Is anyone doing montessori (or similar) activities with an infant?

Re: Is anyone doing montessori (or similar) activities with an infant?

• EcoBaby

  September 2010

  This website has a lot of good info for an infant: https://www.michaelolaf.net/

   ETA: this is part of the same website, but directly related to babies: https://www.michaelolaf.com/JCcontents.html

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• MrsErinnElizabeth

  September 2010

  We have been going to a Montessori play group since Delilah was 9 months old (we would have gone earlier but were out of the country for like three months).  She's also enrolled for Montessori school, which starts at age 3.  The playgroup is really fun and I've been trying to adapt some of the strategies in our home, such as shorter, more accessible shelves and whatnot for her toys, getting a small table and chairs (which we will start to feed her at, instead of a high chair), and encouraging her to try to do things on her own (like I give her a chance to wash her own hands before I do it, etc). 

  She has also started feeding herself with a fork and spoon (with my occasional help).  She wasn't eating finger foods, but rather smashing and/or throwing them, so our Montessori director suggested a fork and it worked like a charm.  She still needs my help to put the food on the fork, but will grab it from me and eat every bite that way. 
  

  We also are getting almost exclusively montessori type toys for her birthday and Christmas.  Nothing that is plastic or that lights up, but rather things that encourage imagination and creativity etc.  We hated the plastic light up stuff before we had anything to do with Montessori, but now we have better resources for finding what we're looking for.  She's getting so many cool wooden toys for Christmas, as well as a bunch from her aunties and uncles for her birthday.    

  We're also going to look into a Montessori floor bed in the future, but haven't gotten around to it yet.  We're too busy just trying to get her in her own room at this point!
  

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• atlbride23

  September 2010

  We have a floor-height mirror in our play area, everything is at baby height (except artwork, cause it's my living room, too), we rotate out a few toys- no "battery toys", we are also getting a table and chairs for the girl's first birthday, but I think it might be awhile before they can sit there and eat

  

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• lspinman

  September 2010

  There are a few great blogs that I follow that are normal amazing parents who have integrated Montessori principals in their lives and homes.

  I became very interested in this philosophy after reading and seeing photos of this idea in action.

  In our house we do many things focused on nature and most things are on S's level so she can interact with her surroundings.  We also have not done any standard "babyproofing" (other than outlet covers) but instead have rearranged our house so that there are not off limits spaces.  S can walk around the house and our yard and be safe in all places.

  We are working towards 75% of our yard being edible and so bringing nature into the house is easy and fun.  

  We also rotate out toys/activities every few days so S has exposure to many things.  I prefer the natural toys as well but we do have some of the bright lights and plastic toys.  We prefer wooden and sustainable for eco reasons as I do feel that plastic toys can be teaching tools with good parental guidance.

  Here is one of the blogs that I like- many of her followers also have Monessori ideas.  Her FAQ section has some great palces to start gathering info:
  

  https://sewliberated.typepad.com/sew_liberated/faq.html
  

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• sunnydays99 member

  September 2010

  Thanks so much ladies - very helpful!!

   

  MrsErinnElizabeth - does the playgroup that you attend have a website?  I know you're in Australia but I'd love to see it anyway!
  

  
  
  
  
  

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