I have been reviewing book lately, and my most recent review was for Elizabeth Pantley , of the great No-Cry Solution parenting books.  She kindly sent me an extra copy to share with one of my blog readers.  Simply comment below and follow this blog on either Facebook, Twitter, or Google Friend Connect to enter.  Each daily comment will be counted in the random drawing, scheduled on Sunday, October 31 at 8pm.  The book is amazing, and it has some healthy recipes for children to create--- think Food Prep, Montessorians!  For more interest on the book, The No-Cry Picky Eater Solution , see my recent review here . And onto my little ones... This week was back to normal, back to health-  full of good work and constant art.  We have a variety of art materials available at any time, for any purpose.  It has become a place of retreat, our little den full of child treasures.  With a few rainy days, we found ourselves snuggling, reading a ton ...

Cardboard Playhouse, a Christmas Gift from Discovery Store Finding similarities between materials  New England got some blizzard action this week, and kept us home for a bit.  Never a dull moment though!  We have been saving our cardboard art house for a snow day, so we were VERY excited to get going on it's decoration.  They had dinner in there.  We even had a cookie/brownie swap with our neighbors. Bean, age 4.5, is beginning to spontaneously notice the similarities in our materials.   I have been much more (umm...) lax in our ground rules. I'm noticing more creativity and concentration if I let them just go to it.  One of my professors once said that if things get crazy, get low.  Teacher/parent hovering causes heightened energy.  She how messy she is?  But look:  she just discovered that a bead stair is the same exact size as the triangle metal inset.  Here, she's making one for Pumpkin, age 2.5. 

  Metal Insets Area General~ Language Specific~ Motor Preparation Materials ¶   Two trays of geometric shapes ¶   Ten metal insets and frames ¶   Tray ¶   Three pencils ¶   Metal Inset Paper Aims Direct~ Development of eye hand coordination To gain mastery over control of small movements Develop control of a pencil Develop a geometric sense Stimulate artistic sensibilities Develop ability to a plan a design Indirect~ Preparation for writing Indirect preparation for geometry Preparation ¶   Chalkboard activities ¶   Practical life and sensorial activities   Age First year Montessori student   Presentation of Lesson ¶   Choose tray, three pencils, paper, and metal inset frame and bring to table ¶   1.  Trace the inset holding the inset with sub dominant hand, stopping at the point in which you began (2 o’clock) ¶   Use both sides of the paper ¶   2.  Draw lines inside top to bottom and then left to right ...

Metal Insets are a great Language material for pre-writing, also for geometry, and art. The tray is from Montessori Outlet, and the shape and paper holder is a craft from Home Depot's kid craft area. Our children adore this activity. It appears to be a simple tracing work, but it holds many educational aims for the child. The metal insets and their furniture cost a fortune, so I found an alternative at Discount School Supply. This set includes a small, medium, and large inset of each of the geometric shapes one would find at a Montessori School. It also comes with a star and a heart.