Fun & Games - Montessori Style

I've been working hard lately to carve out more time for reading. One of the topics I've been studying out is the Montessori method of education. Maria Montessori's ideas work particularly well for the 0-6 crowd, though her principles can certainly carry on into grade school. We spent a lot of time this weekend collecting supplies and making "games" for the little ones. Levi has a treasure basket full of items to excersise all of his senses. Salt shakers full of coffee beans and cloves, a large stone, mirror, yarn, wood, metal, etc. He only gets to play with it during his most alert times, because it is quite stimulating, but he seems to love discovering all the odd things mama puts into his basket. For Rebecca the "games" are more challenging, but still focus on attention to detail and sensory awareness. Here are some pics of our new toys, and our neatly organized shelves. I've cleared the lower shelves in the living room so that our little crawler (creeper presently, but sure to be truly crawling soon!) won't be getting into anything that he shouldn't. Also keeping things at eye level helps to keep Rebecca's projects on her mind, and makes the TV less of a temptation. We're having lots of fun playing together.....now I just need to find time for the laundry!

This one was FREE, Lowe's provided the paint chips and a little leftover contact paper insures they can be played with over and over.

Button sorting...sometimes by color, sometimes by size.

These are for Bubby's basket and all make a unique sound. Rebecca's set will have pairs and will not be see-thou so her challenge will be matching the pairs by sound alone.

The treasure basket, actually they both like playing with these odds and ends. Looking for a nice big feather and sponge to add.

There aren't any "no-nos" on the last two shelves of this bookcase!

Rebecca's scent bottles. Trying to match these pairs by scent alone has proved challenging for more than on member of our family. ;-)

More child-friendly shelves in our living room. Now I really want to get working on some new paint colors. A nice sunny yellow seems more appropriate for my active tots than this demure blue.

Becca, Ballet, Bubby, & Bread

 Its been a full week at our house and its only Thursday! Levi is now showing some little teeth when he grins at us.....three to be exact. He's still working on that second top tooth and it is keeping us all up at night! He is also branching out into some new foods. Mainly cheerios and toast. He love to chase the cheerios around his tray and learned this afternoon that if you just press a big handful to your face, one is bound to stick to your tongue. Guess his pincer grasp still needs some practice. He has been joining me for toast at breakfast too, it goes well with his yogurt and makes an incredible mess, which he seems to enjoy! Big sister made a big leap this week as well....literally! She has begun ballet and the first night when I peeked into the studio ( the parents aren't allowed inside, because we're a distraction) there she was runiing on tiptoes across the room and leaping over a scarf. After 45 minutes of such activity she was willing to set still and eat a good dinner. She is already couting down the days until next week when she'll go again. She seems to have grown up this week and looks much more like a child than a preschooler in her sweatsuit. Speaking of preschool, we're still busy at home working on little projects here and there and reading a lot, and tomorrow Rebecca is going to start participating in our church's Moms Morning Our program. I doubt I go "out" I was thinking more of joining Levi for his morning nap.....but I do think we will all enjoy this little break and I know Rebecca will love playing with other little ones her age and taking a lunch in her new 'Very Hungry Caterpillar" lunch box!

"I don't want my picture taken"....but the smirk on your face says I'm just being a 4 year old and I really do like pictures.

Little twinkle toes.

All suited up to go!

Haha I'm such a mess!

Yep.....I've got a piece of bread in this hand right here.

Maybe the two-handed approach will get it into my mouth.

  

Oh yes, I do have more bread in my fist.