THE MUMMY BLOG

  Presenting Montessori Materials   Lesson sequences for Montessori classroom work  Montessori materials are such an essential part of the Montessori environment. Montessori materials are provided for children to focus on their interests and developmental needs. It is important that the materials are presented in a specific sequence for children to be able to understand how to use them most optimally.  Montessori Colours Boxes Montessori Colour Boxes are a great visually appealing resource to have in a Montessori environment. They were created to be introduced to children as part of the Sensorial curriculum area, this material engages multiple senses. Colour boxes also have a number of extensions and activities which can be added for children to reach different and more meaningful conclusions and the child progresses. Generally Colour boxes are made from a sustainable wooden material and contain a different amount of matching coloured tablets they are small and...

No cost activities children will love   Children love to get out and explore, play and learn, and it doesn’t have to cost you a lot to do so.  There are so many available groups and resources we can utilise for our children that are at little or no cost. And to be honest for my son and myself being quite privileged, it’s important to teach my son to be humble and grateful for the things we can be part of it our community.  Nature walks-  this is our number one go to activity. There are so many beautiful spots you can find while exploring in the outdoors. Your child can discover new things like plant and insect species. They can be immersed in different natural textures like water, mud, sand, grass, crunchy leaves. To take your nature walks to the next level you can take along an activity like a scavenger nature hunt list or we like to create our own treasure map and treasure chest to hide. We really enjoy our nature walks and I urge you to get outside if you can x Pa...

The role of an adult in a     Montessori Environment.   ‘Young children should be our greatest collaborators. To help them acquire all the knowledge they need to act independently, we must partner with them.’ - Maria Montessori  As adults in a Montessori environment it is our role to be present in the child’s life, physically, mentally, and emotionally to aid in their development. Adults/teachers must practice to become passive when the child is at a moment of discovery, and active in a moment of true need. They must be able to tell the difference.  The adult must be a model, in which the child can positively imitate, and guide the child through their learning, but leaving the child free to develop their own will, independence and ability to make their own choices and decisions. The adult in a Montessori environment must strive to be a consistent, stable entity in the child’s life; this will provide the child with a sense of security, routine and love. ...

  Rewards and Punishment Let talk about rewards and punishments with children. Personally I stay away from rewards and punishments with my son. There any many factor to consider when choosing a way of parenting and Disciplinary tactics, what you believe and how you feel about it.  Popular culture would have many believe that there are two ways to influence human behvaiour – through the use of rewards or punishments. The lollie or the stick.  Generally speaking, most professionals in the early childhood education and care industry understand how inappropriate the use of punishments is with young children. There is widespread consensus that relying on spanking or “timeouts” is at best not effective, and at worst, harmful. Less well known is the ineffectiveness of rewards. Sometimes referred to as “positive reinforcements”, praise and rewards do not help children over the long term. Most adults use praise when interacting with young children. Often, this is because we, as ad...

  Tips For Teething Babies   Teething is one of the many had hurdles that our babies and ourselves experience within the early times of childhood. The most common signs of teeth are of course- Dribbling, drooling and extra saliva, having red cheeks and sometimes a ‘teething’ rash around their mouth, a desire to chew and bite down on anything and everything, loose nappies, fussiness, swollen gums or indication of tooth eruption.  Our little ones are constantly growing and changing and developing and pain can be a part of that so here are a few times to make our babies a little more comfortable during the teething phase.  Chilled washcloths  : Place a wet washcloth in the freezer for a couple minutes, so it’s cold but not frozen, and then offer it your Bub to chew on. It can help soothe the discomfort of teething, Or with clean hands use the chilled washcloth with your finger and gently massage your baby’s gums over the areas where they’re teething.  Chilled ...

Montessori Prepared Environment   A Montessori prepared environment is set up to allow the child to thrive, to learn independence and to grow into their confident intrinsic self. Montessori educations take careful consideration when setting up a specific environment for children in their care and there are certain factors that are included in the child/ teachers environment.  Key features of a Montessori prepared environment-  Montessori prepared environments would include three key features which are Beauty, Order and multi/age groupings.  The Montessori prepared environment would be designed with simplicity and elegance in mind. Including a combination of natural and introduced elements. The room environment is beautiful so children may be uplifted and inspired this will also help with the child’s concentration and connection to the environment.  Furniture-  Child sized furniture such a small tables and chairs for the children to sit and eat in...