Flower arranging is such a fun and simple activity for children (and adults) of all ages. My upper elementary students love it. Layla was introduced to flower arranging in her Montessori toddler class last week, so I decided to set up a little station for her at home as well. Here is what you need (I will go into detail further down): -flowers -a small vase -sponge -plastic placemat or tray -funnel -pitcher -a crocheted doily Yesterday we visited the Farmer’s Market and she

Spring is in the air! It has been such a beautiful week here. It has really encouraged us to get out and walk and start some Spring Cleaning! Speaking of cleaning, Layla has been helping with sweeping, cleaning her table and now Swiffering the floor! We adjusted the height of the handle so she is able to maneuver and use it independently. In the kitchen, we made a baked maple apple oatmeal from the "Oh, She Glows" cookbook by Angela Liddon. It was delicious! I feel so mu

This week Layla has been very interested in learning new practical life activities. I have learned a few things along the way. The first thing I learned was, whatever amount of water/milk/etc. I would give her access to, I half it...and maybe even half it again! It's easier to add more water to a pail, watering can, etc. then to have a big spill. Of course, there will be spills and your child can clean them up, but why not add to their chance of success? The second thing

Layla now has her own washing table! My husband was able to figure out how to make it with some inspiration from posts on Pinterest. This has reduced the amount of water compared to when Layla is at the sink and it's the perfect height for her. I read a post from Mademoiselle Maroon's site and saw various examples of DIY projects on the internet and Instagram (including one from the Kavanaugh Report's Nicole on IG). Click here to read a good write up about having a washin

Here is a look at what Layla has been doing in the kitchen this week: Cutting pears using an apple cutter. I cut the pears in rings so each piece could lay flat. She loved this activity so much, she cut three pears! Cutting strawberries and bananas. I picked up the cutting board, strawberry cutter and knife at a local kitchen supply store (Ming Wo). The banana was cut down the middle so it would lay flat on the board. I cut the top of the strawberries off so they would also

Practical life exercises are the activities that humans do to take care of ourselves and fulfill our needs. These include cooking, washing, dressing and taking care of our environment, just to name a few. Practical life is divided into four general categories : care of person, care of the environment (indoor and outdoor), grace and courtesy and movement of furniture. Depending on the child's age, these lessons will look very different. My 18 month old is learning how to dre