Toddler Peek at the Week 11.09.26

Hello, Toddler Families and welcome to a true Autumn! 

What a shift in weather we've had during these past couple weeks. As we continue to spend time outside, please be sure to keep an eye on the forecast when choosing shoes and clothes for the day. Exploring the outdoor environment daily and with enthusiasm is our goal, and we want them to feel prepared and comfortable.

This week we will enhance our focus on the self care of dressing, such as putting on and taking off jackets, mittens, hats, and continuing our work with their socks and shoes. A few popular mottos for Montessori guides are “help you help yourself” and "I can't help until I see you try" and "which part can you do?".  What does this mean? We observe for signs of frustration and wait for the children to ask for help before intervening or offering help too early. When it comes to dressing, specifically, this means allowing them the time and space to remove and put on articles of clothing at their own pace.

The “Montessori Coat Flip” is one of our favorites! Lay the coat out so the hood/tag is at your child’s feet. Show them how to insert their arms into the arm holes and then stand and flip the coat over their head. Voila! The zipper or buttons can be trickier. With zippers, we help them to start it and children can finish. Here is the song we sing to accompany the “Coat Flip:”

“Tag by the toes,

Arms in the holes,

Over your head,

And on it goes!”

Socks are often more challenging than shoes for toddlers. To practice the motion of putting on socks, we have had bracelets on our work shelf.  Pulling those on and off wrists and ankles helps the practice! We use consistent language in the class and have them put thumbs in the socks, pull open, and pull on.  For shoes we teach "Open wide, foot inside!" to encourage opening of laces or velcro and then stretching the sides wide. Working with socks at home can also help their confidence and success in the classroom and as a hidden bonus, mastering socks gives them the fine motor skill to also master mittens!

We encourage autonomy in these practical life tasks because children feel a sense of accomplishment from completing these skills independently and this boosts their overall confidence. The light in their eyes when they master a zipper or can pull mittens on is worth it all! For us, it's important to focus on the positives. They may put their clothes on backwards or inside out, but we focus on all the progress they've made!

Chanukah comes early this year, beginning December 4th, so we are starting to introduce Chanukah crafts as well as songs and the story of the Maccabees. Community snack is going beautifully!  So far we have introduced spreading, peeling, slicing, and the use of both small and large tongs. 

Thank you to those families who have contributed and if you haven't had a chance to sign up, please reach out or find the link in our class WhatsApp. We look forward to seeing you all at the Chanukah walk through on December 9th!

Warmly,

Morahs Megan and Sarah

Toddler Peek at the Week 09.28.26

Hello, Toddler Families

As we make our way through the month of September, we want to share that a very important part of the toddler classroom and our practical life curriculum is…toilet training! Believe it or not, all your children are in some stage of toilet training. Whether they are getting a diaper change while another child uses the toilet, sitting on the toilet during a diaper change (it is offered every time!), or are successfully sitting on and using the toilet, they are all learning lots about the process every day.  

Here are some of the basics of Montessori toilet training which emphasize an appropriate environment, independence, self-directed learning, and respect for the child’s natural development.  

1. Observation: Montessori encourages parents and caregivers to observe the child's readiness for toilet training. Look for signs such as the child showing interest in the bathroom, staying dry for longer periods, especially after naps or waking in the morning or demonstrating physical readiness.

2. Child-Centric Approach: The Montessori method advocates for allowing the child to take the lead in the toilet training process. This means respecting the child's pace and avoiding pressure.

3. Environment: Create a child-friendly and accessible environment in the bathroom. This may include having a toddler-sized potty that the child can easily use independently. Another option is a potty seat that sits on top of the regular sized toilet. Don’t forget the stool so that your toddler can reach the toilet or sink!

4. Independence: Foster independence by allowing the child to be actively involved in the toilet training process. Provide opportunities for them to undress, use the potty, and dress themselves.  Toddlers love any opportunity to be independent.  Even though it takes a little extra time to let them do it themselves, it will pay off in the long run as they become completely proficient in no time!

5. Routine and Consistency: Establish a consistent routine for bathroom breaks. Consistency helps the child develop a sense of order and predictability in the toilet training process. We change diapers and have our toddlers sit on the toilet every 2-3 hours at school.  This gives them the opportunity to develop habits and to start to recognize when their diapers are wet/dirty and eventually when they need to use the toilet. 

6. Communication: Teach the child appropriate words and phrases related to using the toilet and their bodies. Encourage them to communicate their needs and feelings, fostering effective communication in the process.

7. Positive Reinforcement: Use positive reinforcement to acknowledge the child's efforts and successes. Praise and encouragement help build the child's confidence and create a positive association with using the toilet. Some parents choose to use small treats, stickers, or prizes to encourage the child’s progress. This can be an effective way to create excitement and more positivity around the process at home. 

8. Modeling: Children often learn by observing. Allow the child to witness and imitate bathroom behaviors by providing opportunities for them to accompany you or by using books and materials that illustrate the process. This is another benefit of your child being in a classroom setting, they can watch other children in many different stages of the process every day!

9. Patience and Understanding: Montessori toilet training emphasizes patience and understanding. Recognize that each child is unique and progress may vary. Avoid punishment or negative reinforcement and instead focus on supporting the child through the learning process. Also remember, regression sometimes happens. Respond to this by returning to more frequent trips to the toilet and with lots of praise and positivity. They will be back on track before you know it!

Remember that Montessori toilet training is a gradual and child-led process. Even though it can sometimes be frustrating for both children and parents, it can also be a great time to bond with each other. By creating a supportive and empowering environment, parents and caregivers can work together to help children develop independence and confidence in managing their toileting needs.  We are grateful to continue partnering with you on this and excited to answer any questions you have regarding the subject.  

We hope you all had a beautiful Rosh Hashanah, an easy fast for Yom Kippur, and are enjoying the beautiful holiday of Sukkot with this Autumn weather!

Kindly,

Morahs Megan and Sarah

Toddler Peek at the Week 09.08.26

Dear Toddler Families,

We are excited to invite your family to be part of the Practical Life experiences happening in our classroom this year!

🧺 The Community Food and Flower Basket

Periodically, your child will bring home our Community Food and Flower Basket. Inside, you will find our master list of foods, with specific items highlighted for your family to choose from that week.

Your family will simply choose from the requested items, shop for them, and return them to school along with the basket.

The goal is participation—not sending anything elaborate or expensive! Grocery store flowers, flowers from your garden, simple seasonal bouquets, and everyday food items are all perfect.

🗓️ Planning Ahead

To make planning easier, each family will receive a calendar with your designated Community Food and Flower Prep weeks for the entire school year.

This calendar is simply for planning purposes. During your assigned week, the specific foods or flowers your family will be asked to bring will be highlighted on the community food list sent home in the basket. (See below)

Thank you for partnering with us to create a beautiful, purposeful, and connected Montessori environment. Through these shared contributions, the children will have the opportunity to experience the joy of preparing, serving, caring, and contributing to their classroom community.

We are so grateful for your partnership and look forward to a wonderful year of meaningful work together!

Warmly,

Morahs Megan and Sarah P

🥝 Community Food List

All raw, uncut fruits and veggies are Kosher

Fruit 

• Blueberries

• Bananas

• Clementines

• Strawberries

• Kiwi

• Apples

Vegetables

• Cucumbers

• Peppers

• Carrots

• Zucchini

• Broccoli

• Cauliflower

• Celery

• Beans

The following foods must be labeled as Kosher with the appropriate symbols (see below)

Protein, Spreads, etc. 

• Raw tofu

• Hummus

• Nut butter

• Eggs

• Canned or frozen peas

• Canned or frozen Corn

• Tortilla chips

• Bagels from Marx Bagels

Breads, Crackers & Grains

• Crackers

• Pita bread

• Pita chips

• Almond butter pretzels

• Pretzels

• Pretzel thins/chips

• Challah rolls

• Cream cheese

• String cheese

Toddler Peek at the Week 08.31.26

Dear Toddler Families,

As we shared in our previous Peek, Practical Life will be an important part of our everyday classroom routine this year. Here are a few of the meaningful experiences the children will enjoy:

🌸 Flower Arranging

The children will regularly work with fresh flowers! They will practice carrying a vase, selecting flowers, arranging them, adding water, and choosing a special place for their arrangement in the classroom.

This simple but meaningful work helps children develop coordination, concentration, independence, and care for their environment.

🥕 Food Preparation

Toddlers love preparing real food! Throughout the year, we will incorporate simple food-preparation activities into our classroom routine.

Depending on the food, children may wash, peel, cut, scoop, mix, spread, or serve. These hands-on experiences build independence, coordination, concentration, and confidence—all while allowing children to contribute in a meaningful way.

🍎 Community Snack  - Community Food and Flower Basket

We will also make community snack an everyday part of our classroom. Rather than simply receiving a snack, the children will help prepare it, serve themselves and others, sit together, practice conversation and grace, and participate in caring for their community.

These everyday moments may seem simple, but they provide wonderful opportunities for children to develop important skills while experiencing the joy and responsibility of contributing to their classroom.

Warmly,

Morahs Megan and Sarah P

Toddler Peek at the Week 08.24.26

Dear Toddler Families,

One of the things we love most about Montessori is that children are given opportunities to do real, meaningful work. This year, we are excited to make Practical Life an even bigger part of our everyday classroom routine.

Practical Life activities give children opportunities to develop independence, concentration, coordination, confidence, and a sense of responsibility. Through meaningful experiences such as preparing food, arranging flowers, serving one another, and caring for their environment, children begin to see themselves as capable and important members of their classroom community.

These experiences are also a beautiful way to connect with the values we nurture in our Jewish Montessori environment—caring for others, showing gratitude, welcoming one another, and treating our shared space and materials with respect and care.

Over the next few weeks, we will share more about some of the Practical Life experiences your children will enjoy this year, as well as how families will have the opportunity to participate.

We are so excited to watch the children grow in independence and confidence as they take an active role in caring for themselves, one another, and their classroom community!

Warmly,

Morahs Megan and Sarah P

Toddler Peek at the Week 08.17.26

Hello and Welcome to the Beis families!  We are so excited to spend the year growing with your children. 

As we settle into the first few weeks of school, our focus is largely on helping the children become comfortable in the environment and our routines. We will encourage the development of independence in daily rituals, such as placing water bottles and lunch boxes on the shelves, tidying up one’s space after snack, changing from shoes to slippers and more. Empowering the children to take on some of these daily tasks builds a great sense of confidence for our little ones and provides a consistent routine that helps them transition into their school day. We, of course, will always be there to assist and support them as their skills, comfort, and confidence develop.  

We are thrilled to introduce the Morahs in the Beis Toddler room!

Morah Megan:
Hi, I’m Morah Megan! I was introduced to the Chai Tots community when my older son, Lennox, joined the Beis classroom for the 2022-2023 school year and immediately fell in love. I am a Social Worker by trade and spent most of my career working in inpatient psychiatry at CCHMC before staying home with Lennox and his younger brother Shiloh, as they were born around the height of the pandemic. I completed my Infant Toddler Montessori credentialing and am entering my fourth year as a Montessori Guide in the Beis Toddler room. I am so excited to watch your children grow and teach me all they know about the world!

Morah Sarah:
Hi! I'm Sarah and this is my 4th year as a toddler guide at Chai Tots. I am taking the Infant/ Toddler credentialing program through Hope Montessori Educational Institute this year. I am learning so much and am so excited to share what I learn and allow it to help me grow my practice as a Montessori guide!

Toddlers are my spirit animals, and I'm pretty positive that I learn as much from them as they do from me. I can't wait to see all the amazing things we will accomplish together this year.

We are so excited to watch the children grow in independence and confidence as they take an active role in caring for themselves, one another, and their classroom community!

Warmly,

Morahs Megan and Sarah P