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Browsing Tag: Toddler
Only weirdos use Montessori for their kids, right? At least, that is what I thought initially. Several years ago, I was a nanny for two children who attended a Montessori school. I totally internally judged them, because the only things I had heard was that they didn’t have any rules so the kids ran wild and that the kids were unprepared for the “real world” of the conventional classroom.
Long story short, I was offered a position in the toddler room at the Montessori school they attended and four years later I have found my fit. I love what I do, I love the school, and I love Montessori. And I have determined that the world is sorely lacking in knowledge about Montessori. When I was an education major in school, I believe we read exactly one paragraph about the Montessori philosophy. But the world needs to know, so I am shouting it from the rooftops!
If you’re looking for ideas for your home, check out this ebook I wrote with 30 Ways to Make Your Home More Montessori. The ebook is available on Amazon and it is also available as a pdf on Gumroad.
Now before I go on, let me just say that I am not a trained Montessori teacher. Everything I have learned is from experience working in a Montessori school and books and articles I have read. I am in no way an expert. I am also not going to delve into everything because we could have a conversation that lasted for hours about Montessori.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. That means if you buy through my link, I may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. For more information, see my disclosure page here.
With the holiday season on the horizon, now is the time to start brainstorming gift ideas. Gift guides for kids of all ages are easy to find. But what if you don’t want to just buy the latest popular toy for a child? Or what if you are a parent who is highly critical of the toys your child plays with? That is where a non-toy gift guide comes in.
(Make sure you read about why I don’t put toys on my kid’s Christmas list.)
This gift guide is designed for toddlers aged 1-3 years. By this age, they are learning to walk and talk. They are also working on independence. Where the baby gift guide was almost designed more for the parents who are caring for the babies, this guide is focused on toddlers who will enjoy opening gifts during the holiday season.
(P.S. If you are looking for gift ideas for other ages, make sure you check out The Non-Toy Gift Guide for Babies, The Non-Toy Gift Guide for Preschoolers, The Non-Toy Gift Guide for Elementary Aged Kids, and The Non-Toy Gift Guide for Families)
I love winter. I love the holidays and the snow. I live in Minnesota, so I am walking in a winter wonderland at least 6 months out of the year. But as a Montessori toddler teacher, the worst part of winter is trying to stuff 10 toddlers into outside gear every day to go outside. One of the best things we do to cut down on this prep time is teach the toddlers to put on their own coat using the Up and Over Method. Here is the simple way toddlers can put on their own coat. (Sorry, you will still have to zip it!)
I’m going to admit something to all of you: I love taking my toddler out in public. I am an introvert raising an extrovert. One of the best things I can do is simply bring Mac along while I run errands. I have been doing that since she was a baby. I get things done while also fulfilling her need to be around people. But toddler tantrums are a force to be reckoned with, especially when running errands. Here is how I deal with and prevent misbehavior while out and about.
(If you’re interested in other ways to prevent toddler tantrums, make sure you check out my ebook about giving toddlers choices. That is one of the best ways I know to prevent toddler tantrums!)
September is an exciting time as the season changes and kids head back to school. But along with that colder weather comes icky colds and other illness bugs. So when should a child actually stay home from school? As a teacher, I can tell you that it is so important that sick children stay home. Here are the eight reasons a child should stay home (according to Minnesota state law) and why each of them are important to pay attention to. Read to the end because the eighth one is a doozy
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. That means if you buy through my link, I may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. For more information, see my disclosure page here.
Pacifiers can be a life-saver for new parents, but they can also become a crutch for children. I know a lot of parents (myself included) who worried about whether to give their baby a pacifier and then when and how to eventually take it away. So how do you give your child a pacifier without having them become attached? Mac loved her pacifier and I was afraid she would become attached to it, but we managed to get it away from her with no problem. I also picked up a few more tips from my co-worker in the toddler room which have worked for others. In all, there are four tips to get rid of a pacifier.
[Warning! I have just learned that raw kidney beans are poisonous and should not be used for a bean tub. If you are using raw kidney beans, get rid of them immediately and get a different type of bean! -Mikki]
This past week, I knew I was facing a bunch of rainy, stuck in the house days. Right away, I went through the toy closet and picked out some new things are some activities I don’t get out often. Then, while I was looking through my pantry, an idea struck me: it was time to make an easy Montessori bean tub.
I think in most families, buying a potty is something that is done when potty training is going to start almost immediately. In America, that seems to typically happen around the age of 2 or 3. So imagine the surprised looks we got when we bought a potty for Mac when she was only 9 months old.
I don’t know about you but every time I leave Mac with a new caregiver, I feel like I want to write them a whole book with everything I know about her and then test them about it at the end. Crazy? Yes, but every parent wants the best for their child. As a toddler teacher, I can tell you that I don’t need to know everything, but there are certain things I would love to know when a new toddler comes into my room.
I am going to come right out and admit it: I am worried about showing you guys Mac’s bedroom. Not because there is anything wrong with it; but because every single time I look up stuff about floor beds, there are pictures of these super elaborate floor bed set-ups with highly decorated rooms. Honestly, Mac’s room is the opposite of that. But I finally decided I need to buck up and show you all her room because a Montessori toddler floor bed room doesn’t have to look like it came out of a catalog.
If you’d like to read the other posts in this series, I’ll post them here. First, I talked about how we never used a crib. Then I talked about what a floor bed is. Then I posted about how we shared our bedroom with a floor bed. Make sure you scroll all the way to the bottom for my #1 piece of advice on safety in a Montessori toddler floor bed room. (Also, check out my post about how despite this nice room, our toddler bed shares with us part time.)
