“He who is served is limited in his independence.” Dr. Maria Montessori I recently added this ‘Practical Life’ shelf to our kitchen. Creating a home environment that serves the child is critical for his optimal development and independence. My children are grown, but I work privately with local children in my home each week. The
Simple as it may seem, peeling a clementine is a rewarding activity for any child. As a matter of fact, I’d consider it to be a sensorial treasure packed with rich language learning, fine motor and cognitive skill building opportunities! After offering him the bowl filled with clementines, he chose the one he wanted to
Young children are naturally attracted to things that open and close. This is especially true when it comes to doors. The young child may suddenly show a profound interest in a doorknob and door, and will continue to do so until his need is satisfied. The knob in his hand is yet another material that
Caring for plants, both indoors and outdoors, is part of our daily routine at home. Our sunny and warm climate means our plants require watering, trimming and attention frequently. We always keep a watering can and mister handy. As important as it is for the plants to be cared for, the benefits to the child
As adults, we all have fond and emotional memories deep within us from our early childhood experiences. Most of us can recall intense relationships with other living things: favorite animals we had and loved, open fields, wild flowers growing on a mountain side, or perhaps the sound of a fresh water stream trickling down the
Children are born with natural urges that guide them as they gain control of their muscles and senses with little effort. Especially in the first three years of life, they are unconscious learners and tirelessly work toward independence. Given a safe and well-prepared environment, an infant will begin working to hold her head up, roll
This past spring, I was contacted by Baan Dek Montessori school in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and invited to participate in their Spotlight Series (link below in green font). Surprisingly, I first discovered Baan Dek’s logo on a creative branding site called Fuzzco (a local Charleston, SC creative studio). I was intrigued and soon began
There are countless articles about picky eaters, food battles and how to get children to eat healthy foods. Many parents resort to sneaking vegetables into cakes and bribing children with toys and trips to the park. Tears and tantrums can be sparked over a single green bean placed on a primarily white food plate. It
Continue Reading “Children and Healthy Food Choices … Start Early!”
I’m sure Lesley Stahl’s peers are as she describes in The New York Times Opinion page today: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/13/opinion/sunday/grandbabies-the-great-reward-for-aging.html?ref=opinion. Most have plenty of money, time and interest in their grandkids. However, there’s a much larger percentage of grandparents that also love their grandchildren and are willing to help out as they can, but they do not
In early March, I had the pleasure of hearing guest speaker and internationally acclaimed interior designer, Vern Yip, during the Art of Design luncheon at the Gibbes Museum of Art here in Charleston, SC. Vern shared some of his life stories, design information and creative guidance, most of which are included in his new design
