January 13, 2006 9:38 AM
Montessori at home/ Birthday request
Anne of Anne's Cafe recently posted on how she was able to overcome one obstacle to finding the joy in motherhood: Coats on the floor - no more!
That got me to wondering ("got me to wondering" - man, you can tell I live in Virginia now!) if anyone else had put into practice anything I've shared about using the Montessori approach at home to meet your children's need for independence and make life with them a little easier.
Since it's coming up on my blog birthday - January 15 - I'd really love to hear from you. If you want to send me a picture of how you've applied something - like Anne with her coat rack - please send and I'll publish for everyone to share. Or just write me a comment about how any of my suggestions worked for you and your family.
That's sure to keep me motivated as I write in the year ahead!
Posted in Big families, Family, Homeschooling, Montessori, Mothering | Permalink
Comments
Hi Barbara! I've put some of your ideas into practice. Our son is only one, so he's not quite ready for a lot of it, but we plan on introducing more and more as time goes on. We've got the coat rack going. His aunt is designing his own little nook (knook?) under our stairs where he will have his own table and chairs, his own bookshelf where he can put away his toys, art on the walls at his eye level and stuff like that. We are also going to put up a chalkboard where he can reach it. Obviously, he's too young for it now, but when he's old enough, it will go up.
So, happy blog birthday. Hope this boosts your morale :-)
Posted by: Jennifer | January 13, 2006 10:44 AM
my kids are 8 and 12. And, I was one of those mommas who believed they needed to conform to everything adult, the simple kindness of hanging something at their height never occurred to me. Now, they're tall and getting on the floor would only elicit cries of "MOM! Are you okay?"
However, this is how I'm learning to view life from their perspective thanks to Barbara.
I am accepting their efforts at chores and choosing their own clothes without going back and touching it all up.
Last night they did the dishes together. When they were in bed I noticed a greasy slick on the bottom of the plates. In the past I would have made a federal case out of it, hauled them out of bed to gaze on the offense, then do it myself perfectly. Now, I thanked them for helping me (Mom can't do it all you know guys! Thanks!) and next washup time rolls around I will show them that a plate has a bottom side, too.
This is huge for me.
Posted by: floorplan | January 13, 2006 11:26 AM
My daughter is only one so I haven't done much yet to implement anything I've read here but I am looking forward to beginning soon! The first idea I'm looking to do is the art and mirrors at her eye level. Plus, my 3 year old nephew just moved in with us for a while so I'm starting to review (read as: speed read) through past posts of yours and toddler books I had on hand for my daughter as she grew older, so I may be using more than I think, sooner than I think! I love all the great ideas you have here though - in general, the broad idea of thinking through how little ones think and see things around them and adjusting life for them based on that, is such a great thing and a challenge I'm ready to tackle! :)
Posted by: Laura | January 13, 2006 11:38 AM
Hi Barbara!
Wow- thanks for linking up with my post! It was a nice surprise. I have 2 of your books on order from Amazon and can't wait to get them! I'm excited that these ideas are encouraging, challenging, yet realistic to an overwhelmed mommy like me. I'm done with the sites that make me feel like I have to be perfect!
Posted by: Anne | January 13, 2006 1:45 PM
I bought a small table with two chairs for the kitchen so the 3-year olds have their own sized space for eating and painting/playing. I've also been more intentional about letting my 3-year old help in the kitchen. She can now make her own peanut butter sandwiches.
Posted by: Mel | January 13, 2006 2:21 PM
Barbara -- Thanks to you I got rid of all of those plastic plates for toddlers. The whole family eats off the good plates with the good flatware; the 2 year old sometimes uses the salad fork instead of a dinner fork, but we are working on it!
Posted by: Cathy | January 13, 2006 6:31 PM
Just coming by to say I love your new picture Barb!
Posted by: Elena | January 13, 2006 11:24 PM
I love the new picture too! I think you have a memorable and welcoming smile in all the pictures I've seen of you on this blog.
Posted by: Anne | January 13, 2006 11:48 PM
I have bought a step stool as well. I am short...only five foot one inch tall...and you would have thought I would have been more compassionate to her not being able to reach things. Having the step stool allows my three and a half year old to help me with the dishes, which has became one of her favorite things to do. I wash, and she rinses and stacks on the counter. Elijah, who is almost two, uses the step stool all the time. I think I need to get a second one, and one that is a little taller. With the current step stool, he can just see what's on top of the counter. He always gets on it to watch me pour his juice or whatever.
Also, I bought a little table and chair set off of Ebay, that came with three chairs. I thought, "how cool, an extra chair!". Now, with number three on the way, it turns out it will be a perfect fit!
Thanks for the suggestions. I plan on incorporating more as time goes by. My next thing will be to buy a small book shelf for their books. I already bought them a little bean bag chair to sit in to read, but, for now, since I can't find a bookshelf that suits me, their books are in the bottom cabinet of our entertainment center.
Posted by: Rachel | January 14, 2006 11:05 AM
I have been wanting to e-mail you and let you know how much you have helped me as a mom, but never got to it, so I guess this is the perfect time! I am a mom of 4 ages 4 and under, with no multiples plus I take care of 2 other kids, and I was searching for a website for moms that would provide lots of info and suggestions and yet was a christian one. I searched several sites and was unable to find exactly what I was looking for until my spiritual mom saw or heard you on a program and called me with your blog address. I have faithfully read every day since then. We are in the midst of redecorating and now are keeping the kids in mind. Instead of the dark black and silver we have gone with in the past we are using cheery colors, and have gotten a few mirrors and pictures to hang at their level.
I have also given my preschoolers a lot more responsibility than before, and they love it. We tried the glass dishes but switched back to plastic for now when my 2 year old got cut on one the was dropped and broken. We will switch back soon though. I have also have found several of the books you have suggested at garage sales and purchased them, and a few I had as a child, like Good Night Moon. Now we cuddle up at night almost every night and read it, they love it. ALso a favorite is the Rainbow Fish, Corduroy and Green Eggs and Ham, to name a few. I also bought several of the toys you suggested for Christmas gifts this year. They got a peg board, the light stacker, puzzles with knobs, a counting and sorting set and we have magnetic letters hanging on our fridge now. I was also against coloring books, I thought it stiffled their creativity but when you pointed out that it teaches them fine motor skills by having them try to color in the lines I went and bought some. So thank you for all your helpful advice, Barbara, and Happy Blog Birthday!
Posted by: melanie | January 14, 2006 11:11 AM
Oh, I almost forgot. I got Kyra some sewing cards, too, after reading about them in The Mommy Manual. I didn't really know what they were, but happened accross some in Walmart. Kyra loved them. She took them to church one night, and her six year old friend, Emily, liked them so much, that her mom (my pastor's wife) went out and bought some for her. I was suprised at how something so simple keeps her entertained for so long.
Posted by: Rachel | January 14, 2006 10:03 PM
