I define “hitting the material sweet spot” as choosing a material/activity that not only matches your child’s developmental needs, but also challenges him while ultimately leading to success. A material that hits the sweet spot will usually engage the child, encourage repetition and lead to concentration. “We know that development Read more…
We use an apron when we cook. Cues are important for the young child’s sense of order. Once the apron goes on, he knows it is time to wash his hands and that we are going to be making some food. I made this apron by modifying the Sewliberated child Read more…
I can’t stress how beneficial cooking is for children. Some of the benefits include: Independence Self esteem and confidence Fine motor skills Gross Motor skills Sequencing Practical life skills Math preparation- counting, measuring, fractions etc. Language Grace and Courtesy Concentration Sensorial- Taste, Color, Testure, Smell and even sounds We make Read more…
I have been asked by a new website www.hangoutnigeria.com to write about things to do with kids in Nigeria. This is the first post in this series. One of the things I miss about living abroad is the abundance of educational excursion options available to children… things like children’s museums, Read more…
Because we are using the Montessori method, one that follows the child’s development, our environments change as the child changes. I showed our infant room and our living area for the infant stage. There were some tweaks along the way, but we made significant changes when he turned one. We Read more…
“It is necessary to prepare an active environment for the child , not only in the school but also in the home”- Maria Montessori At every stage, the child’s wish is that we would help him to do it himself. This wish is even stronger once the child can walk. Read more…
The final thing I would look at when choosing a Montessori school is the adults in the environment. This includes the administration, the guide and the assistants. I would look at the administration because they make a lot of decisions about the school so I would want them to be Read more…
The last two posts have discussed what to look for in terms of the prepared environment and materials when choosing a Montessori school. Both of those can be faked but it is quite hard to fake the method. This post is a discussion about the Montessori method, some of its Read more…
All the materials in the Montessori classroom should be developmentally appropriate. They should be materials to help the child in his development of coordinated movement, language and independence. Independence is developed by the acquisition of real and practical life skills. The Nido (Environment for the non-walking children from birth to about 15 Read more…
I received an email from a reader asking for what to look for when evaluating Montessori schools for her son. I tried to answer in a way that helps any reader looking for a Montessori school for their child. There are three basic categories I would look at and ask Read more…