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Saving Little Hearts has been helping children with congenital heart defects and their families since 2002.
May 24, 2007 in parenting | Permalink | Comments (0)
February 08, 2007 in parenting | Permalink | Comments (0)
April 16, 2006 in parenting | Permalink | Comments (0)
Montessori's methods work well with all children. Even though many practioners don't believe you can use Montessori in a homeschooling environment, many parents believe you can.
Here are some helpful links for homeschooling parents and teachers.
April 04, 2006 in parenting | Permalink | Comments (0)
Parents seem to know that singing or repeating a rhythmic sound to their babies calms them, and even entertains them!
My favorite recorded music and finger plays are Wee Sing Sing-Alongs book and cd
The songs are short and easy to follow. Also, you can ham it up a bit and act out the finger plays.
This is a fun way to bond with your baby and at the same time, teach language skills.
January 30, 2006 in parenting | Permalink | Comments (0)
Parents know that teaching a child to dress himself or herself can take time and patience.
Montessori used dressing frames to help teach skills such as buttoning, snapping, zipping, buckling, lacing and tying. She used dressing frames that were mounted on a square frame. This method helps your child feel success because each skill is broken down into small lessons.
December 12, 2005 in parenting | Permalink | Comments (0)
Which Preschool is Right for your Child?
has a great over view for types different schools. They cover the approaches of Montessori, Waldorf, Reggio, Cooperative and Traditional Schools.
Here are some things to consider when looking for the right school for your child.
October 29, 2005 in parenting | Permalink | Comments (0)
Yes, it does happen! Children get kicked out of Montessori preschools sometimes more often than traditional preschools.
Montessori's original Children's House had contracts with parents and students to abide by certain rules of conduct and grooming. If a the contract was violated, the child was often expelled from school for at least the day.
According to USA Today Preschoolers get expelled from school 3 times the rate of grade school children.
What do you do if your child is having problems in preschool? Take heart and keep looking for the right school for your child. Many schools are good nuturing and developmental environments like Montessori schools.
October 17, 2005 in parenting | Permalink | Comments (0)
Montessori traveled throughout the world and studied how each culture cared for newborn babies. She theorized that environment and culture mostly affected the baby's health, happiness and development. Montessori strongly believed that what you do after a baby's birth is more important than what happens during the birthing process. Basically, we all go through the experience of birth so it must be what happens after a healthy baby is born that causes differences. She thought these differences were the cause of many emotional, physical and psychological problems later in life.
Her idea was that mothers should immediately hold and nurse their babies. Let the hospital wash and probe the baby later. Also, she emphasized that mothers should be with their babies right after birth. She maintained that long separation from a mother could surface as "separation anxiety" later in life. She visited western, world-renowned hospitals and poorer countries that many times did not have hospitals. The western hospitals of the 30's with their sterile environment, bright lights, and baby nurseries left much to be desired. She preferred the quiet, cozy, home nest provided by parents in poorer countries.
August 27, 2005 in parenting | Permalink | Comments (0)
Gifted Children
Every child has a unique gift.
Whether you think environment causes a child to be gifted or it is his or her genetic inheritance, here are some things that parents do who have gifted children.
1. The parents teach their children to do tasks for themselves.
2. The parents involve their children in many activities that reflect their culture and society. Music, art, or religion adds a variation that may not be always included in home life.
3. The parents provide many different learning activities.
4. The parents involve their children in problem solving activities.
5. The parents provide various outings and excursions outside the home- Trips to a historic site, the library, a farm, nature center, art and science museums.
6. Parents read to their child and have many books around the house.
7. The parents value education and learning.
8. The parents talk to their children. Children who do well in school have parents who talk to them at least 3 minutes a day!
9. Parents use rich and descriptive words with their children.
10. Parents of gifted children "salute" their children. They " Stop, Accept, Listen, Understand,
Talk to and Enjoy our gifted children, in short
SALUTE them. (Gordon http://www.nexus.edu.au/teachstud/gat/eckhaus2.htm)
11. The parents listen to and observe their children and respond to their needs.
August 21, 2005 in parenting | Permalink | Comments (0)