Tag Archives: childcare

Prepping Your Home for a Montessori Student

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If you have your child in a Montessori school or are considering placing them in a Montessori school, it is a good idea to have your home environment match up with their school environment. This can allow for the transition from home to school to be a whole lot easier and can give your child a continuous learning journey.

One of the most important phrases we have in our Montessori education is “Help me to do it by myself.” This is a concept that is great to keep in mind when you are setting up your house to mirror a Montessori preschool.

How to Prep Your Home Montessori Style

Bedroom/Playroom

  • Have low shelves with different activities available in baskets. This allows your child to explore what they want when they want.
  • A toddler-size table and chair can give your child a space to sit and read or do an activity.
  • Provide soft spaces where your child can lay down and read or rest.
  • Have low shelving and drawers with clothing options.
  • Provide tools and utensils that are sized appropriately for your child.

Kitchen

  • Provide 1 or 2 lower shelves in your kitchen pantry. Have a special plate, cup, and set of utensils that are child-friendly.
  • Put healthy snacks on the lower shelves so that your child can become capable in getting their own snacks.
  • A cloth and some water or child safe cleaning spray can be added as your child learns to clean up after themselves.

Bathroom

  • Make the bathroom as comfortable as possible.
  • Provide a step stool so your child can climb up onto the toilet.
  • Have a basket of books that either you can read to them while learning to go potty or that they can read to themselves.
  • Make toilet paper accessible.

As you can see, the Montessori student style is very much about independence in both learning and everyday living. Turning your home into a space where your child can practice this independence can help them put all the things they are learning at school into practice.

If you would like to know more about the Montessori style of learning or you are looking for a great school that promotes independence and discovery, come visit us at Montessori Children’s Center and take a tour today. We want to see your child grow and learn in every area of their life.

Three Toddler Friendly Apps

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The toddler years are a great time for children to get used to the idea of apps and the many ways they can teach them about the world. Even the littlest ones who aren’t talking much and have only started walking can get excited seeing the bright colors and hearing the sounds associated with these apps. Why not make the experience both educational and fun for your child?

Three Toddler Friendly Apps

The Very Hungry Caterpillar & Friends – First Words

This app is available for Apple devices, including the iPad, iPod Touch, and iPhone and recommended for ages 2 and up. A digital format uses the pop-up images associated with the classic children’s book that teaches toddlers words. Because the app is available in five languages, it is perfect for parents who want to teach their child a second language. You can easily explore the app together with your child while knowing it’s easy for them to use alone.

The illustrations in the app are as high-quality as the illustrations from the book, helping a new generation learn to love this book. There is a conversational quiz that allows kids to practice their new words very easily.

Pat the Bunny

Available for the iPad, iPod Touch, and iPhone, this app is another new, interactive take on a popular children’s classic. Several page elements are interactive, bringing the story to life in a unique way. You can record your own voice reading, which will help your child 2 and up learn the story by heart.

A fun coloring feature, activated by your child brushing a finger along the screen, will help foster creativity. Devices that have cameras can display your child’s face in pictures with a mirror. One of the things parents like the most about this app is how quickly children learn to navigate it.

Five Little Monkeys

Available for Apple devices, Android, and the Kindle Fire, the app teaches your toddler how to count by using a fun song. With a choice of three music styles, the song will never get boring for your child. There are other items that appear on the screen your child can interact with in addition to the monkeys.  Kids will learn to appreciate the good, clean humor behind this colorful app. Fun touches include the monkeys’ mom heading to the phone to call the doctor. The doctor, portrayed as a wise owl, gives the monkeys a gentle admonishment.

These are just a few of the fun apps for toddlers that will help them get a head start on learning in a very fun way.

Though much has been said about the academic achievements of Montessori children, the main value of the educational method lies in the self-discipline, self-motivation, independence, and love of learning that the children achieve.  To see if a Montessori education is right for your child, contact one our Fremont Montessori schools.

Transitioning from an In-Home Daycare to Montessori

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Children develop and are able to transition at different ages which is often stressful for you as a parent. Knowing when and if your child is ready to move from an in-home daycare to a more structured environment is not always an easy decision. Choosing the appropriate environment can make the move a lot easier.

Transitioning from an In-Home Daycare

When you are considering the move for your child from an in-home daycare setting to a more structured environment, you should arrange to meet the teachers they will work with. Building a good relationship with your child’s future teacher will help to ease some of the stress you may be feeling. Talk to them about any concerns or anxieties you may have, and share how you would like to be contacted regarding your child’s progress.

Gradual transition

Many children do better if they are gradually introduced to a new environment. Discuss with the school whether it is possible to start out with shorter classroom times and slowly introduce your child to a classroom setting. There are also children who do better if they are not expected to go back and forth so you will need to know your child and which will work best for them.

Children need time to adjust

Children need time to adjust to change. Make sure you give yourself and your child the time to adjust and become comfortable in the new environment. Your child may need time to actually ‘grieve’ leaving the setting they have become attached and comfortable with. This is part of a transition period and your child will need time to build a new relationship and adjust to their new setting.

Expectations of the classroom

Many parents think that by moving their child from an in-home daycare which has been low-key and relatively quiet to a classroom will be drastic. They often envision a room full of bustling children creating a lot of noise. The Montessori environment radiates with respect and harmony. Parents will find a busy hum as the children interact, yet there is great respect for quiet play.

Students in the Montessori classroom are encouraged to work together and care for their environment. They take turns caring for the room and any pets, plants, or other items that need daily attending to. They are taught to live in a community and to become independent within that environment.

The Montessori classroom

There are often students of mixed ages within the Montessori classroom. The flow and design of the classroom is to create a learning environment for your child that will encourage choice and interest. Spaces are suited for groups to play and there are quiet areas where you child can find time to be alone. There are also well-defined areas for the curriculum where your child will be encouraged to investigate.

Start your child on a successful start to their future. Contact our Bay Area Montessori school today and schedule a tour to see what they have to offer your child.