Mars (Parents from Mars) seems like it would be a much more pleasant and respectful way for Elise to care for herself.  Really, what toddler wouldn't love using a bathroom space designed just for them? 

Thank you to all the mamas, papas, and teachers out there who take the time to share their creativity and wisdom -  you definitely keep this mama feeling fresh and inspired! 

e's first purse

Does this scene look familiar?

 

I can't even count how many times I've left the room for a millisecond, and come back to this:  the entire contents of my purse strewn around the living room, and Elise sitting contently in the middle of the chaos.  It's sweet and all, but after searching for my debit card for the billionth time, I decided it was high time Elise had her own purse! 

clockwise from the top: purse, keys, bracelet, wallet, "pen"

Instead of buying Elise a first purse toy (These actually exist!), I decided to be resourceful and use items I already had here at home.  Real things captivate Elise more that toys do right now anyway.   I chose a purse and wallet that wouldn't be too easy or too hard to open - Elise isn't quite ready for zippers or snaps yet.  

 I filled the wallet with outdated cards - pulling these out is a great fine motor exercise for little fingers! 

The verdict?  Elise loved exploring her new purse, but she wondered why it didn't have any lip gloss or hand cream!  Soon enough, Elise - please don't grow up too fast!