✨The child helps us see what we don’t. My (now grown) children are consistently helpful in this area. Marni Jameson’s* interview with Thom Filicia said it best: “We all stop seeing ourselves and our homes honestly, and can benefit from outside experts who have good taste and a keen eye to help us see what
Continue Reading “Design Inspiration and the Child’s Play Space”
Naturally drawn to hands-on exploration, early art activities are especially attractive to the toddler. This attraction encourages the gathering of important information through touch. As Dr. Montessori discovered, “The human hand allows the mind to reveal itself.” Toddler Art Benefits: The benefits to learning through art are many. To begin with, engaging in toddler art
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Most often, toddlers are eager to try new activities. Typically, they are “all in” when invited to participate. With boundless enthusiasm for learning, the young child tends to explore with all their developing senses and abilities. Because of this, it’s not uncommon for a toddler to want to explore an activity by tasting and “mouthing”
Continue Reading “Tasty Greens: An Appealing and Sensorial Toddler Activity”
Before my young friend arrived, I had prepared our art cart hoping there would be something that would catch her eye. Sure enough, the paint set was the the visual invitation that sparked her interest. While holding a paint set in one hand and a paint brush in the other, she turned and looked up at
“Order is one of the needs of life which, when it is satisfied, produces a real happiness.” ~ Maria Montessori* Beyond creating beautiful aesthetics, a prepared play space contains specific toys and materials that meet the child’s developmental abilities. Attractive and edited toy shelves and baskets along with open floor spaces can make movement, play
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Toddlers work unconsciously to refine their senses each day. Most toddlers love outdoor exploring and walking often leads to great sensorial learning. The opportunities for sensorial experiences during a walk are abundant; e.g., “The gate is smooth. Would you like to touch it?” After asking, I guided him to the bricks on a side wall
“Play gives children a chance to practice what they are learning.” Fred Rogers Outdoor play time is an important part of our day. Here in the South Carolina Lowcountry, the weather in April typically means we spend more of our day outside playing and learning. Lucky for us, there is no better classroom for children
“Music is a more potent instrument than any other for education, because rhythm and harmony find their way into the inward places of the soul.” Plato Maria Montessori observed that the child’s sensitive period for music takes place between the ages of two and six years. During this period, the child is most sensitive to
In his first six years of life, the child will pass through stages of development called “sensitive periods”. During these stages of development, supported by his absorbent mind, the child is ready to master specific skills effortlessly. Dr. Montessori’s observations revealed the sensitive periods involve movement, mathematics, refinement of the senses, social skills, attention to
It’s hard to imagine a day without including a little fresh air time here in our southern climate. It happened to be a beautiful day and so we were heading out on a long walk. I made sure to bring a few sensorial toys for her to hold and taste along the way. Although nature
