I planned to glue a snowman together with my son today. I happened to leave the supplies on the kitchen table and was off doing other things. When I came back to the table, imagine my sweet surprise as I watched my son laughing and gigging as he made a “silly snowman!”
He made up his own activity with these few supplies. And he played for almost an hour! He made up stories about the two-eyed snowman and different hats, and it even had breasts at one point (I’m a nursing mom.)
My little boy out-smarted me. And I let him direct his play time. It was wonderful — much better than I could have planned!
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All week, I am sharing my gift wish lists. I shared ideas for my three year old boy and my one year old girl. And today is a list for me! Well, it is for their learning, but this list consists of the items that I have been pining after for Montessori learning in our home.
Montessori methods encourage a child to self-teach and self-correct. The following list of tools are all items that I would love to have in my home to encourage independence and self-learning.
My hope is to have a home full of patience and understanding towards my children as they seek to learn and discover the world around them!
I don’t have the Pink Tower. This tool teaches mathematics and spacial recognition. There are many extension activities one can use with this important set. Many of the below items are also available at Montessori Outlet.
I also want to buy the Brown/Broad Stairs. Living Montessori Now and Montessori Works have extension ideas and free resources.
I have wanted these Knobless Cylinders for some time. Check out Living Montessori Now for learning and extension ideas.
The Knobbed cylinders also come in sets and offer geometry and spatial lessons for learning.
I have wanted this Kitchen Helper for my little guy ever since he could stand next to the counter. Now that my girl is getting older and my son has been using an (unsafe) stool, it is time to let my husband know that, yes, we need this.
This moveable alphabet is an amazing tool for helping beginning readers. I plan on purchasing this down the road — here is an amazing post from Living Montessori Now to further explain this learning tool.
The Long Red Rods teach measurement, dimension, and problem solving skills.
And this Numeral and Counter Set teaches number to object correlation for hands-on learning.
Geometric Shapes give children many hands on learning activities with different shapes. These are all the same color which aids in having to distinguish by shape.
The last two items on my wish list are Reggio inspired. You can learn more about Reggio learning at Exploring Reggio from The Imagination Tree.
Light table or trays are not in my el budget-o, but they help a child explore their environment as scientists! (This one is a little less expensive!)
Check our Racheous Lovable Learning (picture below) to learn more about discovering shadows, light, and reflections, and nature with light tables! And Next Comes L also has great learning ideas!
I’m also going to try to make this Reggio Mirror Box! You can read more and see Anna’s DIY version at The Imagination Tree with her post on Exploring Shapes and Patterns!
You may also be interested in seeing my post on making your own Montessori Alphabet Box.
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All week, I am sharing my gift wish lists. I shared ideas for my three year old boy and next will be my Montessori learning tools wish list. Today is a list for my sweet fourteen month old girl.
I already have about every baby toy a child could need, but I am writing a gift list with the items my dear 14 month old May might receive for Christmas. Some of these are items she already has, and most are natural material toys, but I have also included some plastic and musical gifts too! I am not including books in this post, though, as always, reading and spending time with my little one is far more important than any material toy! You may want to check out our Treasure Bins to see our play time with themed items!
The first item is one we just received from a dear friend. Her now-teenage daughters hardly played with this Melissa & Doug dollhouse because she thinks she bought it for them too late. Well it may be a bit soon for my daughter to have a dollhouse, but I am beyond thrilled! I remember thinking, when I had my boy, that he needed a train set, a tool bench, a kitchen, and a barn. (I know, my husband even thinks it is a bit much — I am proud to say all of those items were purchased second-hand or given as gifts.) ”And if I have a girl, she needs a dollhouse.” Well now she has a gorgeous wooden one! I couldn’t feel more blessed. And my son loves it too! The set is originally $149.99 and now is $90.99 at Amazon! I don’t know if this sale is typical or not, but that is an amazing discount! My daughter loves playing with the doors and dolls already.
It came with some beautiful pastel pink and purple furniture! All of great quality.
And these little Melissa & Doug dolls are so sweet! (The recommended age for these is three years, so I will definitely be keeping an eye on her during play time — though they seem perfectly safe to me!)
The next item I am adding is a Hape doll stroller that my daughter already has. She loves walking it around (she used it as a walker and it is very sturdy!) and putting her doll in it. Hape also has a baby crib, a changing table, and a high chair, which we don’t have room for, but are equally adorable.
May has a lot of dolls. My favorite is the Haba Collection doll named Mali (they have many ethnicities!) She’s perfect — no tangle hair and simple clothes to take on and off!
May got this for her birthday — it is a bit challenging, but I absolutely love this Hape Creative Peg Puzzle!
I adore all Hape toys – their are made of wood and use safe dyes! I love this Pound & Tap Melodies Bench!
This Hape Alphabet Abacus is so colorful and begins recognition of letters!
These are the best invention and my daughter did her first drawing with these My First Crayola Crayons!
We have many Melissa & Doug items. We love the Shape Sorter Clock.
And I know she would love this Caterpillar Gear Toy!
A sweet First Purse from Kidoozie.
May’s favorite activity is playing with my cell phone. I know she will always want to use mine, but here is a well-reviewed alternative — the Hellophone (yes, that’s its real name).
The VTech Slide and Talk Smart Phone is on sale for $9.99 off from $30 right now! I know my daughter would love this one too,
Next is a sweet shape sorter, the Learning Resources Smart Snacks Shape Sorting Cupcakes Toy Food. I know my daughter would love to sit and play with this!
This Leapfrog My Discovery House has gotten amazing reviews and I think my daughter (and son!) would have lots of fun with it!
The Munchkin Mozart Magic Cube also seems like a great choice for my music loving girl.
Please share your lists for baby girls — I’d love to see them!
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Now that Thanksgiving is over, I am happy to share three gift lists this season! Boy, Girl, and Montessori lists.
My son’s Christmas wishlist has been compiled in my head for some time {though he certainly won’t be getting everything on this list!}. There are three main components to his list: Trucks, Active play items, and Musical instruments. This not a generic gift list for all boys — it is very specific to what he loves — but maybe some items on this list may be just right for your little active, musical, truck-lovin’ guy!
Trucks
Handmade Felt Road Playmat from Etsy {for his many Matchbox cars and small John Deer tractors}
John Deere Big Farm Tractor
Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site Book {this is quite possibly the best truck book ever written}
Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site Memory Game
Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site Magnet Set
Active Boy
Check out Blessed with Boundless Energy for some great information and encouragement with active boys!
Kid’s Trampoline
Small Trampoline {trying to figure out if I need the handle or not?}
Reebok Balance Board {for balancing during active times}
Air Stability Wobble Cushion {for active standing and sitting}
Little Tikes T-ball Set
Easy Catch Ball & Glove
Music
{My son is ready to graduate from little drums and tambourines and cymbals. He has a real guitar and recorder and the Saxoflute (below) — he loves playing them, We are surprised, and proud, of his ability to keep rhythm!}
Quercetti Saxoflute {one of the best gifts of all time!}
Bontempi Saxophone
Bontempi Trumpet
Mini Violin with steel strings {there is also an eletcric one without strings that plays 25 songs– I know my son would prefer playing it himself}
Plan Toys Drumset
Blocks!
Zoobs
Duplos
And, lastly, if you want to make something for your child, here is a wonderful idea from Samantha at Stir the Wonder:
Blessings,
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This week, we thank God for all of our blessings. For our families, our health, our homes, our food, all the mercies He has bestowed on us. And most of all we thank Him for His dear Son, by whose death and resurrection, we are able to be called His children.
I am sad to say that I haven’t been able to do much for themed Tot School this holiday, but I am thankful! I want to share with you a poster I made of one of my favorite verses right now, fitting for Thanksgiving Day!
{By downloading, you are agreeing to my Terms of Use.}
You can download the Poster of Lamentations 3:22-23 here!
Blessings,
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Graphics from The Ink Nest.
