Montessori Activities

When I was in Pre-school and Kindergarten, I went to an amazing Montessori School. I loved the atmosphere and the way things are taught and done. I also volunteered at that same school when I was in High School. I have always loved the Montessori way and have started to incorporate a few activities for Charley that are Montessori appropriate. It's all about independence and learning to choose your own activities. They are activities for the child to do that are reachable for them to get on their own. When they are done, they learn to put that activity away before they get something new.
   
I have a bin full of different activities that Charley can go get and choose from. She knows where everything is and I don't have to get it down for her. When she wants to play with the kidney beans (which is everyday), she goes and gets the egg carton and the clear jar with the beans in them. I taught her where our cookie sheets are (we call them trays) and she will go and get one to keep her beans somewhat contained. When she wants to paint, she takes out the paint and paintbrush, finds a piece of paper and even gets her bib from her high chair. It's been so amazing watching her learn this way! It's fun to see what she chooses to do and to be so independent in getting her own supplies and sitting on the floor and just start playing! She even loves putting her things away when she is done.

I have slowly been saving different cartons and containers. One of Charley's favorite activities is playing with dry kidney beans. She will put them in different measuring cups, bowls and use the spoon to scoop them into the egg carton.

I have found it's all about choice. Let her choose what color she wants me to open next and when she is done. Right now, painting lasts about 5 minutes, but hopefully the older she gets, the longer she will last at activities. 

A few other activities that were super easy to put together. Purple jello play dough which has lasted forever and hasn't dried out yet! I just used a Pinterest recipe... and dry noodles and straws to play in the play dough. She will sometimes stack the dry noodles over the straw when it is sticking out of the play dough. 

Coloring with crayons.. super simple but she loves getting her baggie with crayons and a piece of paper. 

Putting marshmallows or other objects through a paper towel tube. 

This picture is hard to see, but I have started saving random things. I saved a glass peach jar and have been putting the tops to her squeegee pouches in it. She loves putting those through the cardboard tubes or taking them out and playing with them. As she gets older, it will be nice to count with them and do patterns. 

Dry noodles in an old milk jug. 

Straws in the same milk jug (this one is a favorite)

And watercolors! My friend gave me this book with the watercolors on each page, so it's really easy to use! Charley will point to the empty yogurt container for me to put some water into and will sit and dip her brush in the water and then the paints to water-color!