A little bit Montessori...

We're kind of Montessori round these parts, Lolly periodically goes to NIDO (we've had a bad run the last few months due to illness) and we're seriously considering the same Montessori school for her.  There's a lot I like very much about the Montessori philosophy of approaching childhood and "learning", especially in providing a certain kind of environment for a child, meaning both the physical surroundings and the social and emotional side of it all. Of course, I have some issues with it, too, but that's a post for another day!

Here are some examples of what I mean.  We set up things at Lolly's level, changing things round to keep her amused.  We have a large amount of plastic (not quite Montessori, but hey...) but also have a lot of simple, everyday tasks and activities that Lolly loves to do.  You can really see the concentration on each task, and the value of returning things to their place.  I keep her tables clear, or put one or two things on them so she can focus, and then we put things away (okay, it's mostly me, but she does love to clean and help tidy).  I tidy every night so the environment is clean and clear for our next day's fun!  As she gets older, the more she does to help me do this, it's just normal for her.  For small children, putting things away is often just as much fun as getting them out and doing them, and for me, sometimes the frustration is that putting it away reawakens her desire to do it more, and we have to get it all out again (this happens a LOT with play-dough) :D.

The Bookcases in the lounge room

One of the tables set up with some of her music things

Lolly's peg boards and pegs in a basket

I found this nice introduction to Montessori in the home here - this is part 1http://www.youtube.com/user/willowtreephoto#p/u/5/_9i-yESU-GY it's a simple explanation from a real world mother, showing her set up at home.   The Monte book, available in pdf form for free here - The Joyful Child has some lovely ideas in it for all areas of the house.  

I get a lot of inspiration from Montessori stuff, everything is just so lovely!, and from Steiner and unschooling sites and books as well, though we are nowhere near 100% Monte (check out the video collection in the bookcase shot - lol), nor are we planning on unschooling.  There is so much to be learned from treating our children as people, adapting and changing to suit them, encouraging their natural ways of doing things, meeting them where they are at, respecting them as small people, not treating them as inferior beings that simply should be controlled until they are big enough to know better.  Each of these learning philosophies embody those principles, so they are all worth drawing from.

I'm planning to write more about all this fun stuff in future, so stay tuned!

Of books, playdough, and salt...

Had to share my two gorgeous girls, out in the windy weather coming home after the brother was finished playing soccer on the weekend.  Naw!!  Check out the too cool for school Lolly in her glasses :D

Two gorgeous girls!

Lolly has started on playdough for the first time a couple of weeks ago, and is mad keen on it!  Here she is sitting on our dining room table with her "shapes".  She calls it "play shapes" and requests playdough fun several times a day.  Snail is also very keen, and says "playdough" as they do it at school with her as well.

Playdough!!!!!

The other day Lolly was endlessly making these "snakes", I roll em out with her, then she puts all the accessories on, first eyes, then "a tail" then "a back" - lol - which means all those blobs on their backs.  I think it's representing their scales, we had a snake skin here (sorry mum!) to look at the other week and she was very interested.  I was less impressed with DinnerDad who hid it behind the bookcase with just the tail poking out to scare me :-o

Lolly's snakes

And here she is eating salt on the rocking chair one morning.  She is salt obsessed, and given the slightest chance, nabs the salt grinder, gets up in the rocking chair, and eats all the salt out of the top of it. 

Like so... :D

Apparently it is nom nom nom!

Busy days here, here there and everywhere, we are slowly getting out of our sickness slump and getting back to normal (we hope!).  Today we went in to Snail's school to hang out, played basketball with the kids at break time, and generally were a huge hit with her class :D  We went to Ippy library and got heaps of books, Lolly is enjoying factual books at the moment, with real animal photos in them, as well as her Bears in the Night Dr Seuss, Hairy McClairy, and a book called the Wide Mouth Frog that Nanna got her.  She has a whole bit where we say the lines from the book, and pretend to eat her up for dinner.

She LOVES Bears in the Night at the moment, and recites it as we go.

So that's a snapshot of us lately, will post more soon! 

Horse Riding Tot

We went to the Abbey Medieval Fair last weekend, and despite being disappointed with the fair in general, did have the fun of seeing Lolly have her first pony ride! She was a tiny bit daunted at first, but once she was on the pony, loved it so much that she asked for an hour for another one! Of course, we obliged :D Here are some photos from DinnerDad's phone of her second ride, and there are 6 of them coz she is just too cute for words.

Waiting with her helmet on for the pony to arrive. I mean, seriously, how cute can one kid get???


More helmet cuteness.



OMG this one is made of cute!!





Here comes the pony!!!!!


Riding into the sunset with Sophie her pony :D


She is still telling me about having a helmet and riding her horse.

In fact, we're off this weekend to the McIntyre Centre so she can have even more pony rides, naw :D

Just a quick...

Congratulations to my sister, who just yesterday graduated from the Air Force officer training program!!! We love you, and are so sorry we couldn't be there to cheer you on.

xxx

A rambling miscellany! Now with Pictures!

A day out at the dam.





Here's a shot from a recent trip to Ikea. Lolly LOVES Ikea, she loves to run around, loves the chips and meatballs, and likes to ride on the various trolleys. It's actually quite a good morning out for us :D


Cooking with DinnerDad. Serious face!




A beautiful gift from her Aunt Strawberrypot.



And just for a laugh, we went to the Pregnancy, Babies and Children Expo on Friday, and Lolly managed to snag a formula balloon - lol Here she is with it. I did give her a breastfeed while it was hovering overhead, does that cancel it out? I should also say that this slogan "the perfect mix of science and love" SHITS ME TO TEARS!!!!!


Finally, a shot from Lolly's first go at Snail's feltboard. I love her combination of outfits and hair :D

Photos in leiu of post

Just camera phone shots -

At Montessori...





Clapping at Play School concert!


Buggered after school :D

An ode to Bajak, our dog, who turned 18 years old yesterday!!

By his Aunt Lizzie...

Bajak
a dog.
A dog wide of girth
all the better to barrel you over with.
A snout
for snuffling out
all things horrid and ripe
cunningly attached to his face
so that it's people's-groin-height
(just for identification purposes, of course).
A grin
on cheeky chops
'cos he's always happy
to see you
always waiting for the ball
to be tossed...
A working dog!
(well, he would've
if he'd had to!)
And a tail
so he could smile from
cheek to cheeks...
For knocking breakables
to the floor where they'd smash,
for bruising your legs with
sheer enthusiasm,
for knocking over small people
(who are his particular favourite types of people).
A stinky old man
who's seen his little ones grow up,
who's comforted many a sob,
who's stinky, wiry coat
has become enmeshed in
many a pair of trousers, or a jumper
'cos he's always there
in the midst of the family theatre
always in a supporting role
but vital for the whole production.
Here's to you,
Bajak.
A one in a squillion dawg!
Happy, happy birthday, Old Man!

Happy Birthday, Mr Stinky!