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! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Open and Close Treasure Box

I collected a few items that open and close in unique ways and put them into a box for my daughter (2.5 yrs).

A simple bottle with a screw top.

A pocket watch with a push-top.

She worked on this one with such determination when it was first introduced; and it seemed to be her favorite item in the box. Perhaps because it was such a challenge for her - she needed to figure out how to put her fingers just right on the sides in order to open it.  

A locket held together by magnets:

This one is tough for her - it helps to have a finger nail to open this one, so she really needs to use her finger and thumb strength. She's so focused when working on this one, and always so proud when it's open! 

A binder clip:

Strengthening those muscles in preparation for writing. She likes to squeeze this one as hard as she can to see how far she can open it - you know the kind of squeeze that makes your whole body shake - that's what she does here!

My son (4 yrs) also enjoys the binder clip in this box so he can show off his strength:

... I like how it's strengthening his pencil grip!

A frame that has a clasp similar to a coin purse closure.

She puts this up to her eyes upon opening and claims it's a pair of glasses. 

This locket has a little fold over clasp that hooks onto a little ball ... 

She needs to pick the locket with her little finger to pop it open.  

A small lock and key:

She likes the challenge of taking the key out and figuring out how to place it back in before opening.

Closing the lock is another challenge as it takes lining the hook up with the small hole, and takes some finger and thumb strength to lock it back into place.

Hope you enjoyed taking a look into my daughter's treasure box!

Practical Life at the Wash Table

 

It's amazing how wonderful adding a kids' wash table to our kitchen has been. They use this daily for washing tables and hands when they wouldn't be able to do this independently otherwise.

 

We have used this table for so many other practical life activities that I'd like to share with you today:

Washcloths, dish soap, water pitcher, kitchen mixing tools, a large bowl and a wire whisk. 

Pouring water into the bowl. 

Adding dish soap. 

Whisking the water. 

Using the hand mixer. 

Trying another mixer. 

Loves the hand mixer - making bubbles! Here she says, "Almost done."

When she was done, she dumped the water into our washtub - we can use this for washing later today!

Then she dried her bowl and dishes. 

Water transferring activity with a turkey baster. 

My son loved this one. 

So simple. 

Washing seashells. 

Sponges, seashells for exploring and washing and rinsing.

Washing their dishes. 

My daughter rinsed and dried; and then, without prompting, put them away in their cabinet in the kitchen. 

Practical life skills in our home is such a huge part of my children's education; and I love this quote from Maria Montessori:

"One test of the correctness of educational procedure is the happiness of the child."

Practical Life: 18m - 2 yrs

Following my child's interests in Practical Life has been a beautiful thing ... just watch her grow.

 

“The child becomes a person through work.” ~Maria Montessori

 

In remembrance of St. Nick, she received her own sized broom and dustpan (18 months). She still loves these items now as she approaches 2.5 yrs old.

She enjoyed sweeping colored rice and snowballs (cotton balls) and anything she could find around the house.

 

Around 22 months she discovered folding - little washcloths and a basket from The Dollar Tree:

This basket is still on her shelves today; she still takes them out to work on folding. I've recently noted them being used to wash her table, clean her baby's face, wash dishes in her play kitchen and dust her room. 

 

We've been working on solids transferring since a young age. When my daughter started digging in the dog's food bowl and trying to get into the food canister, here's what she worked on:

Dog food transferring (cocoa puffs) almost 18 months.

“Growth comes from activity, not from intellectual understanding.”

 

We continued to work on pouring solids to develop her small muscles. Eventually we moved to water, which prepped her for helping fill her dog's water dish at 2 years.

In the picture above, we have a plastic pitcher on the shelf under her table. She fills and dumps the water into his bowl.

Here she is at 2 years walking with her tray and glass pitchers for some water pouring. Prepping for pouring her own drinks.

She loves clean-up too!

"He who is served is limited in his independence.”

 

Unable to reach our water spout in our fridge, we placed a water container with a spout on a low shelf for her to fill her own cup.

 

I made some button work out of some leftover fabric and a quilting hoop. She started working on this around 18 months and mastered it, buttoning and unbuttoning, at 24 months.

 

 

Hanging her doll clothes on the line.

 

Making and pouring her own orange juice.

She loves fresh juice!

Helping prepare snacks.

 

Rolling napkins and placing them into rings.

 

Following folding patterns (around 25 months).

Recently she's been developing an interest in folding her own clothes.

 

Flower arranging.

 

Following my daughter's interests has been nothing short of beautiful ... I love watching her grow.