Learning to read is not a natural process. The curiosity that draws children to find out more about the world surrounding them usually comes naturally. It is not a secret that children flourish under nurturing and purposeful guidance. Just the right amount of encouragement, regularly held story time, parental example, cosy book nook - a perfect combination that can help children to fall in love with books. When placed in a rich environment with properly set up language area, children are … [Read more...]
Children of the World Multicultural Activities for Kids
Each culture carries an incredibly rich palette of colours and gorgeous patterns represented in their traditional costumes. Children love learning about different traditions all over the world and find out what makes them so unique and special. Can you imagine a Montessori classroom without continent study unit? Impossible. Well, besides being an essential part of the Montessori curriculum it is also lots of fun for kids to learn and even try different cultural outfits. I have put together … [Read more...]
Cooking with Kids. Easy 2 Ingredient Pizza Dough.
Food preparation with young kids is a priceless learning experience that is just as valuable for little ones as it is for parents or teachers. In a Cycle one ( 3- 5-year-old) Montessori classroom you will find that Practical life activities, including food preparation, are one of the central aspects of children's environment. It is also true for homeschooling families. Kids learn from a very young age to cut, scoop, pour, mash, operate knives and other kitchen utensils. In the … [Read more...]
Art with Nature – Creative Nature Hunt for Kids
{This post was featured in Montessori International magazine} The world of nature is full of surprises and inspiration. A palette of colours, different forms and shapes provide children with enormous amount of opportunities for creativity. Creative thinking is one of the most valuable aspects of child's learning that defines success and satisfaction in future. I love nurturing creativity in my child and support her learning with all sorts of art experiences that promote free thinking. Another … [Read more...]
DIY Montessori Inspired Activities and Games for 3 – 5 year olds.
The Montessori method offers such a wide range of amazing experiences for children. Child's work is their play. Generally, children do not need stimulation or encouragement; they naturally gravitate to activities that reflect their interest and enrich passion for learning. Senses play such a huge role in their learning. All materials and activities that are presented below have a goal to make learning hands-on, connect hand and brain, provide an opportunity for discovery. Our Montessori … [Read more...]
Lavender Goop – Sensory Play
Sensory play makes kids go crazy excited. Pinching, crushing, pressing, grasping, squashing, squeezing - all perfect ways to strengthen their grip and finger muscles. Play-dough, goop, slime provide kids with hours of calm play and allow them to develop better concentration. Every childcare worker or parent will appreciate easy-to-make, inexpensive recipe with a just a couple ingredients. This is a perfect option for a rainy day activity. Making goop together with kids provides an opportunity … [Read more...]
Montessori Inspired Art Appreciation Activities.
Without much preparation, planning or intention, Art as we know it, feel it, experience it, experiment with it took a huge part of our everyday life. We started 30 Days of Creativity and Art to help navigate our homeschooling towards creative side of learning and I do not think we will ever stop. Whatever it is - learning poems, listening to classical music, creating mosaics with leaves outside, looking for funny cloud shapes in the sky, painting on a mirror - it all provided a new perspective, … [Read more...]
Preschool Process Art Inspired by Kandinsky.
Art masterpieces are an incredible source of learning opportunities. Through studying and discussing art children learn to pay attention to small details, colours, use of space, shapes and creativity. Among pictures of masterpieces that we received from Montessori By Mom with the Art Appreciation toolbox my daughter especially loved painting done by Wassily Kandinsky - Russian artist. Kandinsky also was a musician and often drew his inspiration from music. Kandinsky said: "each colour lives … [Read more...]
Montessori Inspired Activities and Games For 3-year-olds.
The Montessori method presents such an incredible amount of learning experiences for a child. These experiences are born from child's natural desire to explore, curiosity and passion for the world. I am delighted to share with you what has been happening during our Montessori cycle at home - a classroom I set up for my three-year-old preschooler - A. May I say that I have never felt so strongly about the benefits of the Montessori method until I started to implement it with my child at home. It … [Read more...]
PROCESS ART FOR PRESCHOOLERS INSPIRED BY “DOT”
The process of discovering many types of art medium is so magnetic for preschool children. I am thrilled we took this 30 days of creativity and art challenge with my 3-year-old daughter to focus on process art. Process art is all about the journey rather than a final destination, and I love to see where it is taking both of us. Have you heard of a beautiful, inspiring kids art book "Dot" by Peter H Reynolds? We continue discovering the beauty of creativity and this time A did an activity … [Read more...]
PAINTING WITH NATURAL LOOSE PARTS
Maria Montessori believed that "beauty could be found in nature and that nature itself should be and is the most infinite source of creative inspiration" source. Connecting art experience with nature allows us to incorporate more meaning into our nature walks. When going outside we learn to notice colours, identify sounds and smells. This time out nature walk had a purpose for collecting nature objects for our next art exploration. We looked for something that was not too small or too big, had … [Read more...]