Montessori Moms: Planting the Seeds of Growth

As we know getting ourselves out of the house in the morning can be crazy enough, but add to that a child or two, a pet, making lunches, prepping dinner so you don't eat at 10 PM and maybe throwing in a load of laundry from the wet bed sheets the night before, brings it to an entirely new level! Creating routines for your family, especially your children can help make your morning go smoother, at least 90% of the time.  A few things to remember when creating a routine for the family: Keep it simple .  Simplicity is our school motto this year.  Don't get too detailed.  Use picture cards if your child does not read.   Get your kids involved .  Let them have some say in the routine if applicable.  Use a chart if helpful.  If they want to get dressed before breakfast be flexible. Communication is KEY .  Make sure your child knows what is expected of them and try your best to stick to it.  Once established you can be a bit more ...

Montessori Moms: Planting the Seeds of Growth: Managing Undesirable Behaviors : We have all been there.  The moment where you realize you've pushed your child a bit too far trying to get that one last errand in, or w...

As many of us have realized the demands of Kindergarten students have increased immensely in recent years.  I am a firm believer that children are underestimated in their abilities.They need to explore the world, try new things and learn to be independent I have sent three children of my own to Kindergarten and have taught too many to count over the last 22 years. I have compiled a list of eight skills that all Kindergarten students should have before September and it has almost nothing to do with academics. 1.  Children should be able to sit and listen to a story with no interruption or talking.  They should also be able to retell that story in sequential order. 2.  Children should be independent in the bathroom.   This one is so important! Teachers will not be able to assist each individual child with cleaning themselves, or buttoning pants etc. 3.  Children should know how to buckle themselves in a seat belt.   Most children are still in som...

Let me start by saying I have been a parent for 18 years and so much has changed in that short time. I have also been teaching for 22 years and have witnessed many changes in the way we choose to raise our children.  With these changes also came huge advances in technology for families. We have also become a culture of convenience. So what does this all mean? As a 45 year old each advancement was and is new and exciting to me.  I love being able to DVR my favorite shows or binge watch a series on a Friday night.  I love being able to put away the cookbooks and use my Ipad to look up recipes.  The big clunky phone book has been recycled and replaced with google.  I love texting and Facetime, but I also remember the days before all this new technology gave me instant gratification.  My oldest child seems to be of the age where, although smart phones, apple music etc. were new, they quickly became part of his culture. My younger two children seem to be bor...

Spring time might actually be a more stressful time for 4 and 5 year old children than Christmas time. The Spring brings new life to the outdoors and with that comes daylight savings time, sports, later nights outside playing and Kindergarten registration.  All this leads the way to very tired children. Lets start with the outdoors.  All winter we have been couped up inside tying to find a creative way to release their energy.  We are able to get outside for a bit some days but the children are typically so bundled up they can barely move much less run around.  Now comes the warmer days.  You are going on bike rides, playing at the park, running in the backyard.  You can stay out for 2,3,4 hours without getting frost bite.  We are tiring our children out with fresh air and exercise.  It is still light out at 8 PM. They don't want to go to bed when it's light out and either do we! For some 4 and 5 year olds this is their first chance to play o...

Lunch Time Success Lunch at school can be a stressful time especially when it is a child’s first time eating a meal away from Mom and Dad.  As parents our tendency is to “help” them aim for success but sometimes that help leads to stress when your child does not have practice making mealtime decisions or know how to open containers, eat a sandwich etc.   As many of our students are getting ready to move on to their next educational milestone we wanted to touch upon this to help prepare both parents and students. Below are some tips to help with lunch time success.  Children heading to Kindergarten or first grade in the fall should be able independently accomplish these tasks. Pack food your child likes.  Even if it is the same every day! Don’t overpack worrying they will be hungry.  Maybe pack 1 extra item, however you know how much your child typically  eats and you should pack accordingly. Make sure to follow the school rules r...

Many of us remember family meals growing up.  Dinner at my house was, for the most part, the same time every night and you were expected to be home.  (sporting events and work were the exceptions as we got older)  When I had my children I swore we would eat together every night.  And we did, for a while.  When my oldest was born we put his seat at the table with us.  We talked to him and included him throughout the meal as he grew older.  When our second came along, it was pretty much the same. Then came #3. By that time the oldest was playing recreational sports and practices started at 5/5:30.  We needed to eat and get out the door with a baby and toddler in tow, during some of the crankiest times of the day.  I was not thinking we should be eating together.  I was thinking that I didn't know how I was going to survive the day, the week, the season. We still made time for family dinner on non-practice nights and weekends though.  ...