As we conclude the school year with our toddlers, we reflect on the joy and liveliness they have brought to every moment. Observing the emergence of four painted lady butterflies from their chrysalises, we were reminded of the incredible process of metamorphosis. This transformation beautifully mirrors the growth of our young students. Just as a butterfly spreads its wings for the first time, our toddlers are beginning to explore their world with newfound confidence and curiosity.

A visit from a squirrel to our bird feeder delighted our young students, who expressed their excitement with joyful squeals. Additionally, we enjoyed a food-tasting experience featuring sweet, juicy watermelon, which was a delightful treat for everyone.

Wishing your families an enjoyable week,

Christine & Lizette

This week has been delightful. From our window, we spotted two pileated woodpeckers in the woods. We’ve been patiently waiting and quietly watching for birds to visit our new window bird feeder. We’ve seen a few cardinals, sparrows, and other beautiful birds waiting in the nearby bush, observing us as we observe them. One day, the children were absolutely convinced they had heard an owl. Their sheer excitement and awe were contagious!

This week, the children tasted rhubarb, and most seemed to enjoy its tartness. They also had a lot of fun simply saying the word “rhubarb.” We danced around the room as we listened to Laurie Berkner’s catchy song about rhubarb pie. 

We also tasted seedless mandarins, which every child enjoyed. The children were then free to choose the mandarin peeling activity. In addition to mandarin peeling, we had a cucumber-cutting activity available to the children this week since they were all so keen on the cucumbers we tried a few weeks ago. In our Montessori toddler classroom, the excitement around food preparation activities is palpable. With eager anticipation, children embrace the opportunity to take charge of creating their own snacks. This newfound independence not only fills them with pride but also nurtures their self-confidence. Engaging in these multi-step activities they not only satisfy their hunger but also strengthen fine motor skills.

Each morning, many of the children’s first order of business is to check on our chrysalises. We are looking for any slight changes and eagerly awaiting the magical metamorphosis that will take place.

We are looking forward to sharing our symbolic “Bridge Crossing” event with all of you on Friday, June 7th from 10-10:30.

Here’s to a reflective Memorial Day weekend. Enjoy the extra day with your families.

Christine & Lizette

“Learning to use the toilet is a natural process that begins when your child’s desire to be grown up and his neurological development have reached the point where he can control his bladder and bowels. We don’t train children to use the toilet, we support them when they are ready.” (How to Raise an Amazing Child: The Montessori way to bring up caring confident children, by Tim Seldin)

With summer being just around the corner, we have received a few questions about toilet learning. Here are some Montessori tips:

-Once the child is showing interest in using the toilet, the bathroom can be set up to give the child as much independence as possible. Keeping a supply of dry clothes in the bathroom is convenient. Consider a stool so that the child can reach both the toilet and sink. Rags for cleaning up can be helpful.

When a child has involvement in the process, the child has ownership of the process too, not the adult.

-Incorporate using the toilet into the child’s routine. Invite them to sit on the toilet upon waking, before going out, after lunch, etc. 

-Choose clothing that supports independence.  Clothing needs to be easy to put on and take off. Bottoms need to be loose-fitting to make it easier to independently pull up and push down (i.e., no skinny jeans). Elastic waistbands are great.  Your toddler also needs to be able to remove clothes quickly to make it to the toilet in time. It can be difficult to push clothes down quickly if they are too small/tight or if there are buttons, snaps, or buckles to undo first. 

–Because children are in control of whether or not they use the toilet, the language you use with your child is very important. The goal is to empower them and their growing desire for independence without starting a power struggle or inadvertently causing feelings of shame or failure.

When they don’t make it in time…
If a child becomes wet, stay calm and reassuring. For example, you might say, “I see you are wet. Let’s go get some dry clothes.”  Your child can get them from the supply in the bathroom and even help wipe the floor and wash their hands. Let them change at their own pace and provide help if they ask or if they are overwhelmed.

It is important to create a supportive, respectful environment that encourages your child’s natural progression toward toilet independence. We are always happy to answer questions or offer guidance with toileting.

Highlights from our week:

The caterpillars have started to form chrysalises. The children have been very excited to observe the changes. We can’t wait to see what will happen next!

We explored kiwi this week as our Food Tasting experience. It was well-received!

We’ve been learning the names of birds and insects.

We celebrated a friend’s 2nd birthday and read one of his favorite books, Dragons Love Tacos. Then we shared a special birthday snack of Milano cookies. 

It was a great week! Enjoy the weekend with your families. 

-Christine & Lizette

It has been an exciting week as we have welcomed 5 painted lady caterpillars into the classroom. The children have been eager to check on their progress each day. Caterpillars are voracious eaters and have grown significantly since they arrived in their cup, complete with food. The caterpillars will molt several times before they’re fully grown and ready to form chrysalises. Painted lady caterpillars spin silk to help support and protect themselves. They will hang upside down in a “J” shape when they’re ready to pupate or form a chrysalis. Then, we will wait for the butterflies to emerge! We are so excited in anticipation of this incredible metamorphosis! 

We shared a familiar vegetable this week for our Food Tasting experience. It has dark green skin on the outside, it’s whitish green on the inside, and it has seeds that we can eat. We can peel this vegetable or eat it with its skin. It grows in a garden, and it’s crunchy. Did you guess cucumber? Nearly all the children enjoyed it and asked for more.

Heartfelt thanks to all of you and your children for the special drawings, cards, flowers, and treats this week. We are so grateful. Your thoughtfulness truly made us feel appreciated. Thank you!

Wishing all the moms a Happy Mother’s Day. We hope you all enjoy the weekend. 

Friendship development in toddlers is an intriguing process, marked by significant milestones and stages. Here’s a breakdown of how it typically unfolds:

In the early stages, toddlers engage in parallel play, where they play alongside each other without much interaction. They may observe each other’s activities but don’t actively engage together.

As toddlers grow, they start to engage in associative play, where they begin to interact with each other during playtime. They may share toys, take turns, or mimic each other’s actions.

As children mature and develop social skills, they start to engage in cooperative play, where they interact with peers to achieve common goals or participate in group activities. This stage encourages collaboration, communication, negotiation, and empathy.

These stages of play are not strictly sequential, and children may engage in multiple stages simultaneously or move back and forth between them based on their interests and developmental needs. In a Montessori classroom, the environment is carefully prepared to support and facilitate each stage of play, allowing children to learn and grow at their own pace.

It has been exciting to witness the blossoming of friendships among the children both in the classroom and on the playground. 

This week, we learned about white button mushrooms. If you ask your children where they grow, they will probably tell you, “in the dark, in the dirt.” They may also tell you that their teachers both love mushroom pizza! We examined the stem and the cap, and the children enjoyed taking a closer look using a magnifying glass. Not everybody was willing to try a piece of mushroom, but we kept offering – we engaged in our food-tasting lesson all week long! The class was fascinated by the mushrooms and truly enjoyed exploring them.

Looking forward to an exciting week ahead! Christine & Lizette