Montessori Toys – What Are They?
Montessori is a unique and effective approach to early childhood education that looks at the whole child and supports their development in a holistic and balanced way. The Montessori method teaches children through practical, hands-on experiences that help them learn how to love life and understand the world around them.
What Is A Montessori Kitchen?
The functional kitchen is an asset to any child’s development. It helps them learn what they are capable of doing, which in turn allows them to explore their creative side. The pretend play trend is not particularly beneficial for children because it limits their ability to think creatively and begin the process of learning how to cook.
Your child is going to have a lot of new experiences when they’re in the kitchen. They’re getting a chance to spread their wings and explore with you. It’s important to provide a low cabinet where your child can reach items so they feel empowered. You’ll also encourage them by providing an eco-friendly dishwasher, providing a personal shelf with dishwasher items.
We all know that water is a vital component of life. It helps us to stay hydrated and clean, and it’s necessary for the things we do every day. However, many people don’t realize how important clean, fresh water is until they run out or experience an emergency situation where they must depend on their own personal supply.
The mother of Ciara shares with other moms online that she has noticed some skills her daughter has gained during the method of learning with Montessori kitchen. For example, she can fill the sink with water, pump a little soap from this soap dispenser, and wash her hands or dishes. It took a few tries to find a water dispenser that fit this kitchen and didn’t arrive broken, but we are so happy with the final result. Though she still needs some assistance turning the water on and pumping out soap, she’s not far from doing all this on her own.
As a child’s hands become more capable – able to carry items while walking, turn knobs, and open containers – there are so many things they can do around the house. Inviting toddlers to participate in kitchen-related tasks can be daunting for adults who fear mess or chaos, but looking for opportunities to say “Yes, you can help”.
There are a lot of things you can do with a Montessori kitchen area for toddlers. You could have a small glass or bowl filled with water and a small pitcher of water nearby. Have cups, plates, silverware, and cloth napkins nearby to give your child plenty of choices. If your child enjoys vegetables, cut up ones you have available so they can eat fresh products full of vitamins and minerals.
With this method, it is important to keep in mind that different families will have different tastes and opinions about how to manage their items. It is a good idea to ask your child what they like and dislike about this system and seek the advice of other parents as well.
The Monti Kids learn team suggests offering a limited amount of snack foods to balance concerns of “overeating” with a desire to promote independence. Food-choice surveys have shown that children are more likely to eat healthy snacks when offered options in small amounts, rather than in unlimited amounts.
The transition from a play kitchen to a functional kitchen is an easy process. Just start by removing the parts that aren’t needed and replace them with those that are. The most important part of the changes you make will be getting rid of the excess. If something isn’t being used, it’s up for grabs, which means you’ll have more space for your toddler to play with.
Montessori Kitchen Tools
The Montessori kitchen tools are designed to help young children learn about the world around them through cooking, developing their physical and cognitive skills. They are made of safe materials that help children develop fine motor skills. It is important for children to develop the skill of understanding cause and effect in order to understand how they can use their environment to meet their needs.
Practical Life Skills Kitchen Activities
The Montessori subject that parents like the most, at this time in their child’s life, is practical life skills. They provide a wonderful opportunity for learning language, math and science while using a fun, creative approach. It is also the perfect way to teach children how to cook and enjoy healthy meals.
Since the table contains only the items the kid needs for eating, there is no mess. Parents can also see what’s on the child’s plate. It keeps him/her engaged and interested in learning how to use utensils properly, which will help the child develop stronger fine motor skills.
A toddler’s practical life skills are largely influenced by the practical life activities and games that they learn in the kitchen. Food is a key component of everyday life and is at the center of a child’s practical life skills. Kitchen activities help to teach toddlers how to cook, eat, share, play, clean up after themselves, and enjoy food for its sensory pleasures.
For instance, Little Bee is 23 months old and his mother shares what she has notices while gaining practical skills:
“Little Bee loves to pour his own water into a cup to drink. He also watches closely and has learned to use the water dispenser on the fridge. He is very resourceful! He then will transfer the water pitcher to the table where he pours it into his glass cup. Little Bee’s banana slicer made prepping his favorite fruit a lot easier. It also made it more fun. Little Bee was able to take out the slices of the banana and put them back in before he could eat them!”
This plastic knife easily cuts soft fruits, bread, and other soft foods. The bread takes a bit of back and forth force with the knife to cut a slice. The child is not old enough to do this successfully yet. However, he/she can enjoy cutting (as well as breaking) off smaller pieces from the slice of bread parents cut for their kids.
Little Bee is a very experienced hand holder. He is able to maintain the carrot with one hand while using the other hand to operate the peeler. His actions are also perfectly synchronized with each stroke of the peeler. Little Bee’s actions are perfect because he has years of practice under his belt.
Little Bee is the ideal animal for performing household chores, not because he’s willing to do them, but because he enjoys them. When clean-up time comes around, Little Bee will find the dustpan and brush, find a sponge or spray bottle, and have a blast.
Montessori Moms Experience With Play Kitchens
A play kitchen is a must-have toy for any child. It can be used to teach children how to cook, bake, and feed their friends. These types of toys are great for encouraging children’s creativity and imagination. They provide a fun way for small children to explore new concepts and activities with their parents.
We know that a lot of our meals today are consumed in plastic containers. The environment is starting to become an issue, and we need to consume less plastic. However, nowadays there are wood food items, wood components and a whole new vision of the Montessori’s kitchen.
Spices are shaken out of wooden blocks and everyone is required to take a small taste before the child serves the final dish. Everyone in the kitchen watches the kid carefully as he/she mixes, stirred, and tastes the finished product. Child’s kitchen; child’s rules!
Check below what other parents share on social media:
“Perhaps it’s because she had always been involved in cooking meals by myself and her father that she knew what ingredients would go well together.”
“My husband allowed our daughter to raid the spice cabinet and learn that every delicious taste and smell didn’t hurt, either!”
When Can You Start A Montessori Kitchen?
Parents online highly recommend that all families, who are attempting to incorporate the Montessori approach into their home, get some sort of functional toddler-sized kitchen set up. This will be a fantastic asset for your child, and can help them learn how to cook, prepare meals, and eat healthy!
Most parents start using this functional kitchen as a hand-washing station, but eventually, it will serve as much more. Keep in mind thаt you shouldn’t introduce too many new things to the child at once. When the kid is ready, try to teach him/her how to pour his/her own drinking water from the water jug, get own dishes and utensils for mealtimes.
What Activities Can Be Done At The Functional Toddler Kitchen?
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children wash their hands with soap and warm water at least 20 times a day, and adults should aim for at least five hand washes in a day. Washing your hands before and after food preparation is an essential part of good hygiene. When you wash your hands with soap and water, it kills germs, which will make you healthier.
A new activity with the Toddler Kitchen is filling up mini glasses with water to drink from. Parents and children can both start storing a few dishes and glasses in the cupboard, and that’s how the child can grab his/her glass out and get own water. There are cases when the kid still likes to splash around in the water, so parents should be careful how full we fill the water dispenser.
Why To Invest In Montessori Kitchen?
Many parents are turning to Montessori as a more natural and holistic approach to early childhood education. In the first three years of life, the brain develops rapidly and children gain skills that will help them throughout their lives. By embracing this unique method, your child will be able to develop independence and self-confidence.
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