DIY Wooden Montessori

I'm compiling a few wooden DIY's I put together recently.

These require minimum skills, and if you have a great scrap wood pile (like us), it will cost you little to nothing to make.

 

Simple block of wood and a screwdriver.

 

I made three different blocks with three different types of screws.

 

Braiding Block.

Drill one hole, thread and knot three pieces of rope.

 

Nuts and bolts sorting block

 

Nuts and bolt single block

 

Threading stick

 

A simple sanding tray

 

 

 

A simple balance beam ... or is it? 

Using the balance beam as a ramp for cars.

Here is a different form of "balance" beam.

(My kids also think it's a see saw.)

 

Enjoy! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exploring Sense of Smell with Baby

The other morning, a sweet smell of orange filled our kitchen as my almost 3 yr old peeled some mandarins. I gathered some peelings, put them into clear salt & pepper shakers and let my almost 5 month old explore her senses....

 

I love observing babies as they explore new items in the environment.

She focused so intently on the orange peels.

She explored with her mouth, hands, eyes and nose.

So simple, and beautiful to watch.

Baby Fabric Basket - a Tactile Experience

For simplicity, I gathered light colored fabrics with very different textures from around the house.
 

Baskets provide the opportunity to sit and play, which is a new skill for her.

I love the surprised look on her face ... 

She seemed to enjoy the netted material as she'd continually return to this one after exploring others. 

Feeling tulle against her face and mouth.

Here she is feeling a silky fabric with her feet.

From newborn through the time my daughter was unable to sit and play, we'd explore her sense of touch with different objects on her cheeks, hands and belly (i.e: feathers, soft blanket, warm washcloth, cool washcloth on the cheek, and massage lotion).