Now that things have calmed down, I've been thinking long and hard about the blog. Usually, I post about the activities I do with my 3 and then 4 year old nephew, or what activities I do with my class of 3-6 year olds at work. However, now I'm staying at home with my daughter, who is now 15 months. I know I want to do Montessori with her, but honestly, I was at a loss about what to blog about. Baby stuff is pretty basic....Dare I say: Pretty boring? Handing her a crinkly piece of paper usually makes her day. Then I thought, HOW SAD FRIEND! (a common phrase we use at my old school) This is my own daughter we are talking about! Shouldn't I show the same wonder and excitement, the same awe and reverence of HER activities while she discovers her WORLD as I would an older child discovering reading or math? If I think her day is boring, could it be because I'm not trying hard enough to make it as exciting as I would for my 3-6 year olds? I think also a part of my hesitancy is that I've been TRAINED to work with 3-6 year olds. I feel equipped, proficient, knowledgeable. But no one ever taught me how to take care of a baby! And because Maria Montessori never specifically wrote about a curriculum for 0-3 year olds (she wrote about development and sensitive periods, but not the same detail in activities that she did for the 3-6), there is a surprising lack of guidance that I'm finding on the topic online. So there's one hurdle.
Anyway-enough of my excuses!
E and I enjoying being closer to nature in our new city, we are getting stronger by taking walks every evening to the park, and making discoveries of leaves, bugs, dirt and flowers and birds along the way!
Now I'm not saying that I don't have fun with my baby, I do! Shes' amazing! and I'm not saying DON'T hand your baby/toddler a crinkly piece of paper (do it, they love it). I just don't really think you would be particularly interested in reading about it. On the other hand, I'm not saying that I feel like I have to plan out elaborate, Pinterest perfect crafts and activities in order to give my toddler a rich and educational experience. However, I am saying that I feel like E is at the stage where I need to start taking a more active, thoughtful and enthusiastic approach to her learning environment. Children learn through experiencing the world around them. Babies and toddlers learn mainly through their senses. It is my role as an educator and mother to provide her with a rich, fun and fulfilling environment in order to meet her need for sensorial experiences. Whether that's taking her to the park and climbing, showing her leaves and flowers, letting her touch and taste the ingredients as I cook dinner, making some homemade play-dough, or yes, even giving her a crinkly piece of paper- and being just as excited about that crinkly piece of paper for her as I am about a lesson in the Golden Beads as I am for a 5 year old!
So I am taking up the challenge to make MyMontessoriClass the MOST FUN, EXCITING, AWESOME blog about Montessori for toddlers and natural life-long learning that you've ever seen!
I am going to try to keep this as balanced as possible. Not full of tons of crafts and recipes and activities that need to be planned in advanced. Those things are fun, and I'll be sharing some, but I honestly don't think that sort of elaborate-ness or fake-ness is necessary for toddlers. They are so happy just experiencing the everyday, GENUINE world. For example, today the most fun I had with E was putting a ping pong ball inside a washed out Yogurt container and dancing as we made music with our new drum/rattle. So I will be sharing ways that I share the REAL world with E. How I create opportunities for her to become more independent, learn new skills, explore the world through her senses and become the person she will be!
E and I enjoying our new city, playing in the splash pads at the great Klyde Warren Park in the Dallas Arts District
E is learning all about the world just by being in it
Now here is where I reach out to you-the internet people!
Do you have any great resources on Montessori Philosophy for Toddlers?
I did find this great resource for Toddler Lessons at Wikisori. They have albums and resources for all ages, but some toddler ones as well. Any other resources you'd recommend?
