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ammatoday

Vaishali BK
Ready for my tip for the perfect shelf? Here you Ready for my tip for the perfect shelf? Here you go.. It does not exist, because it is always dynamic. We prepare the child's environment (note- I did not limit myself to the shelf) with a lot of care, and as Montessori said, it is a way of showing love. We consider the child's sensitive periods, play schemas, interests and developmental needs to set them up for independence. But obviously it does not end there. We watch the child and observe how they play with it, what they navigate towards, how long they focus, how much joy the engagement gives them.. And then, we tweak. For example, recently, V2 gained thirst awareness and started enjoying water, but used to get frustrated waiting for one of us to hand it over. I'm so used to V being super independent( she not just handles her own water needs, but also fills water for all the bottles as and when they get empty) that this realization did not come naturally to me. We set up a small water station for her, with a sipper, cup with water and a small tumbler, and it is beautiful to watch her success and joy of Independence spill over to other areas. Or you may notice that wonderful toy you bought because it looked so good on Instagram just does not entice your child yet. Or that the blocks box has too many pieces and overwhelms the child. We add, remove or modify changes to environment based on this observation. And do we stop there? Nope. Our child grows and changes everyday, and so do our observations. P. s. : We discuss all this and more at the Shelf and Beyond workshop. Due to popular demand, bringing a Shelf and Beyond version 2.0 this June. Registration links open on Friday, 18th June. . . #ammatoday #ammatoday_montessori
Positive interactions fill our bucket. Negative in Positive interactions fill our bucket. Negative interactions dip into our buckets. But what about toxic people who insist on dipping into our buckets? 1. Take stock of what dips into your bucket It could be emotional dependence, invalidation, rude behaviour, etc. Eg: I find acquaintances who offer unsolicited advice in a disrespectful manner, toxic. 2. Understanding Although infuriating, understanding where the person is coming from, balances me. Eg: The person's emotional bucket is empty, and that is why they insist on dipping into mine. 3. Use your lid Just because you empathize, doesn't mean you allow disregard of your emotional health. All buckets come with a lid which act as shields. Use them as boundaries to prevent others from dipping. Set a boundary - either physical or verbal. Eg: I do not take any calls during the day when I'm already preoccupied. Or a verbal boundary as "I appreciate your concern, but I cannot engage in this conversation now. Let's talk something else instead. " 4. Make it a habit Every time you find yourself feeling drained after a conversation with someone, re evaluate why. I usually visualize a bucket and a dipper taking away from it. This allows me to pause and pinpoint exactly what triggered me, and use a lid the next time. Sometimes even if a boundary is difficult, visualizing the lid reminds me that we hold the key to our mental health, and gives me some control. 5. The sure shot way to keep our bucket full We cannot control how different people behave on different days basis their own triggers and moods. But you know the fool proof way to fill our buckets? Using our dippers to keep filling others'. Remember when we fill our own buckets a little when we fill others'? Tiny acts of kindness (while using our lids wherever necessary) goes a long way in contributing to our own mental wellbeing. Be it a smile, a hug, eye contact when someone talks, a small compliment, leaving a note or a thankyou note, every conscious tiny act helps you keep your bucket full. Tell me in comments, what is the behaviour that depletes you most. What is one way we can put a lid on it?
Here are some ways to make the Zoom preschool expe Here are some ways to make the Zoom preschool experience work. 1. Prepare the child ✏️Whether the child has had previous experience with school of any form or not, it helps to prepare them. Talk to the child about the changes (in an objective way) & communicate clear expectations. Eg - you get to meet your friends & talk to them. But you will have to wait for your turn to speak on Zoom. ✏️Empower your child with the tools needed for self-regulation during class. ✏️Use books like The Dot or The koala who could to look at new experiences with an open mind. 2. Prepare the environment ✏️Have a designated space for class if possible, to support the child's need for order. ✏️Minimize clutter and distractions and have all materials needed nearby. 3. The experience ✏️Have safety rules in place in case you aren't seated in the same room as the child. For example locking other apps, basic mute and unmute button checks, etc. ✏️I personally see the value in movement for the child during class. Her teachers do a few movement based activities during class sas well. Since V is close to 5, we do not bring all her writing materials to the main desk. She brings pencils when the teacher asks, incorporating movement organically. We sometimes keep a sensory toy out when when feels particularly fidgety. ✏️Set a daily rhythm incorporating online class as anchors through the day. 4. Prepare yourself ✏️Talk to the child after class to understand pain points. ✏️You are not expected to be the child's teacher. There are trained professionals for this. What your child learns is not your load to carry. Give yourself grace. ✏️Your child is probably the first generation to learn through a completely new model and medium. They are adapting in the best way possible. Give them plenty of patience. ✏️Lastly, remember your child's teacher was trained for a different model, and is still stepping up to something very new. They are upgrading their skills, bravely opening up a portion of their home and teaching, for scrutiny; managing documentation and doing their best. Give them the respect and empathy they deserve. #ammatoday
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