Countdown to Christmas Activities. Day 14. Christmas Tree Collage

This is one of those activities I read about in various Montessori books. Not necessarily the same activity, but I was inspired by the Montessori ideas.

Messy Play. Finger Painting Dinosaurs.

This was a failed countdown activity. I thought we will sit and make palm prints and make reindeer and Santa and other Christmasy stuff. Only today Santino decided what he wanted to do, so he included his friends, the dinosaurs.

"Countdown to Christmas" Activities.

As I've been told multiple times by multiple people, it is normal for the little boys not to be interested in art, creative activities, painting, gluing. I still encourage Santino to do something creative every day. Even if it is just a few strokes on the blackboard. Something!

Making wreaths or any other kind of Christmas crafts is a challenge here. Well, not the "making" per se, but the interest in such activity. Santino only wants to play with dinosaurs (anything related to dinosaurs) and silly wreaths had nothing to do with them. Now they do!

Montessori Summer Art Activities: Foot Printing

About a month ago I joined a Facebook group called "Montessori Summer Art and Music activities for the 2-6 year olds". The group was organized by Lisa Nolan, who offers easy activities and engages moms in the conversations about the challenges they face and the progress their little ones show. I "met" Lisa on Google+, such a wonderful place to find like-minders!

Mystery Bags and The Colors of a Rainbow

I wanted to practice listening skills with Santino. I find, that a lot of times my voice is more like a white noise to him, I have to really come close and turn his head to me and repeat the same thing over and over for him to catch what I want from him. Now, this is not always, many times he hears me and does what I say, so I know this is not a hearing issue.

I just wanted a simple and fun activity, that I need to explain and he needs to understand and then follow the instructions. Mystery bags seemed like a good idea.

Santino creates his own sensory activity: salt and pepper

According to the Montessori Method, it is important to observe and follow child's interests in order to create beneficial activities for him. I've noticed a while ago, that water is Santino's number one choice of sensory experience. Today Santino clearly pointed at the salt and pepper shakers and I gave them to him.