Maria Montessori discovered that children have sensitive periods during their development. These are specific time frames when children are particularly open to learning certain skills or concepts. During these periods, children become highly focused, repeat activities, and show a strong inclination toward specific tasks. For toddlers, the most prominent sensitive periods are related to order, movement, language, independence, and socialization. 

During the sensitive period for independence, toddlers tend to crave autonomy. They feel the need to do things by themselves and assert their budding sense of agency. This is an excellent opportunity to encourage self-help skills, such as feeding, dressing, and toileting independently. 

In our classroom, we have children at different stages of toilet training. While some have almost mastered it, others are showing only slight interest. As a prepared environment, we have set up child-sized toilets and sinks that encourage most toddlers to take control of their own needs. 

Toilet training is not just about learning how to use the toilet; it also involves developing self-care skills and building confidence. Our role is to guide and support children, encouraging them to take the lead in their toileting journey. During a child’s early years, they can control three things: eating, sleeping, and toileting. 

Here are some ways to assist your child with toilet training at home: 

1. Stand up diapering and allow the child to be a part of the process. 
2. Offer the toilet at every diaper change. Use opportunities for natural motivation (e.g., we are going to use the toilet before going outside).
3. Dress your child in loose clothing, especially elastic waistband pants without buttons that allow the child to push down and pull up successfully. 
4. Avoid using negative connotations (e.g., stinky, dirty, accidents, etc.).
5. Become familiar with your child’s elimination patterns.
6. Follow the child.

Food Tasting: While creating the food-tasting schedule, I included new foods we don’t usually have. Typically, we only stick to fruits and vegetables, which we show both whole and cooked. We will taste black beans, garbanzo beans (chickpeas), and green and black olives for the next three weeks.

This week, the children tasted cooked black beans. Most of the children liked black beans.

And one last message……

With the Gala just around the corner on April 27th, we can’t wait to see our families there, adding to the warmth and love of the evening. Sara and I will be there, shining bright and ready to hit the dance floor. But what would truly make the evening complete is having you there with us.

If you haven’t already secured your ticket, consider this a friendly reminder to do so by April 22nd. Trust us, you won’t want to miss out on this extraordinary event. It’s not just a Gala; it’s a celebration of community, togetherness, and the bonds that unite us.

So, mark your calendar, dust off your shiniest attire, and get ready to join us for a night to remember. Let’s make memories together at the Gala!

http://fraserwoods.com/auction

A message from Middle School: Order your 8th-grade-designed 2024 FWM sweatshirt ASAP! Orders close on April 27! Click here to order.

Love and Light,

Cynthia and Sara

Although the weather didn’t quite match the springtime vibe, we’ve transformed our classroom into a lively celebration of the season. Through hands-on activities with seeds, eggs, and birds, we’re immersing the children in all things spring. In the weeks ahead, they’ll discover the world of backyard birds and learn how to care for them by refilling feeders and providing fresh water.

Food Tasting: The children tried a sweet, tangy, and juicy pineapple. The pineapple was hidden under a towel, and the children guessed what it could be, with one guess being a pickle. However, when the pineapple was revealed, everyone enjoyed its juicy and delicious taste without any complaints.

Cynthia and Sara

March flew by quickly, and the children returned from their two-week break full of energy. They were excited to see their friends and teachers and quickly settled back into their routines, eager to learn new skills.

On Monday, they were introduced to two new lessons. The first was based on the book Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh, which taught the children about color mixing. They not only listened to the story but also got a visual representation of how primary colors mix. We did this by using food coloring and cotton balls as the mice. To extend this lesson, over the next two weeks, the children will be able to mix their colors using playdough and take it home.

The second lesson involved an animal-matching activity using a flashlight. The children used a flashlight to find a hidden animal on an egg-shaped card and then matched it to the corresponding basket.

The most exciting moment of the week was when we gathered on the back field to observe the machines working hard. The kids were completely engrossed as the excavator filled up the dump truck. To the delight of the children, the driver of the dump truck honked a couple of times.

Food Tasting: This week, the children tasted Brussels sprouts. They were each given a whole raw Brussels sprout to explore and eat and also a steamed version to taste. While a few didn’t mind crunching on the raw Brussels sprouts, they all seemed to prefer the steamed version better.

For those who celebrate, have a beautiful Easter weekend.

Cynthia and Sara