Schooling in the Kitchen

Naturally much of my day as a Mama is spent in the kitchen planning, preparing, serving, and cleaning up (yuck)  from all that yumminess.  With two littles running along at my feet each day it makes the kitchen a pretty happening place!!!  I don’t take it lightly…having kidling helpers.  For one thing, once it’s taken lightly you likely will have a ridiculously enormous mess on your hands.  (I know…I’ve seen the mess!)  No…it’s serious business including my littles.  The true magic of the kitchen for me is all that there is to learn and gain from simply helping.  Little hands learn to measure carefully, pour steadily, stir with control, all while the incredible changes to ingredients, and so much more.  It really is magical.  And it all happens by simply letting them help.

 

          

Recently we made absolutely fantastic cupcakes inspired by my friend Brittany’s post. 

We made some slight changes:

We used this chocolate cake recipe for the cupcakes:

3 cups flour

2 cups sugar

2/3 cup cocoa powder

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoons salt

2 cups water

3/4 cup oil

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 teaspoons vinegar

Bake at 350 for 25-30’

 

We stuffed them with the buttercream filling Brittany describes and the simply frosted them with chocolate buttercream frosting. 

They were divine!!!

Montessori Home Evaluation

I have not been able to find the origin of the Home Evaluation to link to.  I will, however, share the evaluation itself.  I am almost positive that it came from www.beautifulsunmontessori.blogspot.com …but for some reason can’t find it there!  Definitely go check out her site though…there’s tons of wonderful resources there that I can find!!! Enjoy!

 

(Dry Soy Beans sorting, sifting, measuring, pouring, discovering activity)

Principles by which to Evaluate our Montessori Home…What are we doing well?...What can we do better?...What needs to change?...What do our children need?

Selected 5 qualities that we strive to encourage in the child in the Montessori environment:

Independence- self esteem comes from being able to carry things out on ones own.
Socialization- your child learning to manage himself in increasingly greater social environments.
Communication- the human need to communicate clearly, to understand and be understood.
Order- addressing the human need for patterns and structure. Applied both to the external world (your child's world) and the internal world (your child's mind). The mathematical mind.
Curiosity- The scientific mind.

Practical ideas for the home:

1. Independence

Care of the Person:

Teach them slowly how to dress themselves
Allow them to choose from limited outfits
Give them a drawer or space in their own closet where they can choose their own clothing from
Teach them where to put soiled clothing
A dress up box can aid in this practice for young three year olds
Let them brush their own teeth
A low cupboard in the kitchen where they can choose their own snack
They can help set the table
Let them participate in the kitchen
Provide them their own tools for kitchen use
Let them choose and make their own breakfast
Clear the table
Wash dishes
Teach them bathroom hygiene- let them do it themselves
If toilet is too high, put a step on it
Teach them how to use utensils properly, no reason why they shouldn't be able to use a knife

Care of the Environment:

Low work spaces
Tools that are accessible to them (sponges, buckets, soap, water)
Put a step up to your kitchen sink
Keep things in one place as much as possible so that they will know where to put them back
In the kitchen: measuring, pouring, stirring, spreading, cutting, peeling, grating, washing, seeding,
Watering the plants around the house
Wiping the table or counters
Washing hands
Mopping the floor
Making their own bed
Preparing their clothes for next day
Opening and closing curtains
Feeding animals
Putting dirty clothes in hamper
How to treat their toys

2. Social Relations

Practice wanted behaviors
Praise
Talk about positive things you see in them
Talk about positive things you see in others
“Catch them being good”
Let them hear you saying good things about others, including children, notice more of what you DO want them to do
Clear limits to unacceptable behavior
Talk about your values and what you find important
Model your beliefs

3. Communication

Clear precise communication with your child
Talk a lot with them, explain things
Sing
Read to them even when they can already read for themselves- they love the same books over and over
Let them see you reading
Tell them true stories
Prohibitions should be clear (and you should hold yourself accountable as well)
Give words to feelings
Introduce complex vocabulary
Stick to your own best language
Give realistic choices
Let them be a part of family meals

4. Order

Routines! Morning routines, and bedtime routines especially
Things have a place in your child's room, then he will know where to put them away
Not too many toys
Not too many activities to do- time to process the day is necessary
Limited sets of clothing to choose from
Limited work space
How to treat their toys
Tell them what happens before, and what will happen after
Make a picture schedule and talk about it
Give them real world word problems
Notice patterns with them

5. Curiosity, Creativity

Listen to what they have to say!
Outdoor provides much opportunity for exploration
Let them solve their own problems
Ask them what they think about things
Wonder with them
Read
Expose them to art
Give them tools for expression
Open ended toys

Evaluating our Montessori Home

Any Mother knows the reality, the constant, of change.  It seems that once a rhythm has been established and you’ve gotten the hang of certain stages and phases…things change.  Whether from outside influences or simply childhood development these changes strongly effect the rhythm of our days.  As I have come to accept the reality of this constant change I have incorporated regular evaluations of our home and days.  Sometimes formal, and sometimes “in the moment”, these evaluations have really helped us stay on top of and best provide for the new phases we are consistently entering into. 

Our daily rhythm, and even the setup of our home, is centered on Montessori and Waldorf philosophies.  As such, our regular evaluations include Maria Montessori’s, and Rudolf Steiner’s principles regarding childhood.  We have found an excellent Montessori Evaluation somewhere…! (I can’t find it’s origin in the moments I have now…but I will when I have a few more moments and I’ll share)

We have made several changes recently based on this evaluation.  In an effort to further independence and self confidence for our daughter we made seemingly subtle changes that have actually made a huge difference.  Although she can dress herself well…her outfit choice is sometimes…unique…and not always activity appropriate.  I adore her funk and flare in regard to color choice and layering (yikes!) but needed to reign in the best dresses worn for sandbox time, and painting clothes for going to visit family, etc.  We worked together to put her clothes together into outfits.  By including her we were able to keep her flare for fashion and satisfy my goals of order.  With drawers divided between playing outfits and going out outfits, and the closet separated between church dresses and play dresses we were both quite happy.  It’s organized and easy for her to find the perfect thing to wear each day…independently! 

 

Our other simple change was providing a small pitcher and cup in the door of the fridge so that she may safely and easily get herself a drink whenever she likes.  So simple.  So easy.  So loving it!!!  I will say she drank an incredible amount of water the first few days we had it!  (The pitcher finally was found after much searching in so many places…at IKEA.  I have to admit I do like that store!)

The changes are constant…and the adjustments we make because of them are just as constant.  Little or big sudden or gradual they effect our daily rhythm and keep us on the track that just feels so right for us. 

Moments and Messes

  

Yesterday had its moments!!! Yikes! 

While making waffles my little helper fell off the stool (which happens way to often…what a little wiggler!) and knocked the bowl of batter off…of course.  It fell onto the counter and onto her head as if we were in a movie.  “What a mess” would be a serious understatement.  For those of you who know my daughter you know she is not one for having liquids on her skin involuntarily.  (Perhaps visions of the mud day are perplexing you…it was definitely a risk…and touch-and-go for a bit I’ll admit!!)  With bathed (and still hungry) children we started on lunch again…and the same wiggler tipped over the same stool which came crashing onto her toe.  Oh the howls!!!  Though she is quite looking forward to seeing all the fun colors her toe nail will be turning.  She is in fact quite pleased that it is purple!!  Oh does she love purple. 

On the other hand…once we finally made it outside the little man cub kept his mittens on for the whole play time and didn’t insist on being held either!  He actually had a great time wandering around and exploring in the wintery wonderland outside.  And frankly…being able to thoroughly enjoy both of them outside at the same time trumped any ridiculous mess I dealt with inside.  (Do have any idea how hard mostly mixed waffle batter is to get out of hair…yikes!)

Children change gears so quickly.  They have forget their sorrows and despairs so easily and move on to something else.  I need to do better with this.  I need to do better about leaving the trauma of the mess behind once the evidence of it is gone and walking out into a clean white surface all ready for a new adventure.  I think I may have more to learn from my children than they have to learn from me….!!

Washing Dishes

“Mom…I’m going to wash the dishes.”

As simple as that.  As matter of fact as that.  Oh what beautiful words.  I know that in the years to come as dish washing becomes a chore on her chart that it may not be met with the same enthusiasm that it has found recently.  But I’ll take it! 

 

There is magic in water.  I’ve said it before…and I believe it more everyday!  Soft warm sweet smelling pruny fingered magic.  Even just a simple dish washing can calm and center a scattered little mind.  And let’s face it…with so many days restricted to the indoors by the biting cold we are all getting a bit scattered! 

So fill up the sink with warm soapy water.  Dump in some things to wash…whether dirty or not, and a handmade cloth. I’ll admit that we have difficulty keeping water in the sink at times…but we’re getting better!  We keep towels on hand and little hands take responsibility for spills.  Now watch the magic of water! 

Home Again.

We are all together again.  It’s very nice.  It is home to us afterall…being all together no matter where we happen to be. 

Our spot in the world right now is not quite where we want to be.  Which is frustrating at times…!  This blog is bright and colorful, full of creativity and fun ideas, plastered with images of natural childhood goodness.  I like it like that.  It truly does help me focus on the joys of my life.  The accomplishments and successes rather than the challenges, fears and unknowns.  But sometimes the colors are just a bit too bright…they seem unnatural….not the colors I’m seeing around me.  I’ll admit it…sometimes I see gray and gloom!  And I struggle with the inconsistency.  It feels dishonest somehow.  So I run and hide and don’t post.  It doesn’t fix it!  I miss this space and the joys it brings.  I miss your encouragement and comradery….even though I can’t actually have you all over for a real chat. 

So…I’m back.  Back with my husband and littles.  Back with all of you.  Plugging along day by day.  Living creatively as best I can each day.  Not ignorant of the gloomy grays looming in some corners of my life…but choosing to focus on the bright colors instead.  I know you know what I mean.  And it means so much to me to know that! 

Someday our little spot in the world will be just where we want it to be…and with some luck it will be close enough to truly know some of you.  But for now…I’m here, in this space with you! 

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On another note….

Can you catch a glimpse of the double knit polyester floral robe in the bottom of the picture!  Yeah….I have been wearing that for (too long) the past two days as the “cook”  (all food being made of blocks!!!) for the “royal prince and princess” and their adventures that we seem to be having none-stop around here.  There is only so much servitude a girl can take!  We needed a popcorn break!  Turns out the prince loves it as much as the princess and the cook!!

Have a bright and colorful day friends!

Postcards :: No. 5

DINOSAURS!!!!

We were completely blown away by the Dinosaurs and other exhibits at the Museum of Natural History.  Absolutely Magnificent.  I had never seen them before and we marveled together at their sheer enormity!  Although this visit merely grazed the surface of all there was to see, learn, and read there we had a very full day and are so excited to return. 

Oh the wonders of the creatures we share (or did share)  this earth with!!!