Activities at 13 and 14 Months (Metu’s version)

We don’t have a shelf so this platform has been our makeshift shelf. It works because Solu goes to school and so doesn’t need much space at home. He didn’t really take to the blue workspace and instead works standing or transports the activity to the couch or another location.

In the AMI 0-3 training we talk about posting and threading activities. Basically, children like to put things into container or holes (posting) and they also like to thread things unto posts. These activities help develop their hand eye coordination and fine motor movements. Metu finds a lot natural ways to meet the needs but these materials offer a chance for more precision and repetition

This is a plastic version of a very popular Montessori puzzle. It is made by kid o I chose to bring it because it lighter, a bit smaller and I really like that the grasps are shaped like the shape of the piece. I highly recommend it. The only con I would say is that there has been a little more throwing with this than I remember with Solu. This can be because of the plastic material or just a difference in temperaments. He figured it out quite quickly and got bored.

This is another material by Kid-o that is similar to a Montessori one. The difference is that this disc is larger and the dowels are in a row. I rotated the 3 shape puzzle for this one when Metu got bored. He struggled a little in the beginning but figured it out and really enjoyed it for a few weeks. This seems to require him to use two hands to place the disc and I think this is an advantage because two hands working together means two sides of the brain working together. He doesn’t yet sort them by color but just yesterday I noticed he started associating the colors.

In use

Joy!

This is a family favorite. Both boys have loved and continue to love it. We got it from Early School Materials and while it is pricey, we highly recommend it. I only put out a few of the piece and gradually add over time. He still puts the thin ones in some of the wider holes so he is not completely discriminating yet but the impressions are being made because… see next picture

I bought the boys some bubble liquid. Metu mostly spilled his own but as soon as the container was empty, he looked at it and his face lit up and he walked away. I was curious and just watched. He came back with the thick dowel and immediately tried to fit it in. It was like he immediately knew it would fit. We talk about this sensorial impression or muscular memory a lot in Montessori. It is so important for children to work with their hands.

He enjoyed the empty container a lot and used it for opening and closing. This is what I mean by Metu learning more in a different ways. He finds ways to meet his needs using things we have around the house even before I get a chance to set up anything. He spent a lot of time opening and closing this container so I put it out for him at the beginning of each day.

The lids were also his discovery. I found him stacking and lining them up several times so I put them out for him

Metu’s work with the caps

Solu also finds interesting ways to use these

These were used by Solu when he was older but Metu enjoys them. He stacks them, puts them in holes and loves pulling them out and throwing them. lol. He doesn’t arrange by color yet.

Stacking

He sometimes combines materials

This happened yesterday (June 9th)

Creative combinations

Homemade ball tunnel