There’s a big shift once they get close to 3! They slowly get away from mastering specific skills! They are very specific about what they play and their imagination is out of this world 😍I’ve felt the shifts because I have a 3 and 6 year old ! So glad you made this video
My daughter is a few weeks older than Mia and it’s so fun to watch their similarities and differences. Thank you for inviting us into your home! You’re always at the top of my lists for what to watch in my down time 🙌🏽
Love this focus on preschoolers for a minute. There are so many channels and blogs focused solely on the Montessori toddler or baby and I end up feeling lost as my kids are getting older 😅
Thanks for all the ideas! Question about dealing with having only one child in the household. I loved seeing how Mia and Kylie play together and compliment each other's daily life. Our 2.5 year old constantly asks one of us to "play with her". We do give her alot of attention but also trying to let her explore and have alone time but she seems to have a harder time coming up with things to do or play with when "alone". I would have prefer doing lots of playdates with her friends but covid times makes it hard to get together.
Ashley, can you please create more content about 3-6yr old? Perhaps even a course covering those years from developmental point of view. I found it extremely difficult to continue with montessori approach for children 3 and older due to the lack of resources. Thank you so much for this video!
I’m really excited to see how you parse down your things. I lean towards minimalist and it’s wild to me to see how much “stuff” a lot of channels have when it comes to Montessori. Whole levels of homes with 15k worth of authentic (and sometimes bougie) materials- yet no mention of costs. It is SO important to do what works for your individual family, but it will be nice to get declutter inspo from you. Love the channel, it’s provided a lot of direction in my learning how to parent. With a 27 month old, it’s nice to have a peek into what is to come.
This is a video I didn't know I needed! It's nice to know when my son goes to Montessori school I can relax on the Montessori activities and just let him have fun with open ended play. Right now he's 21 months old and the things he spends the most time playing with are gross motor things (balls, balance board, pickler, tricycle with no pedals, push walker, simply running and spinning, etc), vehicles, animal figurines, lego duplo. And he's obsessed with books and music (I really need to convince my husband we need a Yoto 😆😆😆).
Thank you for this reminder of different types of play! It's helpful to remember to slow down those daily tasks for toddlers and preschoolers if they're interested in them. Those tasks, like laundry, cooking, and cleaning and such powerful learning opportunities and connection opportunities if we slow down and involve our interested children.
Baby boy due early July! I've had the joy of learning so much both from my Montessori training and from your channel - I can't believe hubby and I finally have the chance to raise a child with this beautiful philosophy, so grateful for it all! Much love from Delaware ♥️
What an excellent video. The details, the quality and the content. This is the whole package. This is where we are at! My 4 and 3 year old are very much in this world of pretend and thrive with open ended play! So glad you discussed dropping the trays and being more relaxed. Really exposing the heart of playtime. Thank you for the excellence in your channel. It cannot be easy. THANK YOU!
I just love watching your family and I love how you include your daughters in putting their cloths away and groceries away and etc. a lot of times I am always in a rush hurry hurry because there’s so many things to do and so little time and I really just want to play all day with them but I am going to include them more in putting their clothes and groceries and whatever else away and make it more fun so it’s not all hurry hurry and stressful. I also love the obstacle course idea and I think that will be perfect for my three young boys!! Thank you and keep the videos coming, they have helped me alot!!
I have been silently watching your videos for 2+ years and always love your content (along with your online course!). This one gets me so excited for when my daughter turns 3 this summer and will be doing a lot more of these things. Loved this video. Thank you for all of the knowledge over the years.
Also cannot thank you enough for introducing the Yoto on your channel. I've had it in the back of my mind ever since you first talked about it, and we finally got it for Christmas. It has been incredible. Stella has a VERY strong opinion on what songs she wants when, but can't really say what they are yet for the most part. So kuch frustration has been lifted now that she can do it herself 😊
This made me tear! Your video content always comes to the rescue in my time of need or worry! These last couple weeks, I’ve been re-reading The Absorbent Mind to see if I’ve missed anything to further aid my daughter’s development. Nuri is doing it all if not already done with it all! In one of her final chapters (Discipline and the Teacher) Dr. Montessori describes over-imagination or over-fantasizing as a deviation 😳 Nuri is nearing 2.5 years and her imagination is incredibly complex! I worry bc she spends most of her time engaged in pretend play or reading, numbers, practical life, and outdoor play. That’s it- rarely goes near shelf activities for quite some time now! Her interest in language/books and math is beyond anything I’ve ever witnessed. It’s remarkable. Her exuberant imagination is what worries me now after reading that chapter. We are very rooted in reality but of course we indulge in the occasional fictional fun either in books or shows. Watching this video and learning the various forms of healthy play in older toddlers and preschoolers is so comforting!! Thank you for always sharing your home, insight and experiences with us ❤️
Don't forget that while Dr. Montessori made some amazing observations and discoveries about the child, her work was over 100 years ago! Not only do we have additional research now (ie children can understand fantasy to some degree earlier than age 6), the environment and, as a result, our children are drastically different in the modern day. Unless the pediatrician has a concern, sounds like Nuri is simply following her own interests 😊
@@MariaandMontessori thank for reminding me of that! :) It’s so true, all research is subject to interpretation with margins of error! We just have to ultimately follow our unique child and their interests. I can’t believe her observations were over a hundred years ago, I forget that sometimes. Majority of it is still so relevant and mind blowing!
Your life seems so put together! Is there any weakness you have?! I’m sure you do but when I see your vlogs I’m amazed at how your house is clean and your schedule is smooth. You even have time to do your own thing. It’s inspiring for me to strive towards but tonight I’m leaving the play area a mess because I’m exhausted.
Oh my goodness! 🤣 I’m a bit of a clean freak by nature, but… my goodness… my house is *certainly* messy, too! Finding time for myself has gotten a bit easier as the girls have started getting older, but there are also some very trying times and days, too. I basically don’t clean the play area until the end of the day now anymore (or else I would be forever cleaning and not have enough time to spend with the girls), so I choose not to do it AND not to let it bother me. This whole motherhood thing isn’t easy, and you’re awesome - hang in there! ❤️
Great video !!! My daughter is 2 1/2 and i see she is already doing so much of a preschooler activities and not so much of the shelves. She loves loves to help in the kitchen or anything practical life. Thank you for the recommendation on putting together craft pieces & recycling items I am going to prepare a bin and have it available for her to use. As always your videos are amazing , full of great information and educational tips.
Fun fact-practical life, and some sensorial, but DEFINITELY practical life is a huge favorite of almost every student new to the Montessori class. The older they are when they start, the longer it takes for them to get it out of their system. They will spend weeks fully immersed in cooking, folding, cleaning, flower arranging, almost to make up for that lost time. It's interesting to see this list because at 19 months, we are exploring these same areas of play in our non-work cycle times! We have them spread in different areas of the home and I'm noticing Stella take materials from different parts and bring them where she wants (usually the kitchen next to me 😅) Minus chess-my brother learned around 4 as well, but I still can't play. So yes, they're very much capable of learning young! And yay the Humphrey series made it on the favorites list 🥰
I keep forgetting you have had experience within a Montessori school and always want to ask you if you've got any plans for stories from the school like that Montessori education podcast steve?? but i really feel motivated whenever i hear stories of the classroom, the guides and the children's interactions and observations made of certain choices or developments. Sometimes I end up searching the opportunities for training courses and then again only find some in London or Dublin lol.
Hahaha i was just going to tackle the living room and the shelf rotation. Perfect timing. It is soooo different now to observe her and prepare her activities according to her needs. I have been allowing myself lately to just immerse myself playing with her now that she's showing her own character humour and ideas more. Its actually given me some more delay with the shelf, having all these other areas of play that she loves to get into and concentrate on. I just love how interactive she is now just finding things to do and saying 'Huda Idea!' Hahaha Lol she says ''eggs mix' when she wants to cook with me its nice that she is be able to communicate what she wants. I loooove seeing what she comes up with already and am so excited to see more of her ideas. Just watching all the possibilities of activities she will be ble to do simply because i learnt about Montessori ehen she was 5 months old and went the screen free route. I am so greatful. Its really showing now that she is so interested in whatever she comes across and has started to create and interact with whatever we have in the environment whichever environment we go to she will find something to do. This is a very RICH childhood without being expensive. All of this whilst we form our strong bonds with them. Seeing all of these activities has relieved the stress i was feeling. So excited for the booooook!! Aaah. Btw I have been telling every parent I come across about Montessori and recommend your channel primarily as the introduction to it wherever we go. Truly wish every parent would discover you as these breakdowns have helped greatly and watching you with the girls gives us a real visualisation of how it can be done obviously they're super adorable too. Thank you again. X
So much more of our time is now spent with open ended and creative play now too. We still visit the shelf but Stella has really shown her personality now. It has been so fun to play with her and I can see the other adults in her life are finally able to play with her and share their creativity as well. She has started calling toys by the name of the person that played it with her most. This puzzle is grandma, duplo blocks are uncle, magnatiles are dad...🤣
Wow great job it sounds like you’re doing great. If I may ask, any tips on avoiding the screen time? Mine is almost 3 and also curious but since he doesn’t nap I just feel like after a few hours he seems like he needs a mental break, so I give him some screen time. But I would like to lessen it and eventually eliminate it completely.
@@MariaandMontessori hahahha magnatiles have been the first main activity my brother really got involved with as we never experienced them until now so thats what she keeps sayig. But mostly puzzles and some books are my dad. The poems my husband resites every night to her still stuck abroad 😔 but i guess its nice now that she is doing more activities and communicating more, he is able to interact with her a bit better. All of these activities in one video paints a reassuring picture for her childhood which i was being too stressed about for some reason evry time i miss chances and don't prepare the shelf or we don't folow through on a plan i had, i just need to come back to this video so i can calm down a bit and not worry so much in the long run its nit a big deal. I just need to take moments to enjoy the girl in front of me who sees us as her entire world with so much hope. Its something to ground ourselves in.
My almost three year old is getting into chapter books and longer books. I have introduced the concept of a bookmark not that it's needed she knows exactly where we left off.
Thank you so much for this video and all of them really. I was just spinning my wheels trying to figure out how to balance Montessori for home because like you've said, we're not in a classroom we're at home. I appreciate all you've done and the time you've put into each Montessori video.
My daughter is going to be 3 in 2 weeks and she loves playing with play dough, slime,legos, jig saw puzzles etc…everything that you mentioned! She’s so creative and I LOVE IT!
Your description of preschool play is so true when I think of my three year old! That’s why I‘ve decided a few month ago to use the shelf with the baskets and trays for my now ten month old :)
This was so interesting to see. I have a recent preschooler (3). I recently needed to remove the shelf from her playroom for another need so she no longer has shelf work. But in reality she hardly had been doing shelf work in probably the last 6mos. She does attend Montessori school 4 half days a week. So I bet she gets a little burnt out on shelf work. It’s just like you said where we do mostly pretend/imaginative play, practical life (especially baking), and outdoor play. This was so interesting to hear this is consistent with what you have seen!
From the intro, I slowly started to check off everything you said in my brain. My preschoolers are close in age as your girls, with my oldest turning 5 in March as well. I have definitely noticed a shift and decided to focus on the practical parts of life in the last 6 months. Thank you for your sound advice!
Great ideas! My oldest children are teens but my youngest is 16 months. I've been out of this season of raising young children for a while now so it's great to have some reminders. Plus we're doing things in a Montessori inspired way this time around ... Anyway, love your channel.
Oh Ashley, I have been following your channel for some years now and you still manage to inspire me with every new video. Be it your family vlog or videos from this series. I just love the sparks you create that keep me going every week, especially when I feel uninspired. Thank you for your great work
Thank you for taking us through this with particular emphasis on the play areas. It is helpful. I will be referring others to this in terms of how much imaginative play the girls have and the ability of a preschooler to handle chapter books and so on. It hits upon some crucial areas.
Wow that was a lot of editing for you to do! A lot of work went into that. But it is so great to see them playing whilst you talk, it adds another another level to your videos and is very helpful, so thank you for taking the time!
My 3.5 year old recently picked out a small chapter book at the thrift store. I didn't think it would keep her interest, but it does have at least 1 picture (black and white) on each page and to my surprise she absolutely LOVES it!! It is 10 small chapters that takes me 30-40 minutes to read her the whole book and she sits there for the whole thing! The one we have is called "Itty Bitty Princess Kitty" (she loves cats)
Just preordered your book, can’t wait to read it! I’ve been implementing a lot of what you demonstrate in your videos and my kids are thriving. Thank you for such a informative channel!
awesome vid! can you dive into what it looks like with the homeschooling element included? as a montessori family that’s homeschooling kinda thing - not taking the kids to a school school ever
I’m so glad I found this video.. my 2.5 year old is no longer interested in the organized shelves but my 1 year old is. I will definitely try to make play domains for him😅
I would love and be so grateful if you could do a video showing how you incorporate this play while homeschooling. We are starting child of the redwoods primary and I’m trying to figure out how to put it together with the play she is also being drawn to… When do we do “school”? Is it blended and when she engages it or do you have a set time? Would love to know your thoughts/experiences!
I’d love to see your final crochet blankets for the girls! You inspired me to ones for my girls but I’ve made the first one waaaay too big so they best use them even as adults haha
This is so oj topic for me! I have an almost 3yo and a 6mo. (In a tiny 1bedroom apartm.) Recently my friend came to visit with her 1yo and comented that we are not montessori because my 3YO corner doesn’t look like her 1yo space. as in- there are almost no activity trays. I admit- i was a little self conscious even thought I followed his interests. So you gave me peace of mind. Thank you! 💗💗
This is a perfect timing for me to watch this video. Your video is so ensuring about my daughter’s recent behavior as she is more towards a preschooler’s behavior. She doesn’t do as much independent play in front of the shelf as she used to but to constantly finding new activities that interests herself. Love the video!! Super helpful to understand her new developmental stage!
Hi Ashley! Would you consider a video with an update on the NAMC curriculum? How has it been working for you and the girls. I’m considering purchasing in the next few months but it’s quite an investment and would appreciate your thoughts on it!
Hi! My kid is 3 years 8 months old and I also discovered the same domains. I think you are on to something very natural from kids developmental perspective. We have only one extra domain, its robotics/STEM.
Love how your girls play together! I’m having a really hard time because I have a 5 year girls and a 2.5 boy and they fight a lot… and when I’m trying to play a table game with my bigger girl the little one tend to destroy it… any advice for that? LOVE ALL YOUR CONTENT! Such an inspiration 💓
Thanks Ashley :) this was hard for me to watch because I have a lot of work to do, more than I thought. Everything cannot be done at once but I really need to get on the ball. Thanks again
My daughter is almost 3 and barely pretends. She also hates doing anything that she can’t immediately master. But also once she has mastered something she just gets bored with it. She doesn’t really build stuff either. She does absolutely love books and always loves for me to read to her. However I’m feeling really stuck on the imaginative play side and things that could keep her attention without me.
My little boy is 9 months younger than Mia so this is so useful for me! Can I ask, the video seems to imply that you have all these play materials available all the time, is this true for your girls now? What would you suggest if you have a smaller space? I don’t want to limit his creativity by only having a limited amount of toys out…
Thank you so much for your channel. My boys are a bit older and wonder if you know of any resources for lower elementary 6 year olds as well. Thank you!
Thanks Ashley! Great video again. What I've noticed is also that my second child (9 months) is not interested in baby toys at all and only wants to have the things my daughter (almost 4) plays with e.g. magnets. Have you noticed a difference between how Kylie was playing and how Mia did, when they were babies?
Our daughter loves the kinetic sand we got her this week! On her shelves she has math/reading/fine motorskill activities. I let her choose from those either before/after her reading lesson. So exited about the website I found about Montessori elementery shelfwork in my own language! Our garden is getting to small to ride her bike/run in... It's hard to find time for a nature walk/the playground because our youngest naps two times a day. sometimes I think I go when she wakes up, before lucnh. But she sometimes can't sleep and when she finally sleeps she wakes up at lunch time. Any ideas?
My 15 month old has really started to love practical life activities. He always wants to help bring in groceries, put away laundry with me, and unload the dishwasher, sometimes more than my preschooler! Great list, my preschoolers love all these things. I was reading about loose part play and I saw that recyclables with tape idea. I thought it was simple but a brilliant idea, I’m not sure how I didn’t think of it! I bought some painters tape to provide this type of play. I’m definitely putting a yoto player on next years Christmas list. I haven’t tried chapter books yet. What age did you start with with Riley? My daughter is 3.5.
@@Montessori_Motherhood Hands down, the Ladybird Audio Adventure series is her absolute favorite! She LOVES them, they’re filled with fun sound effects and are super educational. She also really enjoys the “Mog the Cat” series, “James and the Giant Peach”, and two of the musical cards - “Mrs H Sings” and “Juicebox Jukebox” ☺️
This is what is happening at my end now. My kid is memorizing the book I've read earlier. Also he pretend playing doctor visits, cooking, parenting,...
Hey Ashley, just wondering how you would go about setting up the play space when you have both a toddler and a preschooler? My youngest is still really into the toy shelf and my eldest is doing what your girls are doing. How do I go about making sure that his needs are met but also make it safe for my youngest (1.5) who could still choke on some of the smaller parts? If it helps, they share a bedroom and we have an open plan living space all on the one level. 😊
Loved your video! You described my almost 4 year old to a T ☺️ We started with Mercy Watson chapter books and my daughter loved it! I thought we would do a chapter or two a day, but she had me read the entire book which took about 15-20 minutes. Then she wanted me to read it again! I haven’t decided which chapter book series to start next, but I just got her the Elephant and Piggie book series and wow! She absolutely loves them. It has really sparked her interest in recognizing words and “reading” along with me. Cuddling with me and a pile of books makes her so happy and it fills my mama heart so much.
Hi Ashley, I have a question. I recently watched your video on 10 things you don't buy as a montessori parent, 1 of the things on the list, was electronical objects that entertain the children, so I wondered how come Kylie has a audiobook? I love your videos so much and just curious, as I would like an audiobook for my daughter, but she is only 26months old, so perhaps still too young🤔? Thank you
So true. The set up is so important with toddlers, I literally had to redo my baby boy's room organization, flipped to the side a shelf so it was not too tall, selected favorite books and hide the others because he made such a mess with all this books available at the same time and I got so stressed until I just figured it out and now is so much better.
Thanks for the great video! I have noticed this change in my 2,5 year old already and was wondering why. You didn't mention any changes to the cleaning up routine that come with that. Do you still clean up after they finish playing in every area of interest or before major transitions like meals or bedtime? Any other thoughts?
We have a toniebox and absolutely love it!! My daughter is 2yo so right now I think it is more fitting for her. Did you choose yoto because of the content or something else? I’m considering getting the yoto/yoto, mini as well!
I don’t know about the Toniebox, but I know that Yoto will also let you make custom cards. So in addition to professional audiobooks, your child’s library can have grandparents and relatives’ special reading of favorite books. You also can upload favorite songs to blank cards, so your options are endless. Hope that helps you compare the products!
@@susananderson6622 Toniebox has characters called creatives where you can do the same thing 😊 I think the major differences between the two is that the Toniebox seems easier for toddlers to use independently. My 2yo can use it completely on her own and the content of a lot of the characters seems to be aimed at a younger audience 😊
Has anyone noticed a difference in play between boys and girls? Our boy is 3 but I would not let him loose with glue and scissors. I already had the house redecorated with crayons. Heaven knows what he would do with scissors and hand cream. Thanks for the ideas. Some are more doable than others. Any suggestions for socialization during covid shutdown?
There's been a lot of research lately about whether boys and girls play differently from an innate biological drive or if it is a social construct. From the time I've spent with kids, and looking back on my brother vs myself, there certainly can be a difference, but not always. I gravitated towards caring for stuffed animals and my brother tried sliding his diecast cars as fast as possible around the house. I wanted to ride my bike just to ride it, but he wanted to race. But at the same time, there were girls in his class who preferred to pretend race, play floor hockey, and basketball instead of playing house or watering flowers outside. Then again, they all equally love playing in the sand and working with art supplies. In terms of glue and scissors, I think it really helps Mia that she is the younger sister and can see Kylie, who is 4, model how to be gentle with those materials. My daughter is 19 months and while she can be gentle and draw with chalk just to draw, some days she just wants to see what happens if she slams it against the chalkboard 😅 They all have their periods of gentle focus and wild exploration! No ideas for socialization - we struggle with that too.
Hi! I love your channel and all the Montessori videos! I have a almost 3 year old and a almost 5 year old. I have recently been trying to switch over to more of a Montessori style. The practical life stuff is going well! I recently got them a cube shelf and displayed their activities the way you show. The only problem is they just keep dumping everything out and just making a big mess rather than using them the intended way. This is especially true for me almost 3 year old. Do you have any suggestions on what I can do about this?! Thank you!
While it's not the best montessori option, a series we are enjoying that has a bit of balance between fiction and fact is the magic tree house series. We are enjoying the first book right now with the 4 year old boy in our care 🥰
There’s a big shift once they get close to 3! They slowly get away from mastering specific skills! They are very specific about what they play and their imagination is out of this world 😍I’ve felt the shifts because I have a 3 and 6 year old ! So glad you made this video
My daughter is a few weeks older than Mia and it’s so fun to watch their similarities and differences. Thank you for inviting us into your home! You’re always at the top of my lists for what to watch in my down time 🙌🏽
❤️❤️Thank you!
Love this focus on preschoolers for a minute. There are so many channels and blogs focused solely on the Montessori toddler or baby and I end up feeling lost as my kids are getting older 😅
Thanks for all the ideas! Question about dealing with having only one child in the household. I loved seeing how Mia and Kylie play together and compliment each other's daily life. Our 2.5 year old constantly asks one of us to "play with her". We do give her alot of attention but also trying to let her explore and have alone time but she seems to have a harder time coming up with things to do or play with when "alone". I would have prefer doing lots of playdates with her friends but covid times makes it hard to get together.
Ashley, can you please create more content about 3-6yr old? Perhaps even a course covering those years from developmental point of view. I found it extremely difficult to continue with montessori approach for children 3 and older due to the lack of resources.
Thank you so much for this video!
I’m really excited to see how you parse down your things.
I lean towards minimalist and it’s wild to me to see how much “stuff” a lot of channels have when it comes to Montessori. Whole levels of homes with 15k worth of authentic (and sometimes bougie) materials- yet no mention of costs.
It is SO important to do what works for your individual family, but it will be nice to get declutter inspo from you.
Love the channel, it’s provided a lot of direction in my learning how to parent. With a 27 month old, it’s nice to have a peek into what is to come.
This is a video I didn't know I needed! It's nice to know when my son goes to Montessori school I can relax on the Montessori activities and just let him have fun with open ended play. Right now he's 21 months old and the things he spends the most time playing with are gross motor things (balls, balance board, pickler, tricycle with no pedals, push walker, simply running and spinning, etc), vehicles, animal figurines, lego duplo. And he's obsessed with books and music (I really need to convince my husband we need a Yoto 😆😆😆).
Thank you for this reminder of different types of play! It's helpful to remember to slow down those daily tasks for toddlers and preschoolers if they're interested in them. Those tasks, like laundry, cooking, and cleaning and such powerful learning opportunities and connection opportunities if we slow down and involve our interested children.
Baby boy due early July! I've had the joy of learning so much both from my Montessori training and from your channel - I can't believe hubby and I finally have the chance to raise a child with this beautiful philosophy, so grateful for it all! Much love from Delaware ♥️
What an excellent video. The details, the quality and the content. This is the whole package. This is where we are at! My 4 and 3 year old are very much in this world of pretend and thrive with open ended play! So glad you discussed dropping the trays and being more relaxed. Really exposing the heart of playtime. Thank you for the excellence in your channel. It cannot be easy. THANK YOU!
I just love watching your family and I love how you include your daughters in putting their cloths away and groceries away and etc. a lot of times I am always in a rush hurry hurry because there’s so many things to do and so little time and I really just want to play all day with them but I am going to include them more in putting their clothes and groceries and whatever else away and make it more fun so it’s not all hurry hurry and stressful.
I also love the obstacle course idea and I think that will be perfect for my three young boys!! Thank you and keep the videos coming, they have helped me alot!!
I have been silently watching your videos for 2+ years and always love your content (along with your online course!). This one gets me so excited for when my daughter turns 3 this summer and will be doing a lot more of these things. Loved this video. Thank you for all of the knowledge over the years.
Also cannot thank you enough for introducing the Yoto on your channel. I've had it in the back of my mind ever since you first talked about it, and we finally got it for Christmas. It has been incredible. Stella has a VERY strong opinion on what songs she wants when, but can't really say what they are yet for the most part. So kuch frustration has been lifted now that she can do it herself 😊
Same here!
This made me tear! Your video content always comes to the rescue in my time of need or worry!
These last couple weeks, I’ve been re-reading The Absorbent Mind to see if I’ve missed anything to further aid my daughter’s development. Nuri is doing it all if not already done with it all! In one of her final chapters (Discipline and the Teacher) Dr. Montessori describes over-imagination or over-fantasizing as a deviation 😳 Nuri is nearing 2.5 years and her imagination is incredibly complex! I worry bc she spends most of her time engaged in pretend play or reading, numbers, practical life, and outdoor play. That’s it- rarely goes near shelf activities for quite some time now!
Her interest in language/books and math is beyond anything I’ve ever witnessed. It’s remarkable. Her exuberant imagination is what worries me now after reading that chapter. We are very rooted in reality but of course we indulge in the occasional fictional fun either in books or shows.
Watching this video and learning the various forms of healthy play in older toddlers and preschoolers is so comforting!! Thank you for always sharing your home, insight and experiences with us ❤️
Don't forget that while Dr. Montessori made some amazing observations and discoveries about the child, her work was over 100 years ago! Not only do we have additional research now (ie children can understand fantasy to some degree earlier than age 6), the environment and, as a result, our children are drastically different in the modern day. Unless the pediatrician has a concern, sounds like Nuri is simply following her own interests 😊
I was wondering if I should buy and read that book… sounds like it is quite helpful!
@@MariaandMontessori thank for reminding me of that! :) It’s so true, all research is subject to interpretation with margins of error! We just have to ultimately follow our unique child and their interests. I can’t believe her observations were over a hundred years ago, I forget that sometimes. Majority of it is still so relevant and mind blowing!
@@laurenathar4107 it’s an incredible read and a wealth of wisdom! It’s a bit of an arduous read at times but so worth it!
Your life seems so put together! Is there any weakness you have?!
I’m sure you do but when I see your vlogs I’m amazed at how your house is clean and your schedule is smooth. You even have time to do your own thing. It’s inspiring for me to strive towards but tonight I’m leaving the play area a mess because I’m exhausted.
Oh my goodness! 🤣 I’m a bit of a clean freak by nature, but… my goodness… my house is *certainly* messy, too! Finding time for myself has gotten a bit easier as the girls have started getting older, but there are also some very trying times and days, too. I basically don’t clean the play area until the end of the day now anymore (or else I would be forever cleaning and not have enough time to spend with the girls), so I choose not to do it AND not to let it bother me. This whole motherhood thing isn’t easy, and you’re awesome - hang in there! ❤️
Great video !!! My daughter is 2 1/2 and i see she is already doing so much of a preschooler activities and not so much of the shelves. She loves loves to help in the kitchen or anything practical life. Thank you for the recommendation on putting together craft pieces & recycling items I am going to prepare a bin and have it available for her to use.
As always your videos are amazing , full of great information and educational tips.
Fun fact-practical life, and some sensorial, but DEFINITELY practical life is a huge favorite of almost every student new to the Montessori class. The older they are when they start, the longer it takes for them to get it out of their system. They will spend weeks fully immersed in cooking, folding, cleaning, flower arranging, almost to make up for that lost time. It's interesting to see this list because at 19 months, we are exploring these same areas of play in our non-work cycle times! We have them spread in different areas of the home and I'm noticing Stella take materials from different parts and bring them where she wants (usually the kitchen next to me 😅) Minus chess-my brother learned around 4 as well, but I still can't play. So yes, they're very much capable of learning young!
And yay the Humphrey series made it on the favorites list 🥰
I still can’t play chess, either 🥴🥴 but then again, I’ve never sat down to try.
And yes, she has requested MORE Humphrey on her wish list. I’m going to have to see if our library has some more! Thank you again for the rec! ☺️
I keep forgetting you have had experience within a Montessori school and always want to ask you if you've got any plans for stories from the school like that Montessori education podcast steve?? but i really feel motivated whenever i hear stories of the classroom, the guides and the children's interactions and observations made of certain choices or developments. Sometimes I end up searching the opportunities for training courses and then again only find some in London or Dublin lol.
Hahaha i was just going to tackle the living room and the shelf rotation. Perfect timing. It is soooo different now to observe her and prepare her activities according to her needs.
I have been allowing myself lately to just immerse myself playing with her now that she's showing her own character humour and ideas more.
Its actually given me some more delay with the shelf, having all these other areas of play that she loves to get into and concentrate on.
I just love how interactive she is now just finding things to do and saying 'Huda Idea!' Hahaha
Lol she says ''eggs mix' when she wants to cook with me its nice that she is be able to communicate what she wants.
I loooove seeing what she comes up with already and am so excited to see more of her ideas.
Just watching all the possibilities of activities she will be ble to do simply because i learnt about Montessori ehen she was 5 months old and went the screen free route. I am so greatful. Its really showing now that she is so interested in whatever she comes across and has started to create and interact with whatever we have in the environment whichever environment we go to she will find something to do.
This is a very RICH childhood without being expensive. All of this whilst we form our strong bonds with them. Seeing all of these activities has relieved the stress i was feeling.
So excited for the booooook!! Aaah.
Btw I have been telling every parent I come across about Montessori and recommend your channel primarily as the introduction to it wherever we go. Truly wish every parent would discover you as these breakdowns have helped greatly and watching you with the girls gives us a real visualisation of how it can be done obviously they're super adorable too.
Thank you again. X
So much more of our time is now spent with open ended and creative play now too. We still visit the shelf but Stella has really shown her personality now. It has been so fun to play with her and I can see the other adults in her life are finally able to play with her and share their creativity as well. She has started calling toys by the name of the person that played it with her most. This puzzle is grandma, duplo blocks are uncle, magnatiles are dad...🤣
@Ammara Shah ❤️❤️❤️
@Maria and Montessori That’s too cute, almost wish my girls had done that 🤣
Wow great job it sounds like you’re doing great. If I may ask, any tips on avoiding the screen time? Mine is almost 3 and also curious but since he doesn’t nap I just feel like after a few hours he seems like he needs a mental break, so I give him some screen time. But I would like to lessen it and eventually eliminate it completely.
@@MariaandMontessori hahahha magnatiles have been the first main activity my brother really got involved with as we never experienced them until now so thats what she keeps sayig. But mostly puzzles and some books are my dad. The poems my husband resites every night to her still stuck abroad 😔 but i guess its nice now that she is doing more activities and communicating more, he is able to interact with her a bit better. All of these activities in one video paints a reassuring picture for her childhood which i was being too stressed about for some reason evry time i miss chances and don't prepare the shelf or we don't folow through on a plan i had, i just need to come back to this video so i can calm down a bit and not worry so much in the long run its nit a big deal. I just need to take moments to enjoy the girl in front of me who sees us as her entire world with so much hope. Its something to ground ourselves in.
My almost three year old is getting into chapter books and longer books. I have introduced the concept of a bookmark not that it's needed she knows exactly where we left off.
Thank you so much for this video and all of them really. I was just spinning my wheels trying to figure out how to balance Montessori for home because like you've said, we're not in a classroom we're at home. I appreciate all you've done and the time you've put into each Montessori video.
My daughter is going to be 3 in 2 weeks and she loves playing with play dough, slime,legos, jig saw puzzles etc…everything that you mentioned! She’s so creative and I LOVE IT!
What kid doesn’t like that
Your description of preschool play is so true when I think of my three year old! That’s why I‘ve decided a few month ago to use the shelf with the baskets and trays for my now ten month old :)
This was so interesting to see. I have a recent preschooler (3). I recently needed to remove the shelf from her playroom for another need so she no longer has shelf work. But in reality she hardly had been doing shelf work in probably the last 6mos. She does attend Montessori school 4 half days a week. So I bet she gets a little burnt out on shelf work. It’s just like you said where we do mostly pretend/imaginative play, practical life (especially baking), and outdoor play. This was so interesting to hear this is consistent with what you have seen!
From the intro, I slowly started to check off everything you said in my brain. My preschoolers are close in age as your girls, with my oldest turning 5 in March as well.
I have definitely noticed a shift and decided to focus on the practical parts of life in the last 6 months.
Thank you for your sound advice!
Great ideas! My oldest children are teens but my youngest is 16 months. I've been out of this season of raising young children for a while now so it's great to have some reminders. Plus we're doing things in a Montessori inspired way this time around ... Anyway, love your channel.
Oh Ashley, I have been following your channel for some years now and you still manage to inspire me with every new video. Be it your family vlog or videos from this series. I just love the sparks you create that keep me going every week, especially when I feel uninspired. Thank you for your great work
Thank you for taking us through this with particular emphasis on the play areas. It is helpful. I will be referring others to this in terms of how much imaginative play the girls have and the ability of a preschooler to handle chapter books and so on. It hits upon some crucial areas.
Wow that was a lot of editing for you to do! A lot of work went into that. But it is so great to see them playing whilst you talk, it adds another another level to your videos and is very helpful, so thank you for taking the time!
That’s why the video was late - I had SOOOO many clips I wanted to include over the dialogue 🤣 I’m glad it was worth the time it took! ☺️
Thsi was such a timely video, Ashely, thank you for this! Would love to see your game recos in the Amazon storefront, pls add them when you can!
Thank you for talking about older age group, I have children about the same age as yours, so I appreciate different focus than toddlers.
I have learned so much from this video: add some materials now and what to plan for in the next couple of years. Thank you!!
My 3.5 year old recently picked out a small chapter book at the thrift store. I didn't think it would keep her interest, but it does have at least 1 picture (black and white) on each page and to my surprise she absolutely LOVES it!! It is 10 small chapters that takes me 30-40 minutes to read her the whole book and she sits there for the whole thing! The one we have is called "Itty Bitty Princess Kitty" (she loves cats)
Love these slightly more fun, 'applied' montessori at home videos you've been doing the past few weeks.
Just preordered your book, can’t wait to read it! I’ve been implementing a lot of what you demonstrate in your videos and my kids are thriving. Thank you for such a informative channel!
awesome vid! can you dive into what it looks like with the homeschooling element included? as a montessori family that’s homeschooling kinda thing - not taking the kids to a school school ever
This is encouraging because it's all things I've observed in my almost 3yo ❤️
Very helpful 🤍 Also, I would love to see some more homeschooling videos!
I’m so glad I found this video.. my 2.5 year old is no longer interested in the organized shelves but my 1 year old is. I will definitely try to make play domains for him😅
This is so true! I have a 3.5 years old and she absolutely love pretend play
Great video ❤️ I love watching my 20 month old pretend play with her little animals. She has so many creative ways to play and it makes me so happy.
I would love and be so grateful if you could do a video showing how you incorporate this play while homeschooling. We are starting child of the redwoods primary and I’m trying to figure out how to put it together with the play she is also being drawn to… When do we do “school”? Is it blended and when she engages it or do you have a set time? Would love to know your thoughts/experiences!
I’d love to see your final crochet blankets for the girls! You inspired me to ones for my girls but I’ve made the first one waaaay too big so they best use them even as adults haha
This is so oj topic for me! I have an almost 3yo and a 6mo. (In a tiny 1bedroom apartm.) Recently my friend came to visit with her 1yo and comented that we are not montessori because my 3YO corner doesn’t look like her 1yo space. as in- there are almost no activity trays. I admit- i was a little self conscious even thought I followed his interests. So you gave me peace of mind. Thank you! 💗💗
I think you need better friends...
@@atroy1983 well. Uneducated doesn’t equal a bad friend. If i toss everybody who doesn’t agree with me- i would just be a narcissist.
This was a great video, I’ll definitely be coming back to this one for some reminders.
This is really helpful and reassuring xxx thank you. It is so easy to covet the instagram homes and how it looks instead of living life!
Congrats on your first book, Ashley!!!!
This is a perfect timing for me to watch this video. Your video is so ensuring about my daughter’s recent behavior as she is more towards a preschooler’s behavior. She doesn’t do as much independent play in front of the shelf as she used to but to constantly finding new activities that interests herself. Love the video!! Super helpful to understand her new developmental stage!
Hi Ashley! Would you consider a video with an update on the NAMC curriculum? How has it been working for you and the girls. I’m considering purchasing in the next few months but it’s quite an investment and would appreciate your thoughts on it!
Definitely!
This video is fantastic! Such great content with loads of ideas and so well rounded, not to mention the amazing footage. Very impressed! Loved it!
They've loved that snail for so long!
You are such a good mommy
Hi! My kid is 3 years 8 months old and I also discovered the same domains. I think you are on to something very natural from kids developmental perspective. We have only one extra domain, its robotics/STEM.
Love how your girls play together! I’m having a really hard time because I have a 5 year girls and a 2.5 boy and they fight a lot… and when I’m trying to play a table game with my bigger girl the little one tend to destroy it… any advice for that? LOVE ALL YOUR CONTENT! Such an inspiration 💓
Have fallen in love with your channel! heart
Your videos always inspire and motivate me to up my mom game! 🤗
Thanks Ashley :) this was hard for me to watch because I have a lot of work to do, more than I thought. Everything cannot be done at once but I really need to get on the ball. Thanks again
Great job Ashley!!
What a beautiful, helpful video
My daughter is almost 3 and barely pretends. She also hates doing anything that she can’t immediately master. But also once she has mastered something she just gets bored with it. She doesn’t really build stuff either. She does absolutely love books and always loves for me to read to her. However I’m feeling really stuck on the imaginative play side and things that could keep her attention without me.
So useful video… exactly what I was wondering.. thanks!
Preschool playroom tour please!
Can you do a review video on the nugget?! I’m super curious of your thoughts! 🥰
Would you be willing to do a video on death and the Montessori perspective/how your family dealt with the passing of your dogs and loved ones?
I did actually make a video about this, right after it all happened - here’s a link: ua-cam.com/video/pLm2liXTJ_w/v-deo.html
Hey, Ashley. 😊 Can you please share the book title that Mia and Mike were reading about Space/planets? It looks interesting. 💛
My little boy is 9 months younger than Mia so this is so useful for me! Can I ask, the video seems to imply that you have all these play materials available all the time, is this true for your girls now? What would you suggest if you have a smaller space? I don’t want to limit his creativity by only having a limited amount of toys out…
This is so helpful - thank you!!!
Thank you so much for your channel. My boys are a bit older and wonder if you know of any resources for lower elementary 6 year olds as well. Thank you!
Amazing, can’t wait to watch this!💗
Thanks Ashley! Great video again. What I've noticed is also that my second child (9 months) is not interested in baby toys at all and only wants to have the things my daughter (almost 4) plays with e.g. magnets. Have you noticed a difference between how Kylie was playing and how Mia did, when they were babies?
Our daughter loves the kinetic sand we got her this week! On her shelves she has math/reading/fine motorskill activities. I let her choose from those either before/after her reading lesson. So exited about the website I found about Montessori elementery shelfwork in my own language! Our garden is getting to small to ride her bike/run in... It's hard to find time for a nature walk/the playground because our youngest naps two times a day. sometimes I think I go when she wakes up, before lucnh. But she sometimes can't sleep and when she finally sleeps she wakes up at lunch time. Any ideas?
My 15 month old has really started to love practical life activities. He always wants to help bring in groceries, put away laundry with me, and unload the dishwasher, sometimes more than my preschooler! Great list, my preschoolers love all these things. I was reading about loose part play and I saw that recyclables with tape idea. I thought it was simple but a brilliant idea, I’m not sure how I didn’t think of it! I bought some painters tape to provide this type of play. I’m definitely putting a yoto player on next years Christmas list. I haven’t tried chapter books yet. What age did you start with with Riley? My daughter is 3.5.
Around 4-4.5 was when she really got into them 😉
@@HapaFamily what are her favorite ones?
@@Montessori_Motherhood Hands down, the Ladybird Audio Adventure series is her absolute favorite! She LOVES them, they’re filled with fun sound effects and are super educational. She also really enjoys the “Mog the Cat” series, “James and the Giant Peach”, and two of the musical cards - “Mrs H Sings” and “Juicebox Jukebox” ☺️
This is what is happening at my end now. My kid is memorizing the book I've read earlier.
Also he pretend playing doctor visits, cooking, parenting,...
Thank you so much for your detailed explanation. On a different note- where is your book shelf from in your playroom?
Hey Ashley, just wondering how you would go about setting up the play space when you have both a toddler and a preschooler? My youngest is still really into the toy shelf and my eldest is doing what your girls are doing. How do I go about making sure that his needs are met but also make it safe for my youngest (1.5) who could still choke on some of the smaller parts? If it helps, they share a bedroom and we have an open plan living space all on the one level. 😊
Loved your video! You described my almost 4 year old to a T ☺️ We started with Mercy Watson chapter books and my daughter loved it! I thought we would do a chapter or two a day, but she had me read the entire book which took about 15-20 minutes. Then she wanted me to read it again! I haven’t decided which chapter book series to start next, but I just got her the Elephant and Piggie book series and wow! She absolutely loves them. It has really sparked her interest in recognizing words and “reading” along with me. Cuddling with me and a pile of books makes her so happy and it fills my mama heart so much.
Hi Ashley, I have a question. I recently watched your video on 10 things you don't buy as a montessori parent, 1 of the things on the list, was electronical objects that entertain the children, so I wondered how come Kylie has a audiobook? I love your videos so much and just curious, as I would like an audiobook for my daughter, but she is only 26months old, so perhaps still too young🤔? Thank you
Wonderful video! Thank you
This was great! So appreciative 🙏🌈 Do you remember where you got that colored tape gave girls at Christmas by chance? Thank you in advance!! 🙌😊
I found it on Amazon, actually!
So true. The set up is so important with toddlers, I literally had to redo my baby boy's room organization, flipped to the side a shelf so it was not too tall, selected favorite books and hide the others because he made such a mess with all this books available at the same time and I got so stressed until I just figured it out and now is so much better.
Hi :) can you please make a video of the tv time , what are the girls watch on there tv times Ext ... Thanks :)
OMG, this was so helpful!
Thanks for the great video! I have noticed this change in my 2,5 year old already and was wondering why. You didn't mention any changes to the cleaning up routine that come with that. Do you still clean up after they finish playing in every area of interest or before major transitions like meals or bedtime? Any other thoughts?
Hi very nice video! My son is 23 months old and puts the crayons 🖍 in the mouth when he does art session? Please help me how to stop this ?
Great video!!
My baby is only 1 month old, but I am getting ready 😂
We have a toniebox and absolutely love it!! My daughter is 2yo so right now I think it is more fitting for her. Did you choose yoto because of the content or something else? I’m considering getting the yoto/yoto, mini as well!
To be honest, I didn’t know about the TonieBox before the Yoto… so that was the only reason, really?! 🤣
@@HapaFamily we love our Toniebox but the yoto seems fantastic as well and I like the content/cards they have!
I don’t know about the Toniebox, but I know that Yoto will also let you make custom cards. So in addition to professional audiobooks, your child’s library can have grandparents and relatives’ special reading of favorite books. You also can upload favorite songs to blank cards, so your options are endless. Hope that helps you compare the products!
@@susananderson6622 Toniebox has characters called creatives where you can do the same thing 😊 I think the major differences between the two is that the Toniebox seems easier for toddlers to use independently. My 2yo can use it completely on her own and the content of a lot of the characters seems to be aimed at a younger audience 😊
My daughters Montessori school offers chess. But you have to be 3.5. My daughter is 3 and change, soon!
Has anyone noticed a difference in play between boys and girls? Our boy is 3 but I would not let him loose with glue and scissors. I already had the house redecorated with crayons. Heaven knows what he would do with scissors and hand cream. Thanks for the ideas. Some are more doable than others. Any suggestions for socialization during covid shutdown?
There's been a lot of research lately about whether boys and girls play differently from an innate biological drive or if it is a social construct. From the time I've spent with kids, and looking back on my brother vs myself, there certainly can be a difference, but not always. I gravitated towards caring for stuffed animals and my brother tried sliding his diecast cars as fast as possible around the house. I wanted to ride my bike just to ride it, but he wanted to race. But at the same time, there were girls in his class who preferred to pretend race, play floor hockey, and basketball instead of playing house or watering flowers outside. Then again, they all equally love playing in the sand and working with art supplies.
In terms of glue and scissors, I think it really helps Mia that she is the younger sister and can see Kylie, who is 4, model how to be gentle with those materials. My daughter is 19 months and while she can be gentle and draw with chalk just to draw, some days she just wants to see what happens if she slams it against the chalkboard 😅 They all have their periods of gentle focus and wild exploration!
No ideas for socialization - we struggle with that too.
Thank you for your sound advice. It was enjoyable and informative:-)
Does anyone knows what is the name of the climbing mat thing that was in the video 18:11? One is triangle and the other is the folding one, thank you!
That's a Nugget modular play couch
Thanks for this video! ❤
How did you attach the clear sheet over the place mats on your dining table?
Hardcore sticky Velcro 🤣
Amazing
Hi! I love your channel and all the Montessori videos! I have a almost 3 year old and a almost 5 year old. I have recently been trying to switch over to more of a Montessori style. The practical life stuff is going well! I recently got them a cube shelf and displayed their activities the way you show. The only problem is they just keep dumping everything out and just making a big mess rather than using them the intended way. This is especially true for me almost 3 year old. Do you have any suggestions on what I can do about this?! Thank you!
While it's not the best montessori option, a series we are enjoying that has a bit of balance between fiction and fact is the magic tree house series. We are enjoying the first book right now with the 4 year old boy in our care 🥰
How do you incorporate cleaning up after themselves and playtime? So my house isn’t “tornadoed” all day long 😅
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