Easter Cards

Everyday Ladybug and Mister ask me if it is time to get the mail.  The wait all day to run out to the mailbox and see what kind of mail we have.  It's an even better day when we get to put up the little red flag.  I wish those little things made me excited.

Easter has given us a reason to put up our red flag all week because we have been making Easter cards.  Ladybug and Mister aren't ready to write, but I have them dictate what they want to say.  It is important to write exactly what is said, even if it has you scratching your head.

Daily Walk

We are finally emerging from winter and despite the calendar claiming it is already spring, it hasn't been until this past week that we are finally feeling spring.  My neighbors crocuses are up and the irises are poking through the dirt. 

This means a whole new opportunity for learning.  Montessori from the Start: the child at home from birth to age three recommends a daily walk from the time your child starts walking.  "This walk should be a meandering one, one that follows the child's mission, not the adult's."  While I haven't loved this book, I love this idea. 

We started our daily walk yesterday and the Wee One even got a little practice walking while holding my hands. 

Not only was it great it get outside and feel the sunshine on our faces, but all the teachable moments.  Ladybug and Mister relearned now to look both ways, what a daffodil looks like, and how to politely say hi.  Now if only the snow and rain can stay away, so we can continue this new daily ritual. 

I hope that everyone takes time to put away the stoller, baby carrier, and wagon and let your children guide you.  I think you will be surprised at how much fun you will have.

Letter Trays

For every new letter, I put together a letter tray.  It is one of Mister and Ladybug's favorite activities.  For each object there is a matching picture and the name of the object below the picture.  The tray includes sandpaper letters from Etsy.  I purchased the mini sandpaper letters and numbers, which have been perfect for their small hands. 

Letter O

• Olive
• Omelette
• Otter
• Octopus
• Octagon
• Oval
• Overalls

Craters and Moon Dust

We have wrapped up our study of the moon.  Mister is still talking about the moon, but Ladybug is ready to move one.  I saw a version of this activity in a moon book and thought it would be fun.  This activity was a hit.

Here are your supplies.  The marbles are for "crashing" into the moon and making craters.  We let the mixture sit for 30 minutes before adding our marbles.

Once the marbles are in the moon, let it dry for about 48 hours.  The marbles will pop right out.

We made a moon dust mixture using flour, sand, and gray grated chalk.

Next, we added glue to our moon and sprinkled our moon dust. 

Here is the completed moon.  Since our moons were swimming in glue, they took a long time to fully dry.

Treasure Basket - Bathroom Edition

Ya-Ya's treasure basket is all about the bathroom this month.  When I introduce her treasure basket I put it in front of her and let her explore.  I don't say anything right away so she can take it all in.  After she has had some time to explore the basket I point to the object she is holding and say the name.  I will repeat the name a few times and give a detail about it.  Sometimes her treasure baskets contain small items and like any small object and a baby, I don't leave her unattended.

April Sensory Box

I can feel and see spring and it's a relief after a long, snowy winter.  To celebrate spring we need a new sensory box with a spring feeling. 

• Pink and green rocks found on clearance
• Eggs
• Chenille chicks
• Pom-poms
• Spoons
• Spring Box

When I introduce the sensory box I let them explore without interruptions for about 10 minutes.  They usually start a conversation about what is inside the box.  If they tell me something feels "good", I ask for a more descriptive word.  I will say, "What does good mean?"  Sometimes they can come up with an appropriate word, but if they are stuck, I will guide them or give them a new word.



Letter O

I am the queen of starting projects and never finishing them.  I have a dancing stage that isn't quite finished, felt projects in the works, part of closet cleaned out, half a load of laundry that always needs to be folded...you get the idea.   G and H known their letters and most of the sounds, but I can't let this go because then their letter books will be incomplete.  I feel compelled to finish this project God willing and the creek don't rise.

Here is the start of our letter Oo work.  We stamped orange octagons and made paper and real omelettes.