Montessori Pick of the Day

Toddler Brooms

Toddlers love brooms and mops. Sweeping is a great activity for coordination, eye to hand development and muscle control. 

Sweeping is a  great practical life activity for your toddler.  A sturdy, short broom is essential for this activity.   You can make a short broom by cutting the wooden handle and sanding it smoothly.  It provides hours of activity. 

 

Lesson of the Day 5, Peanut Butter Fun

Today's learning and fun is brought to you by the letter p- the peanut butter letter, peanut butter you can make and peanut butter play or fun dough you can eat! Plus more activities and games for letters and words.

Also free math printouts.

Check it out at montessorimom.com

 

Lesson of the Day 7, Animal Tails, Counting, Letters and Shapes

Animal tales are used for balance, warmth and communication.  Check out more fun activities at Lesson of the Day 7 at montessorimom.com

Sweetest Montessori Blog and Resource

If you want an exciting approach to Montessori, with great resources and ideas, go to What Did We Do All Day. I never leave the site disappointed. It's good!

Phonebook Christmas Tree

Recycle your phone book, big department store catalog or a small thick magazine and make this Christmas tree centerpiece. This is a great exercise for folding practice. The phone book keeps the fold line in place and it is easy for children to fold the triangles.

Turkey Pineapple Centerpiece

Mormonchic.com has a free pattern for a simple turkey pineapple centerpiece. I've made this cute turkey with my children, and it is so much fun to make! Purchase your pineapple on sale at your local market, buy some felt and you can make this fun centerpiece.

Check out the rest of mormonchic.com for more great holiday dining ideas!

Dust Pan

After doing the sweeping exercise you can show your child how to use a dust pan. Here is how to do this exercise:

Put the swept items in a small pile with the broom.

Take a small whisk broom in one hand and dust pan in the other hand. Sweep beans or rice into the dust pan.

Empty the dust pan contents into a container.

Use a dust mop using the sweeping exercise.

First Broom

I used buy old fashioned, natural brooms and cut off the handles for young children to use for sweeping. Many child-sized brooms just won't sweep effectively, and children naturally get frustrated with a broom that doesn't work.

First sweeping exercise:
Make a small circle with painters tape or chalk on the floor. Take small beans and put them outside the circle. Take the broom and show how to hold the broom. Sweep the beans slowly and carefully into the center of the circle. Let your child do this exercise as much as he or she wants to.

Use smaller items to sweep, such as rice or small grains.

Practical Life-Nuts and Bolts

Large nuts and bolts help with twisting and untwisting action, eye to hand coordination and an understanding of physical science. Here is a presentation for nuts and bolts.

Montessori Practical Life-marbles & bath mat

Here is another easy to make Montessori practical life activity. You will need a clean bath mat and some marbles. You can purchase these items at a dollar store or your favorite discount store.

Cut the bath mat into a shape. The shapes can be triangular, make what ever works best with your type of bath mat. The mat will be used with the suction cups face up. Provide as many marbles as you have suction cups. Present the same way you would the soap holder and beads activity. Your child can do this activity with fingers first, and a pilers or tweezer for a more advanced extension.