things that seem normal to me (“be gentle yet firm”) and things that are but shouldn’t be (“you are enough”). Keep one to two items per group on the toy shelf, clearly displayed and accessible for the child to reach. Those also needed to be organized but accessible, as the plan was to rotate out the assortment Henry was given to play with at any one time. My just over one-year-old started going to pieces around bubbles and gripe water, both of which he loved a second ago. Look for toddler-friendly instruments your child can hit or shake, like a drum, xylophone, bells, or maracas.

Davies acknowledges that speaking from a place of response and not reaction is hard and therefore it is of the upmost importance that you look after yourself and fill up your emotional cups. The result is a calm, soothing atmosphere in which consistent caregivers create an emotional safe haven for those in their care. You can take it a step further by encouraging your child to build a tower of blocks in matching colors.

Again, these are explained well and do inspire you as a reader however I do think that these are much more achievable with a stay-at-home caregiver. In a Montessori Parent-Child Class, you and your child will interact alongside a Montessori-trained teacher in a thoughtfully prepared environment. For example, if there is water involved, ensure that napkins or a towel are within their reach, so they can use them if there's a spill. And if you’re in a similar situation or finding yourself and your little one encountering the same struggles as we did, it’s worth giving a try!

Simone has done a marvelous job of offering us another way to think about toddlers, of offering concrete, practical, and relatable examples, in a way that is tender, kind and helpful.By playing with blocks, children develop spatial reasoning and problem-solving skills, strengthen their hand-eye coordination and motor skills, learn about geometry and other early math skills through hands-on exploration, and much more. Whether you are new to Montessori or have been using Montessori for a while, you will come away with practical ideas you can try today and use in your daily life. The key principle of Montessori is that children should be encouraged to be independent and responsible for their learning and environment. Please note: Workman Publishing sent me a free r

You can also create a lemon “volcano” or even make bath time more fun with a bath bomb, if your child enjoys this simple science experiment. For example, if a puzzle piece is missing, the activity cannot be completed by design, so the activity should be taken off the agenda.The Object Permanence Box enables the youngest learners to explore hand-eye coordination and become familiar with object permanence; that is, the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they can’t be seen. The author tackles subjects like feeding, sleeping, toileting, pacifiers, siblings, brushing teeth, getting dressed, sharing, hiting, biting, throwing, clingy stages, screen time, and even how to help build skills for an introverted toddler.

Even if I never do all the things in it, I love the calm, respectful attitude taken toward the task of caregiving. The materials go far beyond plastic squeak toys for chewing on and plastic blocks for banging together. Ideally, you’ll want to set up a simple collaging tray with a small jar of liquid glue, a paintbrush, and materials to collage (paper scraps, feathers, foam shapes, etc. Object recognition by touch** (stereognosis): take an opaque bag and put some items in it, close the bag and let the child figure out what is inside. Water painting allows children's imagination to run as they play around with the different colors and see how they all work together.Try classic nursery songs like “Twinkle, Twinkle” and “Old MacDonald Had a Farm,” newer faves like “Baby Shark,” or even your favorite Top 40 song. About the Author: Simone Davies is an AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) Montessori teacher. not sure I agree with this, at least my gut feeling is not sure about it - sometimes you just enjoy the process for its own sake, no? My toddler thrives with this set up at home and I found the suggestions of chores to involve her in and ways of setting things up really useful.