Infant/Toddler activities

Shelf Work: 3rd Week of October

October 12, 2009

After looking a bit bare the last week or so, I added a few new works and made adjustments to both shelves. The one in Joey’s room has been neglected for quite awhile. Here’s what we’ve got: Even after presenting the Matching Pairs work multiple times to Joey, he still doesn’t seem quite ready for [...]

Read the full article →

Practical Life: Crushing Paper

October 8, 2009

Age: 9 – 12 months Goal: Laying the foundation for putting trash paper in a tr ash can as well as developing fine motor skills. Materials: work mat, tray, basket, five pieces of paper (ie, tissue paper, wrapping paper, construction paper) Avoid using paper with words (ie, magazines, newspapers, books) so that you can model [...]

Read the full article →

Motor Activity: Opening & Closing Extension

October 8, 2009

Age: 9 – 12 months Goal: To develop fine motor skills and the pincer grasp. Materials: mat, basket, 5 or 6 objects that can be opened and closed (book, box, purse, etc.) and an object to go in each container Prepare the work and get out the mat. Place the basket on the right side [...]

Read the full article →

Treasure Basket: Fall

October 8, 2009

Here is the treasure basket I’ve had out for about a week and will most likely continue to keep out for the rest of the season. It’s location may change and I’d like to put a few more items in it as well. I have a few pine cones I might put in, but my [...]

Read the full article →

Social Activity: Trying on Hats

October 8, 2009

Age: 9 – 12 months Goal: Interacting with others, to develop concentration, body awareness, and laying the foundation for dressing . Materials: mat, three or four different hats Presentation Prepare the work and get out the mat. Sit with the infant facing you. Once you have the child’s attention take the hats out and put [...]

Read the full article →

Shelf Work: 1st Week of October

September 30, 2009

This week our shelf looks a little bare. I parred down and changed up the work, because last week I noticed that Joey really didn’t choose anything off the shelf, aside from the opening and closing work. So, I switched it up added two new work and made an extension for the opening and closing [...]

Read the full article →

Motor Activity: Opening & Closing Objects

September 24, 2009

Age: 9 – 12 months Goal: To develop fine motor skills and the pincer grasp. Materials: mat, basket, 5 or 6 objects that can be opened and closed (book, box, purse, etc.) Presentation Prepare the work and get out the mat. Place the basket on the right side of the mat with the child sitting [...]

Read the full article →

Body Theme: Update

September 24, 2009

I had high hopes for the body theme this month, but after my laptop decided it needed a break many of the projects I had planned went by the wayside.  I got a bit discouraged, because I had been taking pictures for a few months knowing I wanted to make a book of body parts [...]

Read the full article →

Cognitive Activity: Matching Pairs

September 22, 2009

Age: 12 – 18 months Goal: To lay the foundation for matching skills and to develop concentration. Materials: mat, basket, three pairs (such as shoes, socks, mittens/gloves, animals, cutlery, balls, etc) Prepare the work and get out the mat. With the work facing the child and the mat between you, set the basket to the [...]

Read the full article →

Shelf Work: Infant/Toddler Montessori Activities

September 21, 2009

I added a few new activities to our work shelf last week. Joey’s in a sensitive period for opening and closing things, really anything–cabinets, drawers, boxes, DVD cases. If it can be opened, he’ll find a way to do it. So I made a work with that in mind. Also, since this month our theme [...]

Read the full article →

Sensory Activity: Experiencing Different Sounds

September 5, 2009

Age: 6-9 months Goal: To develop listening skills and motor skills. Materials: mat, a set of small containers filled with small objects (I used grits, rice, oats, and beans) tray or basket (for sound containers). Make sure the lid of the container is firmly sealed or glue/tape the lid secure. Choose containers that are identical [...]

Read the full article →