There are so many teething toys out there, it's hard to know which ones your child will like. woolens! I also mad. Even New Zealand has a specific store for kids carpentry. We use some words that Otis (six years) knows and some that he is struggling with. We had done photo baskets like this before with family but thought it would be fun to switch it up with pictures of her friends. He sat through the entire performance, clapping at the right times and swinging his legs to the music. Many years ago I had a conversation with a Montessori toddler teacher about one of her favourite juicers. Our puzzle globe is c/o Parent Direct. We adore Sarah Garland and this series of books. Otto's (4yrs) superhero cape at the Little Ginger Art Studio in Randwick/Clovelly. Warning, do not take toddlers to test cricket! It's been a while since I've shared some beach pictures. If the child has been vomiting they cannot go back to school for 48 hours. I'd seen so many photos of this museum online it was amazing to see it in real life. We have visited a lot of castles around the UK but perhaps this is our favourite! There are a few Montessori-style resources to help teach a child to tie knots, so I'm going to seek those out and give him some knot-tying specific work to try. Check out this Instagram post where we share our book spaces: https://www.instagram.com/p/CHQxUpfB-tK. Yum! We made the space in the clay with a cut branch, slightly larger than the candle base, so the candle holder is reusable. Wonderful for construction and design work. I love to watch his whole of body movements using his ball tracker. The Lovevery toys just keep on getting better! I love how excited Otto was to see it! Caspar and Otis are terribly sad and are now missing their Dad, it's hard being so far away from friends and family. (c/o Lovevery). Perhaps we need safety glasses next time?!? This weekend we also had a birthday to celebrate. Etsy offsets carbon emissions from shipping and packaging on this purchase. It's a little quieter around here than usual as we are spending the week in Copenhagen. Tidying and reducing the amount of art materials we have in preparation for packing for the UK!amount of art materials we have in preparation for packing for the UK! Now with that said, the Etsy shop does run a 10% off sale quite often, bringing the price down to $359.95. The toddlers made little clay candle holders, decorated with found things from the forest. This children's wooden fruit and vegetable cutter arrived today! This is the Modular Playhouse from The Observer Play Kit (months 37, 38, 39), there are so many ways to use it. I've just placed an order for this Street Library!! This little guy has been travelling like a champion. I ordered these for Otis' birthday. The Etsy one also use a slotted finger joint design where you can see how the pieces fit together from the outside (see video). Up and down. Here you'll find all my research for the best baby + toddler products, activities for kids, plus money tips + personal growth hacks to fill your own cup! Me, microbes and I. Caspar (11yrs/Yr 7) also had a full day of Forest School but as part of his school's normal activities, the school has their own Forest School teachers and own area of land within the forest. So many questions about this place remain unanswered I love that the children can discuss what they think happened and why. It is being held together with a rubber band. Hummus 101, recipe at Plant-Powered Families. We sweep leaves almost every day, this every day practice has been a large contributor to his ability to use the broom and dustpan. Every few weeks we need to help pack boxes. Otto's abandoned pasting box (at 22 months). The second change that weve implemented is to start using trays and baskets for the activities. (by Otto at 27 months). They have lots more gorgeous baby clothes here. It was good to be surrounded by so many other Australians!! Many children like Otto, get frustrated when they can't do it themselves and refuse help. Caspar will start year 7 and Otis will start year 4 in September. Caspar (13yrs) in the middle with his National Gold Medal for Judo. He enjoyed using these by Dragon Bakes. Products that contain small parts may pose a choking hazard and should not be used by children under 3. As it turns out we now love the Frome markets and rarely miss one! It is British/UK based and is a lovely resource for taking little ones out in nature. much. Only one minor breakage, What is one of the first things you do when you move towns (cities/countries/continents)? I want it to look awesome but I'm no artist!! We recently joined a local organic fruit and veg co-op. Godrevy Lighthouse. Shop the Lovevery montessori shelf before it sells out again! So we have something small to celebrate. He ate a little sand but was ok. Last time we went to France we took the Eurostar (train) and the Eurotunnel. Otto (31 months) loves all kinds of colour sorting but my other children, didn't like it much, Otis (now 8yrs) really didn't like it or do colour sorting at all as a toddler. I didn't think much about it until today when he stated that he was going to cut all of his play dough into quarters. Taking Otto on a nature walk - but all he wants to do is play with the sticks! This trip to France we are out in the country side and we've been moving at a nice slow pace. Thank you so much to Irene for the book recommendation! lovevery Sleighs and snow balls abound! The Gladiators exhibit at the Queensland Museum (I was told that children get in free for the rest of the year). The first three are from the gift shop at the Eden Project. A beautiful skeleton leaf for our seasonal table. Awesome children's board books (for Otto) at the beach. Our first Christmas puzzle is out on the shelves! I thought it was a Babipur order so I let Otto open the box!! It's so rainy here! A home, learning how to use the rake (one handed apparently). It's our half term break and it's been so rainy. Prints, candles, chocolates, pottery. It's on until Sunday 16th May, and it's free! These were so large. Do you remember that feeling as a child, of running down a hill as fast as you can and not being able to stop? This a great way to reinforce geography knowledge. -Your product will arrive pre-sanded and untreated. Otto always puts his playdough back in the container and back on the shelves, it's a good habit to have! Loving these creations at the Little Ginger Art Studio, preschool class this morning. This invites them to engage with the activities. I have to keep this in mind going forward! Caspar admiring his puzzle globe. Lots of happy screams!! We suggest contacting the seller directly to respectfully share your concerns. It's going to be a great way to get to know our local community. At Forest School my children are so close to nature, every hour, every minute. It's one of the nicest bookshops I've found in Sydney. Due having an emergency c-section (after my waters breaking and being in the labor ward for two days) I didn't start straight away with cloth nappies but I had intended to. Loving these oversized/giant branch pencils. I can't work out what it is made of (cellulose core?) Snotty Grotty Room Spray (c/o Milk Baby) in everyone's bedrooms. The labels aren't for Otto but for me to remember what they are called. We signed up to our local toy library today. Snack time! Last weekend while in Blacktown we visited the Dennis Johnson library. I am not able to find it on their website. I will feature this class in more detail soon. He is refusing to wear an apron, it's tricky isn't it, to respect their wishes while also protecting their clothes, at this young age it's difficult for them to understand and I feel they are too young to learn from consequences (youcan't bake until you have your apron on). (10% off). It really lights up! Picking fruit from the farm an important lesson on where food comes from. Great! And the mud kitchen again! It was delicious and easy for a child to make. I wanted to write an article about Almanacs, but I couldn't find many good ones for children. Etsys 100% renewable electricity commitment includes the electricity used by the data centers that host Etsy.com, the Sell on Etsy app, and the Etsy app, as well as the electricity that powers Etsys global offices and employees working remotely from home in the US. Star Seller. It's all about skin to skin contact and the maternal points of reference - the mother's heartbeat, breathing (rhythm) and warmth! We picked up, Originally written in January 2020. Can you tell me where you found the Mitten activity Thank you! Our favourite seaside books, at the seaside! We almost always have a playdough tray out. Recently I was watching a YouTube video of a Waldorf classroom, it might have been kindergarten or older. The boys had so many questions - it was wonderful. We will be using this one in 2019! He was so nervous this morning, I hope he is ok. There is always lots of tumbling, balancing, and strength work. Magnetic Let's Play Diggers! It turned out so sweet. I love the language used in it, it's all about bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, and archaea. Target market for this shelf? Autumn officially starts here in the UK on Monday 23rd September. This is plasticine so it's a little harder than play dough. Sing-Along Basket This basket has 5 different songs with actions that K can choose and we will sing for her when we are in the playroom with her. And how it looks at night! Third, the storage is quite deep so even if she wanted to take everything out, I don't think she'll be able to reach the bottom for a few years. What makes this shelf particularly unique is the hidden storage in the back. Pond dipping, always a fun activity. The boys could have listened to this lovely volunteer forever! The is a gorgeous parcel that I received today. Otis and Otto hanging out at the nature reserve after school. Lots of walking and lots of fresh air. Lovevery Montessori Play Shelf is available here. Even my three year old was able to use it and mould several pieces together. but it's 90% biodegradable. Please. This is quite an unusual drawing for him, it almost looks like a cell. There was a problem subscribing you to this newsletter. It's a long weekend here so we decided to explore parts of Cornwall. Basically they need to be aligned with the opening towards where the Cam dowel will be inserted, then you twist to lock it into place. He loves these stampers, the imprints are nice and clear and they are super easy for a toddler to use. I think we'll visit Bournemouth next, please email me (howwemontessori@gmail.com) if you have any ac. It's deep, which means you'd probably have to stack toys ontop of other toys and it would eventually lead to never being able to find anything. I can't wait until Otto is old enough to use it. I hope they leave one this smaller size but then do a tray that's a smidge bigger in the future to fit a standard sheet of paper, which will also cover some of their toys too. Today with friends we visited the absolutely beautiful Ian Potter Childrens Wild Play Garden, in the heart of Centennial Park. My toddler (at 26 months) is obsessed with jigsaw puzzles. Now at 24 months, he gets a knee pad from the pile, puts it on the ground and kneels at the fire, he gently and slowly leans forward and he knows how far he can reach and touch before it is too hot. Your email address will not be published. So messy. They are such a good, good bunch of kids. We spent the long weekend in a gorgeous forest cabin in Cornwall. These are the best shoes for little feet! My beautiful little chicken, at two months. I love some of these captures of Otto's developing kitchen skills (at 22 months). Pictured below is Otis adding to his conker collection. . This is so foreign to me but every week the boys play a match against another school. Saturday afternoon - Otis is in charge of making the pizza dough! So easy for the child to use. We can't get to our local weekly farmers market, it's on the exact same time as Forest School and there is no physical way we can do both. He will takehis socks off and any warm bonnet that I put on him. Little Otto at Forest School this morning!! Otto loves this microscope, highly recommend it for children 3-5yrs. And that makes sense. Lots: The Diversity of Life on Earth, Bug Detective: Amazing facts, myths and quirks of nature and A First Book of Nature. -Wood is a natural material. We didn't prune/cut back the plants, just removed dead leaves. His drawings often look more like scribbles so I love it when I find a drawing that is representational. I was slow and precise with my movements and Otto just took it all in, there was no throwing, no crawling off, I had his 100% attention, he was absorbed! Look at all of those pilea babies - that really need to be repotted! We are trying to make plans for our summer holidays (including Paris!) Above today at Forest School, the children were making (Autumn) leaf mobiles, but the children needed help to tie the knots! We had to move Otto's movement area into our living area as we had guests in his room. It's interesting and insightful. After the flower arranging Otto helped to put the vases on some of our shelves. Holiday reading for Otto. It was super cute, the dentist just had a look and a feel around his gums. We almost always finish outside play with a warm bath. Otis was sick on the weekend but felt better Monday. We used the topponcino in hospital as Caspar and Otis wanted to hold Otto all the time! A playsilk makes the perfect ocean. After his nap Otto is still quiet, he takes a while to fully wake up, so we will sit and play or read in his room until he is ready to play elsewhere, go downstairs or go out. The brand-new Lovevery Montessori Playshelf is a 2-in-1 wonder that includes a beautiful kid-height shelf thatll look fantastic in any room, plus it includes hidden storage and trays to make toy rotation (a classic Montessori technique) simple. Break a. Visiting The White Horse at Westbury. Just by looking at this picture you may notice this room is a little different from the typical or traditional Montessori toddler class. Feeling inspired I packed a few mobiles and found it easy to hang them. Obviously there are plenty of shelves out there for literally every price point and if you want to look at more montessori shelves for toys + books click here! Always read labels, warnings, directions and other information provided with the product before using it. At Westbury. Today it was in Frome's Hunting Raven Book shop while at the Frome Independent Markets. What a fun idea. So pretty. Love this sticker recycling sorting activity from Clean Away! We came here last summer were determined to come back this summer too. Caspar checking out the largest bug hotel we've seen. Learning fractions at three! But just before Christmas (at 15 months) we took him to The Nutcracker and he loved it. Two diving beetles and one shrimp. Pocupines. My first Mother's Day as a moth. Otto has spent most of his life living in the UK so he knows a thing or two about jumping in puddles! A mirror in the bathroom at the child's height is always a good idea (when possible). This is fantastic for language development. All packaging can be recycled. Otto's spider! Otis has been asking since we arrived, so today we did it. He is now back at home and eating soft foods only. Our Fine Motor Twisty Droppers are c/o MTA. Our Spring Nature Table! This, the focus of her inspiration, stands on the diminutive and rocky but pretty Godrevy Island, at the centre of a circular grassy area enclosed by a low stone wall." https://sprout-kids.com/collections/wooden-montessori-furniture-for-home. He doesn't really enjoy cooking but will do it when asked. Some more scissoring work. I also introduced Otto to the butterfly mobile which was completely new to him (he is loving it). Above Otto is printing with dried lotus pods. The child is both a hope and a promise for mankind. -Maria Montessori, Press J to jump to the feed. Treasure from the Sea is set in Cornwall!! I just painting the wooden eggs and wooden egg cups with bright liquid water colour paints. With K heading closer to her 2nd birthday I, We recently transitioned our daughter (at 20 months old) from her crib to a floor bed, and I, Our latest Montessori furniture purchase was a new child-sized Alba Wardrobe from Sprout Kids. The product arrived less than two weeks after ordering and was neatly packed with very clear assemble instructions. They were purchased from Michaels and Solutions in Canada. I changed some pictures in Otto's room, this one is more than appropriate with all the crazy, flooding rain we've had. It's Spring but it's still freezing! The instrument on the right is a Monkey Ladder Shaker - a giant seed pod from the liana tree of Nigeria (from Grasp+Gather). These colours are lovely. The park was in Bath (Somerset, UK) and it was stunning! This could work in almost any room of the house, for younger children for their artwork or for older children and school forms or photographs! Try using a different browser or disabling ad blockers. So proud of him. BushAcres An Air plant display at the Bath and West Show. These were so large. I think everyone in England has some of these growing on their windowsills! He still loves to chew/gnaw on his skwish, wooden ring and the handle of a wooden rattle, but these two toys pictured, the rabbit lovey and the koala crochet rattle are his current favourite. Another critical aspect of the Montessori style shelving is that the front is completely open (with no doors) so that everything is on display for the child. Not a day passes when I'm not asked where I am from. Absolutely loving these handmade, gender neutral and organic baby clothes from Sunny Afternoon (on E. I can't wait for Otis to get home from school he is going to love this! This is the site of the Dawn Service. I will be travelling to the US soon to spend some time talking all things Montessori with Lovevery!! Eating (mostly) with a fork. $396.00, Original Price: Absolutely gorgeous t-shirts from Gather and Moss. I also love that even once kids outgrow it as a playshelf, the timeless design can work in a bedroom for more storage/display or as a table in an awkward short hallway or something. We are loving Little Wildling Dough. Kiri in the Classroom and Kiri's First Ride to School are whimsical, charming and in some ways soothing as the child transitions from life at home to life as a part of the school community. We've been reading and learning about Weedy Sea Dragons and Sea Horses! Thank you! And I've assembled A LOT of furniture in my day. If you are in Sydney and want to support local businesses, I highly recommend Fratelli Fresh. This time we learnt about markers for healthy water systems & which organisms to look for. Tonight - exploring the NOX Night Sculpture walk in Randwick. All of our phone/rechargers and our kitchen appliances have AU powercords and somehow we have a few things like the juicer with EU powercords. It's going to take a little getting used to (perhaps he needs to come up a bit higher too). But keep in mind, you get the storage bins perfectly fitted for Lovevery's to really maximize the usable storage in the back, plus 2 wooden activity trays, which is nice given the unique depth of these shelves and would likely cost around $40 if not more to purchase on your own. The black and white stripes you can see in the car window is the reflection of Otto's top, we were less than a meter away from this lion. Visit Woodblock Cheese in Bardon (it's on our way to school so it's easy for us to drop in!). (We already have a copy of A First Book of Nature but unfortunately left it in Australia). And four miracles said to have happened here during 1262 and 1263 would have only added to the religious magnetism that drew pilgrims from far and wide." On the left - String of Hearts. I think this may be Otto drawing circles for the first time (he is 31 months old). From time to time, we will be posting pictures of our shelving and talking about the different activities we have on the shelf on our Montessori Instagram Account @our.montessori.journey. Today we did a little practice in the flour while making bread. This little kiddywash basin arrived today. We have arrived in Sydney but are struggling terribly with jet lag, it takes a few days for our bodies to recover/catch-up. I was cautious, would it be relaxed, casual, and fun, like Australian parties or more formal or uptight? Butterflies, bees, ducks, flowers and feathers. A few books from the library for Otto. Oiling the pan. I always thought porcupines would be small, the size of echindas, but these were so much bigger. Not so easy to keep him warm and dry. Is it important for children to see pictures of homes like theirs and to read stories about children like them? Otto (25 months) tries a four-piece puzzle for the first time. Otto and I slept the first day. Monti Kids Level 2 Review: Worth It? It was all the feels, all the Montessori magic. I picked these up at Ikea today. Our daughter K (who, What Montessori inspired gifts can we buy our toddler? (at 2 years 10 months). Otis was bedazzeled! Some print making using clear perspex acrylic plastic sheets. So much holly and it's beautiful!! We spent the weekend at West Bay Beach in Dorest. This was our first delivery and I was blown away. This is my kind of holiday. The Chocolate Yogi, this company has a wonderful story! Above is the outdoor xylophone, I wish we had one of these at home. We've had a really busy week, I have a lot of emails and messages to respond to, I'm sorry if you have messaged me and I haven't responded. Otto is, of course, fascinated by all the trucks and activity at the airport. This set is amazing! If the item details above arent accurate or complete, we want to know about it. A few new instruments for our music basket. We're using a fabulous, all included Flowers Growing Kit (c/o Manine Montessori). Otto loves Rosie's Walk. He doesn't draw a lot of animals and this is the first time he has drawn a spider. I know not all children enjoy sportbut all the movement helps my children academically and their all-round development. See how a store is chosen for you. Fromelles Memorial Park. Otis (6yrs) at school this morning, working on the Montessori Multiplication Chart. Doing rolls at Judo class this morning. These look like little flying insects or birds. (In the new pants). First, I typically keep stuff on top of the shelf that really limits access to the storage panel. Until today, he's only had yoghurt and puree banana, avocado, blueberries, rapberries and stawberries, and often the fruit mixed into the yoghurt. The Lovevery Montessori play shelf was released in 2021. We all feel homesick but are trying to make the most of our time left in the UK. Caspar (11yrs) and Otis (7yrs) really love their UK School. Being in isolation means we can't leave the house, we can't go for a walk outside of our backyard, we can't go to the park or to the supermarket. This plant reproduces so easily and so frequently. When I make Otto a sandwich I will often ask him if he wants it cut in halves or quarters. Our hotel overlooked this lighthouse and the sunset views were absolutely beautiful. An after-school visit to the pottery cafe! Otto (3yrs) handled it so well! We've found a gorgeous local (within walking distance), heated pool with small class sizes. Starting with single foods only, introduced over a week or so, butternut squash, carrots, broccoli and sweet potato. Above on our canal tour of Copenhagen. It's amazing how fast the toddler's speech develops. Sorry for not posting on Monday, we made a last minute decision to take my cricket-mad-children to Birmingham to see Australia play England in the Ashes test match. Tadpole to Frog - I love this board book, it has nice clear photographs and is scientifically accurate. It's all about the sea here at the moment. Tonight Caspar (10yrs) cooked dinner. I am left handed and Otto is obviously right handed. I'm loving our hanging baskets at the moment. In short though: my daughter did this briefly with our previous toy rotation set up, and then quickly got over it. So much love for this little red wheelbarrow!! and bee themes.