Sewing Roundup

Practical life is one of the essential component of Montessori, whether you are practicing at home or in a classroom. Sewing activities are great for supporting motor control, independence, order and concentration. Here are a few of my favorite sewing supplies to have on hand for 3-6 year old children.

• Embroidery Hoops of differing sizes can be the starting point for alot of sewing projects. I always introduce embroidery to young children who have mastered sewing a line and are ready to '“sew a picture.”

• Blunt needles with a large eye are best for children to thread independently

• Embroidery floss is great for beginning sewers.

• These burlap squares are perfect for children to sew on. The loose knit allow them to see their stitching as they go and makes it easy for them to self correct their stitches.

• Lacing cards are a great way for toddlers to begin preparation for sewing

• Stringing large beads is another great activity that prepares little ones for sewing

• This stitching block is a great sewing activity for toddlers

Montessori: The Absence of Praise and Rewards

“Like others I had believed that it was necessary to encourage a child by means of some exterior reward that would flatter his baser sentiments….in order to foster in him a spirit of work and of peace. And I was astonished when I learned that a child who is permitted to educate himself really gives up these lower instincts.” Dr. Maria Montessori 

One aspect of Montessori that can sometimes be perplexing is the absence of praise and rewards. That’s right. No praise or rewards. No potty candy or sticker charts. We want children to be driven by their own inner life, not by adult praise or the promise of reward. To put it simply: children are happier when driven by their own impulses. 

This can be confusing, right? Do you think your kid did a brilliant job? Of course! Do you love their painting? It’s the most beautiful painting on the planet and deserves a place in the Lourve. We can still share with our children how much we love their work and how much joy we are taking from it without offering empty praise and “good job.” Here are a few ways to offer encouragement in the place of empty praise. 

• Say what’s true and be specific. “Wow. You used a lot of colors in that painting.” Or “I see how hard you worked on that.” 

• Inquire about how they feel. “Do you like the way that looks?” “Doesn’t it feel good to be able to finally ride your bike?” “What’s your favorite part of your picture?”

• Show appreciation when they help. “I appreciate your help with the laundry.” Or “I appreciate how hard you worked putting the dishes away.” 

Observation at Home

“Observation requires careful and individual preparation on the part of the observer. Preparation is necessary in order to render him capable of observing and of understanding that which he observes. It is also necessary to follow certain rules during the observation in order that the object which is being observed—in this case, the child—will be free to manifest the phenomena which we wish to observe.” ‘Suggestions and Remarks upon Observing Children’ Dr. Montessori’s 1921 London Training Course

Observation is a vital part of the Montessori philosophy. Observation is what gives Montessori guides the information they need to follow the child. Following the development of the child is what this whole thing is about.

Observation can also have a positive influence on your parenting, especially when it comes to your child’s environment at home. When you take a moment to see things from an objective point of view, you can learn so many things you can do to support your child’s development. You can identify areas of your child’s environment that aren’t working. You can see new skills emerging and find ways to support them. The practice of observation can be transformational. Taking a moment to observe a situation before you react can make your parenting practices less reactive and more thoughtful. Here are a few tips for successful observation practices at home:

1. Focus on what is happening instead of how you feel about what is happening. This is where it gets tricky. Parenting is such an emotional journey. As classroom teachers, we can step back without the emotions that come with being the parent. Step back and try to be as objective about what is happening as possible. Writing down what you see can help.

2. Ask yourself some questions. Where are they? What are they doing? What kinds of movements are they using?

3. Use different methods. Maybe you begin to keep a tally of what toys your child actually engages with and for how long (this would be perfect to add into your routine any time you are considering purging toys!). Maybe you begin by keeping some notes during a certain time of day. Maybe you observe your child at the same time each day over a certain period of time.

4. Do something with your observations and be open to change. Yes, you spent a lot of time and money on that nursery or playroom. Be open to changing things that you are in love with for the sake of supporting your child’s needs. We cannot change our children, but we can change our child’s environment. And we can do the work to create change in ourselves.