The last two weeks or so have been a crazy rush of too many things happening at the same time. As you can imagine, having a toddler around you doesn’t always help things go faster. My apologies for the delay in posting an article.
We did not introduce many new things to her this month and worked on her ‘Care of Environment’ skills as well are outdoor activities. But there is so much indirect learning that has been taking place and you can notice it your daily activities.
Indirect Learning
As you may have read in many of my blogs, reading is a big part of our schedule. No matter how busy or tired we may be, we make sure to spare at least ten minutes to read. Honestly, My Munchkin makes sure one of us reads to her so it’s not an option anymore (and we love that!).
So what exactly do I mean by indirect learning? Absolutely everything. Infants and toddlers learn from everything in their environment – the language, habits, culture, food preferences – everything! Like Maria Montessori says, the child has an Absorbent Mind and takes in everything they see, hear, feel, smell.
My Munchkin has developed a lot of her vocabulary through books we read and general conversations. Does this mean we are teaching her things and making her repeat after us? Not at all. These are regular conversations like we adults have or have with older children – just talking about things, explaining what we are doing, talking about things around us. We read a book just how it’s normally done with older children too and read it again if she asks us to (which happens most of the time).
We make a big mistake of underestimating children and thinking they need to be taught things whereas in reality they need to experience things and that helps them learn all about it.
Sticking on Paper
A simple activity for hand-eye coordination. I picked up stickers from the Supermarket of different animals, vehicles (things she recognizes). Gave her a sheet of stickers along with a blank piece of paper. Presented the activity to her by showing her how to remove and then stick on paper and left her to work.
Balance Bike
We have been trying our hand on the bicycle and after a lot of research choose something on the Montessori principles (after we were convinced this was the best choice). We decided on getting her a balance bike (a cycle without pedals). We have this for sometime now but have just about started using it. I will wait for sometime before giving a complete review and experience. Till then, you can read about it and always contact me if you have any doubts about the Balance Bike and I would be happy to help.
Care of Environment
Should we get plants? Is it the right time? What if she puts the mud in her mouth? What is she pulls out all the flowers and leaves? Is she ready?
Some of the many questions we had for a long time and kept delaying it. But this month we finally got some for our house and we are so happy we did. My Munchkin is daddy’s a little gardening helper. She helps him water, sits and watches when he plants new ones. She did not do any of the things we were worried about. In fact, she reminds us every morning that they need to be watered and brings the watering can to help her father.
Plants at home instill in children a core value to care of other plants and tress in our society, city, and country, everywhere. And I am sure you agree this is the need of the hour.
Apart from plants, My Munchkin knows where the duster, broom, mop, etc are kept and quite often uses them to clean the house. For example, when she spills water, she brings the duster to wipe the water. Children watch us or house helps clean and they learn from them. It is very natural for them to want to broom or mop and wipe something and it is important that we let them do this. It is an urge they are fulfilling and it is also helping them learn to keep their environment clean which is something that helps in the long run.
What does your Munchkin do for Care of the Environment? Do you have Plants that they help care for? Do they enjoy cleaning the house too?