Montessori in the Home - Parent Ed Night

Montessori at Home - Picture Gallery
101 Things Parents Can Do... by Barbara Hacker
Montessori Applied at Home document

For those who were not able to attend my parent education night this week, I've made the documents available to you online. Just click the link above and you'll find a picture gallery and more. Happy Parenting!

a Beautiful Birth Story

I recently found this birth story online and had to share. What a beautiful story: Montessori and Birth

- Poem for Parents of Montessori Children -

 Today...

Today I did my math and science.
I toasted bread, halved and quartered, counted, measured, and used my eyes, ears and hands.
I added and subtracted on the way.
I used magnets, blocks and memory tray.
I learned about a rainbow and how to weigh.
So please don't say -

"ANYTHING IN YOUR BAG TODAY?"

You see, I'm sharing as I play, to learn to listen and speak clearly when I talk
to wait my turn and when inside to walk.
To put my words into a phrase, to find my name and write it down.
To do it with a smile and not to frown, to put my pasting brush away.
So please don't say -

"ANYTHING IN YOUR BAG TODAY?"

I learned about a snail and a worm.
Remembered how to take my turn.
Helped a friend when he was stuck.
Learned that water runs off a duck.
Looked at words from left to right.
Agreed to differ, not to fight.
So please don't say -

"DID YOU ONLY PLAY TODAY?"

Yes, I played the whole day through.
I played to learn the things I do,
I speak a problem, find a clue and work out for myself just what to do.
My teachers set the scene, and stay near-by to help me when I really try.
They are there to pose the problems, and to help me think.
I hope they will keep me floating and never let me sink. All of this is in my head and not in my bag.
It makes me sad to hear you say -

"HAVEN'T YOU DONE ANYTHING TODAY?"

When you attended your meeting today and do your work I will remember not to say to you -

"WHAT DID YOU DO?"

- author unknown

Busy, Busy Babies!

Nothing is better than taking a break from the computer and paperwork to spend time working with babies. In our infant room, our busy babies are cruising, crawling and rolling around. Yes, our not-yet-crawling babies learn to roll from one place to another in order to get a ball or other desireable object. A snapshot of the environment at first glance would reveal a 4 month old sucking on a sheer orange scarf for oral stimulation. Another, a 7 month old, is sitting upright working with an infant sized bead maze. Across the room, our 9 month old is moving through a short tunnel in the sensorial box. When he exits the tunnel, he can see himself in a side mirror that is strategically placed. He giggles before reaching up and pulls himself to his feet. After steadying himself, cruising is the next activity. I sit in the middle of the floor and wait to be seen, but of course these babies are so keen to their environment that every subtle move, sound or visitor is noticed. The 9 month old slowly lowers himself to thecrawling position and crawls right over to me with a big smile and a string of drool coming off of his bottom lip (another big task he's involved with is teething and the constant drooling that comes with it!).  The other infants are being cared for by the guides.. one diaper being changed, a bottle being fed, one being patted to sleep. Oh, after spending some time in this delightfully busy environment, I suppose it's time to retreat back to my office to finish up some paperwork for the day...

Stave off Pregnancy Nausea in the Heat of Summer

Click here for article & recipes from FitPregnancy.com

Belly Mapping

Belly mapping can be a fun activity to determine exactly where and how your baby is laying in your belly! Since babies move around and change positions, this can be done a few times in the last trimester of pregnancy. What you'll need: a sheet of paper, markers and a comfy place to lie down. Next, take the paper and draw a large circle with lines drawn crossways to make 4 pie pieces. Next, relax and feel your belly... do you feel feet kicking? Do you feel a big bulge on one side? Now here's the fun part - make notes on each section of the pie and then connect the "dots" to make a personalized belly map of your baby!

Free Parent Education Night - June 28th

Save the date ~ I will be conducting a FREE Parent Education Night on Tuesday, June 28th from 5-6:30. The topic will be about how to set up the home environment so that it's prepared for your child's ever-changing needs as s/he moves throughout the various stages of infancy and early childhood. Although it's free, an RSVP would be helpful. I'm looking forward to seeing lots of new & expectant parents there! For a map to the location, just click here website & map or click here mapquest map.