In our class, we often speak of spiritual matters. Whenever we explore a country and its culture, we learn about one of the primary religions of that country. In our biome materials, there is a set of cards that depicts how indigenous people of that biome satisfy their human needs. One of those needs is for spiritual experience. For the uninitiated, a biome is a large geographical region of the earth with a particular soil and climate and the flora and fauna that live there are well-suited to the biome. The biomes are: oceans, mountains, deserts, wetlands, grasslands, polar regions and temperate and tropical forests. The biomes, though very different, all share the same parts. They all have soil, water, air, flora, fauna and energy. The energy all comes from the sun, nourishes the plants, which nourish the animals who eat them, who nourish the larger animals who eat them. Then the plants and animals die and the energy makes its way into the soil, where it nourishes the plants again. The cycle continues and the energy itself never dies.
Right now we are studying Brazil, so we have been learning about the Yanomami of the tropical forests of South America. Their spiritual needs are partially satisfied by visiting other tribes, dressing to the nines in body paint, feathers and flowers and performing the Dance of Presentation for their hosts. Then they spend the night. We have also been learning about Catholicism, as that is the dominant religion of Brazil. We know about the practice of giving something up for 40 days to observe Lent. When we studied Egypt we talked about fasting from sunup to sundown during Ramadan and we have made the connection that many religions have some aspect of sacrifice.
Two of our kids, Ben and Clare, have a wonderful dog, a Chesapeake Bay Retriever, named Guinness, who is their parents' firstborn. Guinness is a beloved family member who is plagued now by kidney failure and the children understand that Guinness will one day die. The other day at group, Clare, the older of the two kids, told us that her family had been stargazing the previous night (we also study constellations) and they had found Orion and the Dog Star. "Maybe when Guinness dies, his spirit will go up to the Dog Star!" Clare said quite cheerily. "Oh! Maybe whenever you see the Dog Star, you will think of Guinness," I replied. She nodded her assent.
At another group, shortly thereafter, I was telling the kids how my sister, who is very spiritual, but not Catholic, was giving up complaining about her husband for Lent. I told them I thought that this was a terrific experiment because not only has it done not a speck of good for my sister to complain, but it would be interesting to see what happens when she gives this up for 40 days. "Where will all that energy go?" I wondered aloud. Another little boy, Jude, who is 3 (and 3/4, he would want you to know) who had recently had the lesson about the parts of the biomes, said,
"Maybe the energy will go up to the sun!" When we study the energy cycle, there is no part that returns the solar energy up to the sun, but you have to admire the kid's logic.
People regularly ask us if Montessori has a religious perspective and for us, it does not, but I feel privileged to converse with the children about matters of the spirit and aspects of our lives that are unseen. I think such discussions prompt more questions than they do answers and and they entice the children to wonder. And isn't that wonderful?
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Saturday, November 19, 2011
An Ounce of Prevention
Pauline, Leslie, Marjie, Jessica and I spent this Saturday renewing our Adult/Pediatriatric CPR and First Aid certification with Good Samaritan. Milan Miller has been our instructor for the last several years' classes. He is a wonderful teacher. He let us know at the start that the greatest determining factor in whether we would step up in an emergency or not is our confidence level. He is an EMT with many years experience and has, seemingly, seen it all. He told vivid stories and had us all in stitches.
A few tidbits that would benefit parents to know stuck with me and I will share them with you before they fade from memory. Did you know that Oregon is second only to Alaska in the number of hypothermia deaths per year? This is due to the wetness that plagues our winters. Wetness wicks the heat out of the body's core. Milan says that getting under a cedar tree will keep one reasonably dry in an Oregon rain. That might be a survival tip we want to pass on to our loved ones including our kids. As horrible as it is to think of a child lost in the wilderness, it would be of some comfort if we knew our kids had a modicum of know-how. Seeking this arborial shelter, a whistle and a bright-colored coat might make the difference in someone's survival.
Milan stressed the importance of keeping children's vitamins in a secure container and location just as we do with all other medications. Many of them look and taste like candy so it's important when administering them to your child to remind them that it is medicine and only to be taken when given by a parent or care-giver. And did you know that the second leading cause of child mortality is choking? Never let your child move and eat. It is a life-saving practice. When our kids eat apples on the playground we staff members must repeatedly remind them to sit down if they wish to eat. We don't allow them to rise from the snack table with food in their mouths, either. I have never had to administer the Heimich Maneuver and although I am prepared to do so, I'm not eager!
Milan also warned us of the likelihood of a major earthquake in our area in the next 20 years. And he warned us that we would all be ON OUR OWN as it is expected to be a quake of a devastating magnitude. He provided us with a list of emergency provisions to assemble and instructions to follow. I really need to get on getting my family's emergency kit together!
One can also download similar information from the Red Cross. Families will be glad to know that we perform regular earthquake drills at school and the children do very well.
If you've never taken a first-aid/CPR course, I encourage you to do so. It is an empowering feeling to know that one would know what to do in an emergency. The more there are of us who are trained, the readier we will be able to help each other and those we love.
Best Regards and Wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving,
Doni
A few tidbits that would benefit parents to know stuck with me and I will share them with you before they fade from memory. Did you know that Oregon is second only to Alaska in the number of hypothermia deaths per year? This is due to the wetness that plagues our winters. Wetness wicks the heat out of the body's core. Milan says that getting under a cedar tree will keep one reasonably dry in an Oregon rain. That might be a survival tip we want to pass on to our loved ones including our kids. As horrible as it is to think of a child lost in the wilderness, it would be of some comfort if we knew our kids had a modicum of know-how. Seeking this arborial shelter, a whistle and a bright-colored coat might make the difference in someone's survival.
Milan stressed the importance of keeping children's vitamins in a secure container and location just as we do with all other medications. Many of them look and taste like candy so it's important when administering them to your child to remind them that it is medicine and only to be taken when given by a parent or care-giver. And did you know that the second leading cause of child mortality is choking? Never let your child move and eat. It is a life-saving practice. When our kids eat apples on the playground we staff members must repeatedly remind them to sit down if they wish to eat. We don't allow them to rise from the snack table with food in their mouths, either. I have never had to administer the Heimich Maneuver and although I am prepared to do so, I'm not eager!
Milan also warned us of the likelihood of a major earthquake in our area in the next 20 years. And he warned us that we would all be ON OUR OWN as it is expected to be a quake of a devastating magnitude. He provided us with a list of emergency provisions to assemble and instructions to follow. I really need to get on getting my family's emergency kit together!
One can also download similar information from the Red Cross. Families will be glad to know that we perform regular earthquake drills at school and the children do very well.
If you've never taken a first-aid/CPR course, I encourage you to do so. It is an empowering feeling to know that one would know what to do in an emergency. The more there are of us who are trained, the readier we will be able to help each other and those we love.
Best Regards and Wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving,
Doni
Monday, October 17, 2011
Pursuing History
We here in the classroom have just finished a fascinating unit of study on Oregon. We focused on the geographical features of the Columbia River, the Coast and Cascade Mountain ranges, the high desert of eastern Oregon and our own Willamette Valley. We told tales of Lewis and Clark's exploration and the coming of the pioneers on the Oregon trail.
There are so many historical and geological sites to visit that are relatively nearby. I just know our children and your children would enjoy visiting some of these places. Closest at hand, we have our own Benton County Historical Museum. Since admission is free, it is a wonderful opportunity to take the very young. When they feel finished or their behavior is no longer museum-appropriate, the family can just leave and come back another day for a short visit. I took our six eldest children to the museum one afternoon and the behaviors I emphasized with them were walking, speaking quietly and pointing to items (even those under glass) without touching anything. Free museums, concerts and performances are a great way to introduce these activities to young children. If it ceases to go well, if one's children become disruptive, one can (and should) leave so that others can continue to enjoy the exhibit/performance and you aren't out any money.
Other places children may go to learn about and feel a connection to Oregon history are the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park in Astoria. Astoria is the first American settlement west of the Rockies. While there one can visit Ft. Clatsop, a replica of Lewis and Clark's winter outpost from 1805-1806. One can visit Seaside, OR, which is billed as the end of the Lewis and Clark trail and also a lovely beach destination. In the Dalles, one can visit the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center for an overview of the Lewis and Clark expedition. Baker City offers lifesize exhibits and living history at the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. At Bend's High Desert Museum there are exhibits about the history, culture and wildlife that surrounds the plateau of the high desert. Newberry National Volcanic Monument features 50,000 acres of lakes, lava flows and spectacular geologic features.
The children in our class really enjoyed hearing about the history of their own state, especially the bravery and fortitude of those pioneer families and intrepid explorers like Lewis, Clark and Sacajawea. "Little House in the Big Woods" by Laura Ingalls Wilder gave an accurate description of the lifestyle of the time as did "Apples to Oregon." I forget the author of that one, but it presents a humorous look at a family's travails as they make their way west. It is available in our local libraries. And when you plan your family's next roadtrip, do consider these historical gems in our great state of Oregon!
There are so many historical and geological sites to visit that are relatively nearby. I just know our children and your children would enjoy visiting some of these places. Closest at hand, we have our own Benton County Historical Museum. Since admission is free, it is a wonderful opportunity to take the very young. When they feel finished or their behavior is no longer museum-appropriate, the family can just leave and come back another day for a short visit. I took our six eldest children to the museum one afternoon and the behaviors I emphasized with them were walking, speaking quietly and pointing to items (even those under glass) without touching anything. Free museums, concerts and performances are a great way to introduce these activities to young children. If it ceases to go well, if one's children become disruptive, one can (and should) leave so that others can continue to enjoy the exhibit/performance and you aren't out any money.
Other places children may go to learn about and feel a connection to Oregon history are the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park in Astoria. Astoria is the first American settlement west of the Rockies. While there one can visit Ft. Clatsop, a replica of Lewis and Clark's winter outpost from 1805-1806. One can visit Seaside, OR, which is billed as the end of the Lewis and Clark trail and also a lovely beach destination. In the Dalles, one can visit the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center for an overview of the Lewis and Clark expedition. Baker City offers lifesize exhibits and living history at the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. At Bend's High Desert Museum there are exhibits about the history, culture and wildlife that surrounds the plateau of the high desert. Newberry National Volcanic Monument features 50,000 acres of lakes, lava flows and spectacular geologic features.
The children in our class really enjoyed hearing about the history of their own state, especially the bravery and fortitude of those pioneer families and intrepid explorers like Lewis, Clark and Sacajawea. "Little House in the Big Woods" by Laura Ingalls Wilder gave an accurate description of the lifestyle of the time as did "Apples to Oregon." I forget the author of that one, but it presents a humorous look at a family's travails as they make their way west. It is available in our local libraries. And when you plan your family's next roadtrip, do consider these historical gems in our great state of Oregon!
Friday, September 2, 2011
Of Kids and Dogs
Those of you who know me know that I spend a lot of time working with two disparate groups: young children and dogs. Or are they so disparate? I just came from my regular shift at Safehaven Humane Society, I am re-reading Cesar Millan's "Cesar's Way" and I recently watched an episode of "The Dog Whisperer" in which Cesar reunited three generations of a family who had been somewhat estranged due to the grandparent's miniature schnauzer's aggressive behavior. As usual, the dog's behavior was changed for the better in response to a change in the energy the owners were projecting. So, yeah, I've got dogs on the brain and kids, too, because we've been back in the classroom these past two weeks, meeting our new students and preparing for the new school year.
I am often and presently struck by the parallels between working with children and working with dogs. Dogs and children really perceive and respond to energy on a completely un-analytical "gut" level. Dogs and children respond to and are comforted by confident leadership. They feel safe and secure when given, in Cesar's words, "rules, boundaries and limitations." They honor those boundaries and trust their adult humans when given consistency. Individual dogs and children can vary greatly in energy level and consequently, in the challenge they present to the adult humans. Both groups thrive and achieve natural balance when allowed to do the work they were meant to do. For dogs, that is walking, or for some, herding, etc. For children, it is developing themselves through interactions with the environment. In the classroom, we call such interactions "work." And lastly, the privilege of having a child or a dog in one's life requires that we, the adult humans, continually transform ourselves by living in the present moment, as they do. Thus is each new moment an opportunity to change, to grow, to begin anew. If you are blessed to have a child or dog in your life, take a moment to thank them for all that they teach you!
Best regards,
Doni
I am often and presently struck by the parallels between working with children and working with dogs. Dogs and children really perceive and respond to energy on a completely un-analytical "gut" level. Dogs and children respond to and are comforted by confident leadership. They feel safe and secure when given, in Cesar's words, "rules, boundaries and limitations." They honor those boundaries and trust their adult humans when given consistency. Individual dogs and children can vary greatly in energy level and consequently, in the challenge they present to the adult humans. Both groups thrive and achieve natural balance when allowed to do the work they were meant to do. For dogs, that is walking, or for some, herding, etc. For children, it is developing themselves through interactions with the environment. In the classroom, we call such interactions "work." And lastly, the privilege of having a child or a dog in one's life requires that we, the adult humans, continually transform ourselves by living in the present moment, as they do. Thus is each new moment an opportunity to change, to grow, to begin anew. If you are blessed to have a child or dog in your life, take a moment to thank them for all that they teach you!
Best regards,
Doni
Monday, July 11, 2011
The Fabulous Fourth!
As I haven't been around our Montessori kids since school let out one month ago, I will blog about my own kids, which are my grandkids. My first grandchild was born when I was in my very early 30's and it always took some explaining as to how I could possibly be a grandmother at such a young age. My stepson and his wife are only 9 years younger than myself, married young and blessed my husband and me with our first grandson, Evan, now 12. As I get older, though, people are no longer perplexed to hear I have 5 grandkids, darn it!
My husband Andy's son, John, his wife Jennifer, their 3 boys and our only granddaughter, who is the child of Andy's daughter, Jenni, loaded up in their custom RV and headed down to Ten Mile Lake at Lakeside, OR, where my husband has built a beautiful cabin. John and Jennifer (J and J) set up camp at the marina/resort where we keep our boat. Our cabin is across the lake with no road access and sleeps 4 adults comfortably (it's when those adults are awake and walking around that the cabin feels uncomfortably small!) so this gave us all some space. Their RV is customized to accommodate their middle son, Garrett, who has Angelman's Syndrome. People with this somewhat rare disorder share some traits. Many, like Garrett, are severely delayed. Garrett is 11 and non-verbal. They may have some delays and difficulties with motor skills such as walking and often have digestive problems. On the plus side, many, like Garrett, are very sociable and super-handsome! Interestingly, a common trait is a passion for water, which is Garrett's favorite! Sleeping problems are also common, so Garrett's bed in the RV keeps him confined so he doesn't get up to to much mischief in the night!
So there we were, Andy, me, J and J, Evan (12), Garrett (11), Paige (10) and Camden (7) spending the holiday together. The first night we were all there, we walked to a nearby pub where the children were allowed out on the deck. We enjoyed pizza al fresco and toasted a wonderful weekend. Evan, Paige and Camden spent the night with us at the cabin. We felt Garrett was better off in his own lair. The 3 other kids all snuggled down into a convertible futon in the living room, along with our cocker spaniel, Sophie and much giggling, tickling and snuggling ensued. After breakfast the next day and many, many cups of only-half-consumed cocoa, the rest of the family boated over for fun in the sun.
Everyone had such a great time! I, because I kept the meals simple and had all these kids to help me! There are 70 steps from the pier to the cabin, so I was more than happy to let a willing volunteer run down and take Grandpa his fishing worms! Andy, who has been working out of town for awhile, was thrilled to be surrounded by his progeny. John enjoyed the water sports and giving us all a good ribbing. Jennifer was occasionally able to have a conversation or even a cocktail relatively undisturbed because the children were so well-entertained and well-supervised. Evan was enjoying his cousin Paige's and brothers' company and alternated between catering to them and teasing them. Evan is sort of a sports superstar and was always eager to get out on the water. Paige called myself, and at another time, her Aunt Jennifer aside for some private girl talk. She lives in another town and was clearly delighted to be with all of us again. Camden, the 7 year old, was so entirely quotable throughout our time together. He said so many cute things! He learned some of the finer points of Yahtzee from brother Evan, "faced his fears" (his words) and learned to tube and every time he saw an airborn firework shot off by a non-professional, said "that's illegal!" Camden wants to be a police officer, inspired by his committment to justice and interest in shooting. I think, though, that Garrett enjoyed himself most of all. At several points over the holiday, he got to sit in a big, round tube. His mom and dad splashed water into the tube and set it afloat on the lake surface, tied it to the dock and set Garret in it. Garrett was sitting in water, floating on water, looking out at the water and splashing in the water. Oh, yes, and his second favorite thing is fireworks and we went to a big display that night! At one point, I think he transcended and entered Nirvana!
That was a holiday I will never forget. The feeling was happy and carefree and we felt lucky to be in such a beautiful place and with each other. I wish all of you even an hour like that this summer.
Best regards,
Doni
My husband Andy's son, John, his wife Jennifer, their 3 boys and our only granddaughter, who is the child of Andy's daughter, Jenni, loaded up in their custom RV and headed down to Ten Mile Lake at Lakeside, OR, where my husband has built a beautiful cabin. John and Jennifer (J and J) set up camp at the marina/resort where we keep our boat. Our cabin is across the lake with no road access and sleeps 4 adults comfortably (it's when those adults are awake and walking around that the cabin feels uncomfortably small!) so this gave us all some space. Their RV is customized to accommodate their middle son, Garrett, who has Angelman's Syndrome. People with this somewhat rare disorder share some traits. Many, like Garrett, are severely delayed. Garrett is 11 and non-verbal. They may have some delays and difficulties with motor skills such as walking and often have digestive problems. On the plus side, many, like Garrett, are very sociable and super-handsome! Interestingly, a common trait is a passion for water, which is Garrett's favorite! Sleeping problems are also common, so Garrett's bed in the RV keeps him confined so he doesn't get up to to much mischief in the night!
So there we were, Andy, me, J and J, Evan (12), Garrett (11), Paige (10) and Camden (7) spending the holiday together. The first night we were all there, we walked to a nearby pub where the children were allowed out on the deck. We enjoyed pizza al fresco and toasted a wonderful weekend. Evan, Paige and Camden spent the night with us at the cabin. We felt Garrett was better off in his own lair. The 3 other kids all snuggled down into a convertible futon in the living room, along with our cocker spaniel, Sophie and much giggling, tickling and snuggling ensued. After breakfast the next day and many, many cups of only-half-consumed cocoa, the rest of the family boated over for fun in the sun.
Everyone had such a great time! I, because I kept the meals simple and had all these kids to help me! There are 70 steps from the pier to the cabin, so I was more than happy to let a willing volunteer run down and take Grandpa his fishing worms! Andy, who has been working out of town for awhile, was thrilled to be surrounded by his progeny. John enjoyed the water sports and giving us all a good ribbing. Jennifer was occasionally able to have a conversation or even a cocktail relatively undisturbed because the children were so well-entertained and well-supervised. Evan was enjoying his cousin Paige's and brothers' company and alternated between catering to them and teasing them. Evan is sort of a sports superstar and was always eager to get out on the water. Paige called myself, and at another time, her Aunt Jennifer aside for some private girl talk. She lives in another town and was clearly delighted to be with all of us again. Camden, the 7 year old, was so entirely quotable throughout our time together. He said so many cute things! He learned some of the finer points of Yahtzee from brother Evan, "faced his fears" (his words) and learned to tube and every time he saw an airborn firework shot off by a non-professional, said "that's illegal!" Camden wants to be a police officer, inspired by his committment to justice and interest in shooting. I think, though, that Garrett enjoyed himself most of all. At several points over the holiday, he got to sit in a big, round tube. His mom and dad splashed water into the tube and set it afloat on the lake surface, tied it to the dock and set Garret in it. Garrett was sitting in water, floating on water, looking out at the water and splashing in the water. Oh, yes, and his second favorite thing is fireworks and we went to a big display that night! At one point, I think he transcended and entered Nirvana!
That was a holiday I will never forget. The feeling was happy and carefree and we felt lucky to be in such a beautiful place and with each other. I wish all of you even an hour like that this summer.
Best regards,
Doni
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Remembering the DRC
We had our last day of school last Thursday. We ended the day with a ceremony for our graduates. We place them in the center of our group forming an inner circle. We in the outer circle generate energy by rubbing our palms together until we feel the heat building in our palms. When they are so hot we can no longer bear it, we face our palms toward our departing friends and we can feel the energy leaving our palms and radiating toward our graduates. This energy is symbolic of the love and well-wishes we are sending to these special children we have enjoyed for so long and will miss so much. We then sing our song "Friend." The lyrics are simple as is the tune and we sing it many times in a row. "Friend, I want to work with you, be with you and play with you. And Friend, when we are far apart, I'll still be friends with you." It's a moving song and is often very evocative for the children.
Earlier in the day, we ended our unit studying about the Democratic Republic of the Congo. When Pauline chose this troubled and violent nation for our focus, I said, "What's the matter, Pauline? You couldn't find a more depressing country?" We did briefly address the fact that many in this nation are victims of other's greed and desire for the mineral riches that are found underground, but were not explicit. As it turns out, there is much in the DRC to be celebrated. We learned some French and Swahili, mostly greetings and words of parting. We did the calendar and the weather report in French and did some counting in both languages. On our last day of study, we asked the kids what they remembered about the DRC. This is what they said:
Clare - They speak French.
Ezra - The main river is the Congo River.
Raine - The Congolese lullaby "Bebe Moke."
Ben - They cut trees and burn the brush to farm.
Madison - The women can build a hut in 4 hours.
Maggie Rose - The women can carry heavy things on their heads.
Eliason - Canoes on the Congo River.
Then someone mentioned that Ian's baby goats were coming for a visit that day and we had to tell them that, in fact, the goats could not come because they had an infection. The children were a bit disappointed and we never did get back to the topic of the DRC. I surely learned a lot. My favorite stories were those about the mountain gorillas. They are so like us and so magnificent that I was very taken with them.
Well! I blogged even though I'm on summer break! How's that for dedication? I wish all my legions of followers a glorious summer full of popsicles, sprinklers and evenings spent outdoors when no one wants to call it a night. Enjoy yourselves!
Best regards,
Doni
Earlier in the day, we ended our unit studying about the Democratic Republic of the Congo. When Pauline chose this troubled and violent nation for our focus, I said, "What's the matter, Pauline? You couldn't find a more depressing country?" We did briefly address the fact that many in this nation are victims of other's greed and desire for the mineral riches that are found underground, but were not explicit. As it turns out, there is much in the DRC to be celebrated. We learned some French and Swahili, mostly greetings and words of parting. We did the calendar and the weather report in French and did some counting in both languages. On our last day of study, we asked the kids what they remembered about the DRC. This is what they said:
Clare - They speak French.
Ezra - The main river is the Congo River.
Raine - The Congolese lullaby "Bebe Moke."
Ben - They cut trees and burn the brush to farm.
Madison - The women can build a hut in 4 hours.
Maggie Rose - The women can carry heavy things on their heads.
Eliason - Canoes on the Congo River.
Then someone mentioned that Ian's baby goats were coming for a visit that day and we had to tell them that, in fact, the goats could not come because they had an infection. The children were a bit disappointed and we never did get back to the topic of the DRC. I surely learned a lot. My favorite stories were those about the mountain gorillas. They are so like us and so magnificent that I was very taken with them.
Well! I blogged even though I'm on summer break! How's that for dedication? I wish all my legions of followers a glorious summer full of popsicles, sprinklers and evenings spent outdoors when no one wants to call it a night. Enjoy yourselves!
Best regards,
Doni
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Practical Life Fun in the Summer Sun
In the Montessori environment, we have an area of curriculum we call Practical Life. This includes activities that help us to care for our space and ourselves and it is really the heart and soul of a primary environment. Kids of all ages enjoy these activities. We see 3-year-old kids washing chalkboards in the morning and then we see our oldest kids, 6 and 7 years of age washing them in the afternoon, too! The youngest kids do it to develop themselves and the eldest are usually doing it to support and nurture the life of the classroom. They see the chalkboards are dirty and want them clean! However, I got the impression today, which is our 2nd to the last day of school, that this older boy I saw washing chalkboard after chalkboard, that he was doing it rather out of nostalgia. Perhaps I am reading too much into it, but this boy is about to graduate. I know he loves our school, loves practical life activities and perhaps realizes that this is his last opportunity to wash chalkboards here at school.
The developmental skills that are honed in activities such as scrubbing, sewing and preparing food are many. They help a child to order her mind as she gathers the necessary materials, places them just so and follows the sequence of activity necessary for success. She learns to coordinate her movements, both large and small, develop her balance and kinesthetic sense as she reaches and stretches and she synchronizes her visual and motor skills. She learns to care for her environment and show love to the things in it, both living and non-living. We believe that the act of polishing the leaves of a plant help us to feel an intimacy with plants that can extend to the whole botanical world. Cleaning our guinea pig's cage or brushing the dog builds connection with the animal world. When we show care for an inanimate thing, like when we polish a brass plate, we are showing respect for the earth which provided the raw material to create it and to the human being who spent a part of his precious time making it.
Practical Life activities also really lend themselves to getting a child into concentration. If the work meets that child's needs, she will repeat and repeat the activity. Her attention may be called away, but she will return to the task with focus. She will conclude by cleaning up her work space and returning the tools to their proper places with a calm, centered energy. She feels so satisfied because not only did she accomplish something outside of herself, but within herself, she has somehow grown and met a developmental need. She is unaware of this, of course, but a keen observer of the child can see the peace that follows such exertion.
If you provide for your child a small bucket, a sponge, scrub brush, a bar of soap, a washcloth or handtowel, you have all you need for various scrubbing activities. Using the process of wetting, applying soap with the scrub brush, rinsing and drying, one can clean all kinds of things. A child can wash the deck or porch, patio furniture, picnic table, Big Wheel, scooter, bicycle, automobile tires and wheels, dirty garden boots, the front steps, the sidewalk, etc. Give her a spray bottle of vinegar/water and let her wash the sliding glass doors. A little petroleum jelly will shine her patent leather Mary Janes and your favorite purse. Give your son the juicer and some lemons, limes and oranges and make some Summerade! Children love juicing. It really lets them exert themselves. Children love to put maximum physical effort into a thing. They'll move a stack of firewood from one side of the yard to the other, then will move it all back! A wheelbarrow of heavy bricks is such fun to push. A wagon full of rocks is great fun to pull. Sweeping and raking is also enjoyed by children. The list is endless!
Place these tools where your child can access them easily. If they don't know how to use them, demonstrate one of them today and one tomorrow. They will probably make use of them. If not, try again another day. Remember, the purpose of all this is not the end result. Your windows will be streaky, your woodpile will be less neatly stacked than if you did it yourself and you may need to wipe the excess Vaseline off your patent leather purse. But your child will be developing themselves mentally and physically and will feel like he/she is contributing to the well-being of your family. I wish you all a glorious summer. I plan to keep blogging, but away from the children, I may lack inspiration!
Best Regards,
Doni
The developmental skills that are honed in activities such as scrubbing, sewing and preparing food are many. They help a child to order her mind as she gathers the necessary materials, places them just so and follows the sequence of activity necessary for success. She learns to coordinate her movements, both large and small, develop her balance and kinesthetic sense as she reaches and stretches and she synchronizes her visual and motor skills. She learns to care for her environment and show love to the things in it, both living and non-living. We believe that the act of polishing the leaves of a plant help us to feel an intimacy with plants that can extend to the whole botanical world. Cleaning our guinea pig's cage or brushing the dog builds connection with the animal world. When we show care for an inanimate thing, like when we polish a brass plate, we are showing respect for the earth which provided the raw material to create it and to the human being who spent a part of his precious time making it.
Practical Life activities also really lend themselves to getting a child into concentration. If the work meets that child's needs, she will repeat and repeat the activity. Her attention may be called away, but she will return to the task with focus. She will conclude by cleaning up her work space and returning the tools to their proper places with a calm, centered energy. She feels so satisfied because not only did she accomplish something outside of herself, but within herself, she has somehow grown and met a developmental need. She is unaware of this, of course, but a keen observer of the child can see the peace that follows such exertion.
If you provide for your child a small bucket, a sponge, scrub brush, a bar of soap, a washcloth or handtowel, you have all you need for various scrubbing activities. Using the process of wetting, applying soap with the scrub brush, rinsing and drying, one can clean all kinds of things. A child can wash the deck or porch, patio furniture, picnic table, Big Wheel, scooter, bicycle, automobile tires and wheels, dirty garden boots, the front steps, the sidewalk, etc. Give her a spray bottle of vinegar/water and let her wash the sliding glass doors. A little petroleum jelly will shine her patent leather Mary Janes and your favorite purse. Give your son the juicer and some lemons, limes and oranges and make some Summerade! Children love juicing. It really lets them exert themselves. Children love to put maximum physical effort into a thing. They'll move a stack of firewood from one side of the yard to the other, then will move it all back! A wheelbarrow of heavy bricks is such fun to push. A wagon full of rocks is great fun to pull. Sweeping and raking is also enjoyed by children. The list is endless!
Place these tools where your child can access them easily. If they don't know how to use them, demonstrate one of them today and one tomorrow. They will probably make use of them. If not, try again another day. Remember, the purpose of all this is not the end result. Your windows will be streaky, your woodpile will be less neatly stacked than if you did it yourself and you may need to wipe the excess Vaseline off your patent leather purse. But your child will be developing themselves mentally and physically and will feel like he/she is contributing to the well-being of your family. I wish you all a glorious summer. I plan to keep blogging, but away from the children, I may lack inspiration!
Best Regards,
Doni
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