Sunday, March 29, 2015

Travel- Montessori Style

As most of you will be traveling during Spring break, I thought I'd offer some suggestions on how to travel with children- Montessori style.

- First, talk to your children about where you are going. Show them a map or photos and get them involved in the process. Montessori kids are well acquainted with maps.

- Have them pick out their clothes and pack them in their suitcase. Help them by telling them how many of a certain item they need to put in. Ex: 3 short sleeve shirts, 5 underpants, 2 skirts, 5 pairs of socks, etc.

- Have them help you buys snacks specific for the trip. This will help them be excited and also have something to look forward to.

- Set an expectation of limited media (at least to start with). You can have it as a back up but don't start your trip this way. If you really need this, then have it hidden and do not discuss the option of it. Once it's presented they will only be looking forward to that as an option.

- Start collecting travel games, puzzles, books, magnetic toys, travel board games, crayons, drawing pads, etc, that they can pack in their own back packs. Keep these hidden during the rest of the year and pull them out only when you travel. Keep your eyes on the look out when traveling for new items to add to the rotation. Airports have some fun items, World Market has vintage style things, and museum gift shops have unique finds.

-Backpacks: buy children their own travel backpacks, we have both "urban" style ones and hiking style ones. This allows them to take what they want and be responsible for their own items. Water, snacks, a small box of crayons, light books, paper, small toys, etc. can fit in here and they carry it around. It helps them feel independent and yet contributing to the family.

-For car rides, you can play I spy, or some other conversation style games. There are also lots and lots of podcasts that have children's stories that you can play. Also, consider silence. Allow your child to be "bored" this allows for their imaginations to grow and expand. They do not need to be occupied, talked to, or entertained the entire time. Children need some quiet time to be in their own head space.

For air travel, similar to car travel, have things to talk to them, read with them, or play tic tac toe, or other games. Usborn books have some fun travel doodle books. Again, keep travel items for travel time alone. For media use, if you need it keep it hidden and pull out only when necessary. This varies from person to person, but you'd be surprised you may never need it. We've never had that as an option, and people think we are crazy, but after 6 years and two kids, it's not something to even consider anymore. Maybe the older ones 9+ could handle something, but if so, keep it to 1 show, or a specific time limit.

-Most importantly have fun. Traveling with children is not easy or "relaxing" but as I read in an article years ago, it's just a different way of discovering travel. Once you accept this, it helps to deal with things accordingly. Nothing like seeing entire families staring into their own "personal devices" when traveling. This is the time to connect with each other rather than disconnect.

-Finally, limit their sugar intake in confined spaces. If you want your children to behave well and to be in control, then sugary teats are a way of confusing their bodies on the input and output. We have control of what they eat. Giving them the option of "once we get there" is a possible alternative, or just being strict and saying "no" is also a very good choice. More on saying "no" to your children in a future post!

Bon Voyage!

Check out these articles:

Will Connected Devices Disconnect the Family?

How Is Technology Affecting Your Family?

Thursday, March 13, 2014

The Montessori Child at School and Home (3-6)

I tried to recap my discussion with parents into their ages, work at school and things they can do at home and things parents can do with their children. This is really brief and a bit all over, but I hope it can help.

Breakdown of the Primary 3 year cycle in development, abilities, and capabilities.
1st year: (2.5- 4 years)

Allow them to do more at home: chores, getting dressed, helping out, cooking, cleaning,
Read with them and read at higher levels
Don't interrupt focus and concentration
Help them develop confidence- key to focus, concentration, and good work habits
Children are able to play alone at home and give parents time to work and do adult chores. They need to become aware of patience.
They are being exposed to the sounds, and possibly the 1-10 quantities and symbols
As they are closer to 4 they will be introduced to larger quantities and the decimal system possibly with addition
Depending on the child they will be exposed to the sounds and the cursive letters that correspond. We introduce writing before reading in Montessori.
We help them refine their large and fine motor skills especially their dexterity in the fingers and wrist- it's a preparation for writing. (At home: work with flour to make dough, very different skill than play-dough).
We also help them inhibit their movements by teaching them control and coordination. This helps them with self control.

2nd year: (4-5 years)

They are internalizing their work, don't push
May not be as focused at school, but they are learning from the others
Quantities, number symbols, large quantities, addition, and possibly subtraction will be introduced (depending on the child).
There is a lot of repetition, this helps "incarnate" their knowledge. The repetition and the material gives them a firm grasp of the concepts so that once the next lesson is given, they are ready.
They will be working with the golden beads for a long time, maps, and other sensorial/ exploration work.
The moveable alphabet and beginning of writing is introduced along with phonograms (2 sounds creating a third "ch")
many are straddling the younger years with the readiness for maturity
Allow for independence
Introduce them to the concept of consequences and follow through
Implement chores, rules, and agreed upon consequences before incidents occur
Read with them and help them recognize their sounds and numbers (when presented)
Help them become patient and understanding by not giving into them or turning to them when they demand your attention
Start game nights, family outings, family dinners and cooking

3rd year: (mostly ages 5+)

Be consistent on your "rules"
Invite children to come up with family chores, rules, grocery lists, and also their own consequences
Begin to enforce patience by setting timers, or giving timelines. Reinforce them and make sure they know it or understand it before walking away.
Needs vs. privileges: help them understand basic needs and what they are privileged with in their lives.
Consequences can be certain privileges being taken away- they must know this before. Do not react, but enforce prior discussions.
Limit media to weekends and even then to an hour or less
Read higher levels, chapter books and help them build vocabulary
Read and then ask questions about content.
Parents can take turns spending time with individual children and ask them what they'd like to do, spend time to get to know your child
This is the year of leadership in the environment, they blossom and it's sudden. Once they are on a path of abstraction (less materials), they move quickly.
Children are ready for larger questions to be answered, very curious, very scientific, showing readiness for cosmic education/ Elementary
Children will be exposed to addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

Regarding media: I strongly urge you all to put it away and allow it on occasion. It is EXTREMELY evident who watches TV and also when they watch it in the morning. It is a huge distraction in their mind and their focus and concentration on the materials are lost. If media is not good for a developed adult brain, think of what damage it is causing the young developing brain.