Independence

Reading

Now I'm Big by Karen Katz

Show Me Your Day by J.A. Barnes

Singing

Part of being older is wearing a mask when you go out into the world, whether that be the grocery store or the library, it is so important to do! Because some of the toddlers in my virtual storytimes were coming into the library and not recognizing me with my mask on, I thought it would be helpful to sing this song and practice wearing our masks together.

Even with My Mask On

Even with my mask on, I'm still me!

Even with my mask on, I'm still me!

Even with my mask on, I hope you see,

that even with my mask on, I'm still me!

Click here to watch me sing Even with My Mask On (originally by Montessori Assistant) and learn how to make a face mask for your stuffed animals at home out of an old sock!


Extension Activity

Every day, there are so many opportunities for your child to practice independence! One of the most valuable tools we can give our children is the ability to solve problems by themselves. Toddlers crave independence and thrive on opportunities to persevere. Sometimes, if we sit back and exercise patience, we can be quite surprised by what a toddler can accomplish on their own!

Image via Rhythms of Play

Can you think of any daily activities that your child might be ready to try on their own? Maybe it's putting on their shoes or coat by themselves, picking out their clothing for the day, or chopping a banana with a child-safe knife for a snack. I encourage you to find one new daily activity that you can help your child start doing on their own!

Tips for putting shoes on independently:

• If allowing to put on shoes or other clothing items on their own, be sure that the items allow your child the possibility to succeed. For example, try to steer away from shoes with laces until your child is old enough to tie them on their own. At this age, toddlers are not ready to learn to tie laces. This skill usually blossoms around the same time that they will learn to read. Instead, stick to shoes that can be pulled on and off easily, or shoes with velcro. This gives your toddler the freedom to accomplish this task on their own and build their independence!

• Hint: If your child puts their shoes on the wrong feet, resist the urge to correct them. Let them take a walk with their shoes on the wrong feet. Ask your child if their feet feel ok. Do they feel comfortable? Do they feel right? Most likely, after not too long, your child will point out that it doesn't feel right. Then you can suggest putting them on the right foot.

• A great “hack” is to take a large sticker and cut it in half. Put each half on each sole of the shoe so that they line up to make a whole. This little puzzle will help your child line up their shoes the right way!

Shoe labels can help a toddler put their shoes on the right feet independently!

Tips for allowing your child to choose their own outfit for the day:

• Once again, we'll use freedom within limits for this activity. The limits I recommend you set are 2 of each clothing item, which should be seasonably appropriate, and then allow the child to have freedom to choose within those: 2 shirts, 2 pairs of socks, etc.

• Try to choose outfits that set your child up for success when dressing independently! For example, pants with elastic waists, which will help your child pull them up and down without the need for help with different clasps, zippers, etc. (this can be especially helpful when you start potty training your child -- no one wants to be messing with a pesky zipper when you've got to go NOW! haha)

• On days when you have time (and I know this can be hard) try to give children enough time to allow them to dress themselves with as little interference from you as possible. If your child is struggling to the point of becoming emotional, only then offer some help. It can be really hard to watch your child struggle, but in the end, seeing your child accomplish a task and be so proud of themselves will be worth it! You’ll find some great tips on this topic over at the blog Montessori in Real Life.

• A great tip for dressing, or any activity where you may have had to offer help, is to always let your child finish the last piece of the task on their own. This will help them feel a true sense of accomplishment!

“The Montessori Toddler” via How We Montessori