A Belated Christmas Wish and a Happy New Year

On behalf of all of the teachers and families who have contributed to this website we wish you a restful and loving holiday season.


M. and his Christmas tree.

G.'s gingerbread house.

C. & M. doing a Christmas dance with their grandparents.

Happy New Year!!!!!

Hanging around

C.'s Mom sent these pictures to me a few weeks ago.  C's Dad has been working on a home gym in their basement.  He is taking special care to ensure that the gym is a place where the whole family can be together.

C's Mom writes "I thought I'd send a few pics your way of our gym in the basement. Still not finished, but the girls are enjoying it just the same. "

"Once again, really economical. We bought the rings, ladder, and attachments at IKEA, and they're great for indoor play.

M. can't reach the rings on her own yet, but is happy to hang there for quite some time if she's lifted up."

"We intend to add climbing rings to the wall with some rock climbing holds as they learn more climbing skills. "

I've shared this on the blog because home gym's are not something I have ever considered through the "Montessori" lens.  (My experience with gym's is lots of sweaty adults working out on strange looking contraptions.  The only place for children was in the "playroom" - usually a big room full of toys and a caregiver. ) However, C's parents have shown me that with some careful thought and consideration for the developmental needs of their children, a home gym can be a place for the entire family.

Another visit to C. & M.'s house

C.'s mother sent us some more pictures. 

Here is a picture of the low cupboard which has been organized to allow C. to help in preparing a meal or setting the table before dinner.  Like all shelves in a child's environment, these are neat and not overcrowded.  She can easily access everything she needs.  Just like a Montessori teacher, C.'s mother constantly observes her children's environment making changes or replacing broken pieces.

This basket holds everything C. needs when she helps her parents prepare a meal. Again, there is only one of each thing and they are all child size.

      

A little jug that C.'s mother found

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                    She also found this great little peeler that fits perfectly in C.'s hand when peeling carrots. C.'s mother has learned to view the world from her child's skill level and is always on the lookout for child size items that will allow C. to do things for herself.

In the bathroom, C.' has a small basket for her dirty clothes. I love that this basket is small enough that she can carry it to the washing machine all by herself.

And because most houses don't have bathrooms built for children, C.'s parents have put a sturdy stool in front of the mirror and sink. The little potty is for M. and was placed there before she showed real signs of wanting to get out of diapers. Her mother told me that after it had been there a few days, she found M. sitting on it - without a suggestion or reward being offered.

At home with C. and her younger sister M.

This is C.'s first year at our school and her parents have made many changes in their household to foster her independence at home.  C. has a younger sister, (M.), so these changes have had to work for both children.  I think they've done a marvelous job because, as you can see in the pictures, the changes work for both girls.  C.'s mother has graciously supplied text to go along with the photos so I'll step back and let her guide you through their home.  Enjoy!

"These first two photos show a corner in the kitchen that used to be home to a TV. It now has an easel and art supplies, as well as child-sized cleaning supplies. I had to dig in the basement to find the old magazine table for the cleaning supplies... I remember it well from my own childhood! Having the TV removed from the kitchen has had a huge impact. The space is now quiet and peaceful, and C. has stopped asking to watch TV and is finding more creative ways to direct her energy."

"These photo shows the space opposite the cleaning supplies. We were lucky enough to have a grandpa build this beautiful table for us for C's first birthday. The table lid can be lifted and reveals a small space where further art supplies are kept. C. often eats
and plays at this table, especially when she has little guests."

"The next series of photos is of the play room, attached to the kitchen. Originally built by previous owners as a sun room to house plants in the winter, it has become a welcoming space for the girls to explore. The windowsills are only 2.5' high, so we have begun using them as shelves. The previous owners left us an old toy box,
which is also being used as a "shelf", and I've been storing toys and puzzles inside and rotating them. "

"Since C. is old enough to help with the gardening, we have used one sill for seedlings. As a one year old, her sister, M., is busy pulling things down and
loves making a mess, so we have hid this sill behind a fabric play house that C. was given at Christmas. This fabric playhouse also acts as a private space for C. when she needs some quiet time."

"I've added containers to our pantry for C's morning cereal. I have also bought small pitchers for the fridge for milk. Mornings are much more pleasant now that C. can get most of her breakfast herself."

"This was C's cupboard before we arranged her new one. It is now used by both girls for cutlery, although M, still hasn't quite caught on to the idea of an organized cupboard. "

Stay "tuned"  more from C. & M.'s house in a few weeks………