montessori in real life sleep

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Here she can match adult and baby farm animals. This was in line with the philosophy and it made sense to me. Use visual cues. For my husband and I, its important to raise kids who are able to play by themselves and create fun with what is available, rather than need entertainment to find joy. Layered Puzzle - Though this is still a bit too challenging for D, I saw the rabbit version of this layered wooden puzzle and had to grab it. When D was around 18 months old, she went through a major separation anxiety phase, and was not interested in playing alone. However, the end of naps doesnt have to mean the end of rest. My go-to play dough recipe is this one, though you can definitely find hundreds of others on Pinterest. D loves pointing to and naming both her matching body part, and her little babys parts too. And please let me know what else youd like to know in the comments section! Overall, giving her this opportunity to play a bigger role in dressing boosts her confidence and sense of accomplishment. Its okay for rules and expectations to be a little more relaxed in a public setting. Are there any safety considerations?". Intrinsic Motivation: In a Montessori environment, adults try to acknowledge accomplishments rather than praise or offer rewards for doing something good. Obviously our lives have changed quite a bit, and we have some new routines, while others remained the same. But when its time for me to leave or step away, I confidently and concisely tell her so, and that Ill be back soon and that I love her. In order for a floor bed to be the most successful, there has to be a foundation built during the day with your child of healthy boundaries and expectations. I feel ya! Happy egg (and basket) hunting, and Happy Easter! If my preschooler is blocking the slide and I happen to be close to her I might say It looks like someone is waiting for a turn, its time to hop down so that they can slide. If Im not nearby I would let it be (and hope that they communicate to each other). Though we have a potty set up for her in two bathrooms (one upstairs and one downstairs), she primarily uses the one downstairs, because thats where she plays and we spend most of our time. Using an ok to wake clock is a wonderful visual learning tool for sleep. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats - a classic, award-winning story about the simple joys of a first snowfall. Spend a little time reading, playing, or enjoying a meal together, without any screens or distractions, prior to quiet time. It made you upset that she took that toy from you. As you introduce a new object or concept, simply label what it is you are showing the child. Im also starting to find ways for her to help me prep dinner. Easter is only a week and a half away, so I felt compelled to write a short blog post along the theme! This isnt always the case, but it can be. I then ask her (in various ways) to find each object (e.g. I was excited to find this giant roll of heart stickers on Amazon so she can stick to her hearts content. D loves yoga, and these themed yoga cards are just such a fun way to make yoga cards new again! Note: When she is awake, she wears underwear. How long quiet time lasts is really up to you and your child. * Update (April, 21 months): No longer in diapers for outings! Some examples being, if your child has too much freedom or no limits during the day, but you want them to stay on their bed all night, thats going to be challenging because your child wont understand the why behind it. Children need time together before they can feel ready to be apart. The floor bed should be just a flat fitted sheet and away from the walls so that your baby cant become trapped. You can read more about those in my last blog post! Around 4 weeks is a great time to gently start thinking about a loose routine. This kind of environment promotes curiosity, concentration, and independence early on. We have been talking a lot about eggs and hatching, so this fits with that theme nicely. If your child is still mouthing everything, I would wait on these. You often hear in a Montessori classroom, my work, as well as asking to work together. Its okay if your baby is eating squeeze packs every day and your toddler is getting to play tiny dictator with the relatives. Now that weve taken several trips with a toddler and a baby, I thought Id share some lessons weve learned along the way! On a playdate or at the park, we can follow the same principles but perhaps with a bit more flexibility. When we are consistent about our limits, they trust our words more, and feel less desire to test. Not that its always easy! :) Sometimes I can get some of my own work done during this time. Whereas classic, primary-colored Montessori materials filled our shelves in infancy and early toddlerhood, our shelves now are quite a bit more colorful and busy. Ive been wanting to give D more opportunities to pick out clothes and dress herself, and creating this space in her closet is one of the best ways to do so. This usually starts with potty and then a bath. D has to squeeze the large knit ball with both hands to get it to fit into the hole. Practice makes perfect! Id love to do a part II. The Mitten by Jan Brett - another classic that probably doesnt need explaining! This is especially important with sleep. Even if it seems difficult to get you or everyone out, you dont want to feel bummed that you missed out on a little adventure once you get back home. The hardest part of a playground visit for my kids is often saying goodbye. Then she sits and we start the process of sitting/re-dressing. Make the first quiet time very short so they trust you and feel okay about it (if they are engrossed in play, quietly stand near their door and wait for them to look up. Little ones crave that attention and filling that cup during the day will help them settle in quickly for the night. When the time comes to leave, it can help to say bye bye to the playground/slide/etc. Its a nice time for us to catch up on the day. It really is easier than you think to get back to your normal routines and rules once you get back home, so try to let a few things go! Another Antarctic-themed activity weve incorporated at home is our snow sensory play. We love our Hatch but there are others. Its tough to leave a really fun place! I think its important for her to learn this boundary, and that sometimes we have to wait a little bit for what we really want. Its never too early or too late to encourage meaningful, independent play. With my older kids I love to talk about something that made them happy that day or something they were grateful for, ending the day on a positive note always does the heart good. Toddlers, especially, thrive on figuring things out for themselves, so we dont need to play for them. 6 Key Elements of Montessori Philosophy for infants and toddlers: Respect for the child: This is the most important element of Montessori, and parenting in general. There are also times when your toddler says no, and you should respect that too. She shows such pride when she makes him laugh, or when she successfully buckles him into his car seat. D stopped napping quite early, around 2.5. She has worked with all kinds of families, including those who have chosen floor beds for their toddlers. and bought them before I knew how Id use them. This helps ensure your little one is fully using those independent sleep skills and not drifting to sleep while eating. I found these lovely animal/track matching cards on Teachers Pay Teachers, and used them to make a matching work with several of the Arctic Toob animals. D has always been a mamas girl and loves physical contact, but starting around 15 months, she developed major separation anxiety and clinginess, even sometimes at home. She still gets to serve herself snack, she still gets her favorite 3 songs before bed, she still does bathtime with Daddy. You can edit the text in this area, and change where the contact form on the right submits to, by entering edit mode using the modes on the bottom right. This phase wont last forever. Though we never stick to the exact same schedule each day, we definitely follow similar patterns. How can parents set up healthy sleep habits from birth? One of my favorite holiday traditions as a child was searching the house with my sisters for our hidden baskets of goodies. Start packing early so that when you inevitably realize you are missing something, you have time to run to a store or Amazon prime last minute items. Or, if she signals that she wants help, I do show her again, or help guide her. One-on-One Time - Since having S, weve made sure to carve out special one-on-one time for D with each of us. We are still loving this arctic theme a year later. On weekends we eat as a family. We always make sure we are home by their bedtime in the evening and keep the nighttime sleep consistent. Though D goes to school a few mornings a week, we dont go to other formal classes (except swim class on the weekend). Often, even young toddlers can work out their issues without adult intervention. There is no rush to the next step as you want the child to really grasp what each object is. But in many cases, with young toddlers especially, I like to say something in this scenario because they are still working on communicating effectively. Egg slicing/matching - Melissa and Doug always has fun wooden toys (not super Montessori but great for gifts), and this is no exception. Egg crayons - I am probably most excited about these egg crayons. Though family time altogether is valuable, I think we especially appreciate each other when we have that one-on-one time too. I get to celebrate love x3 this year. It may seem counter-intuitive, but often the more a child interacts with a screen or electronic toys, the more bored they are. In our Montessori school, we didnt go overboard with themes, but wed incorporate a few special activities to fit with the seasons or holidays. More recently, the AAP has come up with some guidelines for floor beds. I feel that floor beds can be successful for a younger child if he or she is used to having freedom within limits. With toddlers, we can stay back but remain nearby to offer help or enforce rules as needed. :), How Do You Say I Love You? I cant let you hurt his body though. Start small. Love the challenge here. If a child places one cylinder in the incorrect place, he will not be able to fit all the cylinders into the block. We want our toddler to be confident in their abilities, and motivated to keep trying. The mirror also helps her develop body awareness and recognition. As Ive described before, I find it easiest to cut sticker sheets into strips and then fold back an edge to make peeling easier for a young toddler. Since D is still so young, we arent yet going into specifics of Arctic vs. Antarctic. Often babies will surprise us and fall asleep on their own.Could you give us a sample bedtime routine for an infant? The low lows can be really hard though. If another child tries to take a toy from D in a public setting and the parent doesn't say anything, I might gently stop the action and say to the child that D is using it right now but she can have a turn next. If my husband is home in time, he joins us. Nesting chickens - Love this fun twist on the classic Russian nesting dolls. If the child still takes it, I don't force the child to give it back but if D is upset, I say out loud to her, "Oh it looks like she really wanted to play with that toy too. need, floor bed or not. One of my favorite board books for toddlers is called Calm Down Time, so we read that together sometimes. You can read more about how we began language like this in my previous blog post. At Sleep Wise, as a group of Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultants, our mission is to give tired parents the tools they need to teach their children how to sleep 11-12 hours through the night. Note: throwing is a normal toddler behavior, and throwing can be useful for getting out pent up energy. If your child isnt interested at all, just move on, and try again later or another day. Screen Time: When the kids were babies, it was easy for us to be a screen-free family. No guarantees that a sunflower will actually grow. This may seem obvious, but sometimes we forget or get too busy to make play a part of the daily routine. As D has gotten older, she phased out naps on trips before phasing them out at home. Monti Kids provides detailed instructions on how to first present the figurines, and then add in the cards. If D is playing with a bucket that another child clearly wants, I would say "I see that she wants to play with the bucket too. My husband says I need an elevator pitch, and Ive yet to make one. If your child comes out when its sleeping time, you will consistently take them back and remind them of the boundaries and the clock. Lets clean it up. In general, when teaching something new, we try to avoid pointing out when the child gets something wrong. To help create predictably, choosing a number of books helps older kids know whats expected, usually I recommend about 3 books pending the length. Each of the six beautiful materials in this box provide D with the opportunity for intentional play and concentration. I continued to encourage her to play on her own but didnt force it. Remember that although traveling can be stressful in this phase of life, you wont regret the adventures you made as a family. Preparation of environment:Maria Montessori said, the greatest sign of success for a teacher is to be able to say, 'The children are now working as if I did not exist. When introducing a floor bed, starting with nap time can be a good option so you can see your child and know what they are doing. It is also useful to keep a couple of activity/coloring books in your bag for long waits or restaurants. Over the course of a month or so, she gradually began to enjoy her independent play time again. When D has gone through phases of not being interested in her toys, she does explore the drawers in the kitchen accessible to her, uses our child-size swiffer to dry mop the floor, or reorganizes our pantry. We eat breakfast together at the kitchen table. Whichever you choose, make it a place they want to be. At two and a half years, D loves to be with her friends, especially singing songs or sharing snack together. When shes done inserting her mail, she can then open up the box and start again. Egg shakers - These are simple but beautiful egg shakers that make a really nice, soft sound. Let them know that they may join you when they feel ready but let them know there is no rush. Respecting the child means speaking and interacting with our child in a gentle and loving way, and in words they can relate to. Although its rare, there are moments when D is frustrated or overtired and she gets physical towards her brother. They watch on the family TV rather than tablets, so they have to agree on what to watch together. Promoting independence is a key component of Montessori, in large part, because it allows the child to feel respected, capable, and content. During her work cycle, she gets to take the lead and choose what interests her. Explain how and where quiet time will happen and when you will be back. I let her take the lead here, choosing her own activities. 9:30 - 11:30am - Almost every morning we leave the house for some kind of outing, usually lasting an hour or two. In a few months, shell likely start matching colors, and eventually, creating patterns with this palette! Too easy, and they are bored. If youve already jumped a step ahead to more space with a floor bed thats ok but, have a plan in mind for setting boundaries and expectations so it can go as smoothly as possible. We have kept a lot of Ds daily rhythm the same. Now that D is 18 months, and given that its the start of a new year, its something Im going to try to incorporate. If we are constantly forcing our kids to share, or making them give up their toys or vice versa, they arent allowed to find their rhythm in play. Step stool - I set this up for her to sit on and practice dressing. Make sure everything that they have with them is safe for them to use independently. I encourage turn taking but dont force sharing or giving back (until its time for us to leave). oatmeal with toppings or avocado toast) and we read or play a little together. Shoes? It also means talking to him about what Im going to do before/as I do it. Then we brush her teeth, change into PJs, read a few books, sing a song, and kiss goodnight. Mirror - This is Ds favorite part of her dressing area. It has also helped to give her words/signs to use when she needs something such as help, eat, up, and please. We all know that toddlers have big emotions and strong opinions. Mama and Baby Animal Matching - Now that D has mastered matching identical objects, she is having fun matching similar objects. They are just too tiny and need to still eat quite often. ": From Sibling Competition to Collaboration, Our Favorite Newborn Baby Products (Updated 2022), Sleep and Floor Bed Tips with Sleep Consultant Megan Kumpf, her bio on the Sleepwise Consulting website, SIDS and Other Sleep-Related Infant Deaths: Updated 2016 Recommendations for a Safe Infant Sleeping Environment, favorite sleep furniture/gear/decor in this post, Our Toddler's Daily Routine, Montessori Style, The Montessori Approach to Introducing New Vocabulary, Montessori-Inspired Materials at 24 Months, Our Montessori Shelf at 22 Months (and why your toddler may not be interested in toys), 8 Months Old, and Making (Some) Things Happen. I am interested to see how she uses it now! Explain how and where quiet time will happen and when you will be back. :) The mind also does a great job at remembering the good times over the bad, so dont forget to relax and have a little fun. ;). What would you say your mission is? Independence and Choice: Whenever possible, children are given a chance to do things for themselves before the adult steps in. , "Me First! It starts as trading valentines with friends, then becomes date nights out with champagne, and now were at date nights in with a child and a bump. It is normal for small conflicts to arise between children at the playground. 7:30 to 8:30am - Breakfast - I let D serve her own breakfast (e.g. Sleep is not a luxury. Let's talk a bit about floor beds. Lastly, we can talk about when we will come back to this playground again, so that saying goodbye is only temporary. From there he can see his family, our movements, and the environment that he will call home. Palette of Pegs - This is one of my favorite materials to grow with D. We started with just the pegs, and have now added on the rings. And keep in mind that some categories/concepts just might not be interesting to your child - I tried, but I could never get D to sit through a lesson on tools! Keep up Routines - That being said, keep a few routines the same. Sometimes giving them one more heads up before the timer goes off (e.g. Especially when starting at a young age, getting familiar with using the potty takes time, practice, and backwards steps (hopefully along with a few more forward steps). It takes planning, understanding sequences, and quite a bit of effort! Keep your routine consistent. Sleep is the gift that keeps on giving. I can see you felt frustrated when your brother grabbed your toy. Now that shes mastered exact object to picture matching, here I introduced similar object to picture matching. To take advantage and expand this interest, we can find materials such as wooden puzzles, books, and animal figurines of pets for our baby to explore. With a prepared environment and carefully chosen materials, the child can explore their environment (at home or school) and use their materials with minimal assistance. One simple way to give your child more independence is to give them choices rather than directions. I know I need my own space sometimes for me to stay sane as a stay-at-home mom, and Im sure many of you do too! Just as important as the materials in the Montessori environment is the way in which we present those materials to the child. I sit with her at the kitchen table and eat something small too. She generously offers a FREE 15-minute evaluation call so go ahead and schedule your call with her! Of course we cant always keep our environment perfectly organized or our days structured (nor should we), but the more we can do, the more calm and confident our child will feel. However, if you find this to be tricky, opting for bedtime might work better since their natural sleep drive is higher at night. But we havent cut them out completely either. Clothing Rack - I have yet to find the perfect option for this, but for now, this will do. This is a nice challenge for D (at 2.5) as it involves matching three parts. My husband built the frame when D was 9 months or so with an opening to be able to get in and out. To print, I scaled them down to be able to fit 4 cards per laminator sheet. As she navigates these new social interactions, it has me thinking a lot about our approach to sharing. You can find links to our favorite sleep furniture/gear/decor in this post! You can edit the text in this area, and change where the contact form on the right submits to, by entering edit mode using the modes on the bottom right. She and I often get a little alone time each afternoon when her brother is napping, which is a fun time to bake or cook dinner together. Other times I will carry him on his topponcino outside or into another room where we are spending time, so he can join us while still having that freedom of movement and ability to see whats going on around him if hes awake. *Note: While we of course want to use lots of descriptive language in our everyday interactions with our toddler, here we are isolating a single concept. Getting in and out of the car a dozen times in one day does not lead to happy kids, or happy parents. When D was just entering toddlerhood, I wrote this post, so you may find some helpful tips there, as well as our general positive discipline approach. Be Montessori-ish - Though Montessori is a big part of our home life, travel is a little different. Giving infants and toddlers time and opportunities to exert their independence promotes their self-confidence and self-reliance. Thanks for supporting Montessori in Real Life! I try to encourage her to figure things out for herself, so that she doesnt come to rely on me doing things for her. I might say The cylinder fits! I would repeat with the remaining shapes and colors. Again, Id acknowledge her feelings and offer her alternatives. Why have you chosen to help families get the rest they need? :). I let her play with it as she wishes to. Winter Babies by Kathryn Galbraith - simple but lovely, featuring diverse faces and actions to repeat. Its okay if the only nap happens in the car or stroller. I want her to simply understand that there are natural consequences to throwing, e.g. She is getting more independent in this process each week. She gets to pick out a pair of underwear (I keep 2 or 3 choices out at a time), and I help her get them back on. Spoiler alert: If you are hoping for how to potty train in 2 days, this is not the post for you! If your toddler is just starting out with stickers, I find it easiest to fold back the paper backing a bit so that the sticker is easier to peel off. If the weather is decent, she likes to lead a little walk around the neighborhood, stopping at every puddle along the way. The kids get to watch about 30 minutes of shows each afternoon. Expect Less - Lastly, I recommend going into trips expecting the littles to sleep less, have big emotional ups and downs, and probably some kind of sickness. 12:00 - 3:00pm - Before nap time, she sits on the potty, and then we go to her room and read a book and sing a couple of songs together. Its also when I can do a little meal prep and cleaning. For a while, she just followed me. If youd like to know more about Megan, you can read about her bio on the Sleepwise Consulting website. As for my routine, I try to wake up before the kids, around 6am so I can get myself ready first, and make breakfast before D comes downstairs. The fewer words we use in the naming or labeling, the easier it will be for the toddler to make the connection between the word and the object or concept. A few mornings a week she has a class. Play doesnt have to be with Montessori toys in a Montessori environment; it can also be exploring nature or playing with cardboard boxes. This holiday just gives me an excuse to make these activity trays a little extra sweet. Toy rotations happen, but only every couple of months rather than every couple of weeks. I love the predictability that independent sleep skills bring a family, you know your child will sleep and rest well. If she does throw her glass, I tell her It looks like youre all done. I would avoid using this around carpet though! I can make it in less than 5 minutes and it makes a large amount that saves well in a ziplock bag. This happens at the same time every day, so they know what to expect and dont protest when its over. I say It looks like you are wet. I try not to keep too many options in these bins at once, because it is that much more to clean up if she wants to pull them out! getting ready for the day, starting naptime routines) can be tough, and letting them help get dressed or put clothes away makes it much calmer and more satisfying for them. Spend a little time reading, playing, or enjoying a meal together, without any screens or distractions, prior to quiet time. You may not get through a whole lesson, and thats okay! Luckily with kids back in school and family visits more frequent, we dont rely on screens as we did in Spring 2020.

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