Donate Toys with your Child for the New Year

5 Steps to Declutter and Donate with Your Child For The New Year

After the holidays your probably feeling overwhelmed with the amount of toys your child has added to the pile. Its time to start the new year fresh and clear out those unused toys for the new year. The end of the year always brings a wave of energy and the mindset of letting go by shedding things we no longer need around us. It’s a window to get in the spirit giving! Why not include your child in the spirit of giving too? If your not ready to do a big clean up that’s ok. This post is for you!

You can instill the value of helping others in your child heart at an early age. How? By allowing your child to be apart of decluttering some toys they no longer care for. Its a great way include them into decluttering, practice detachment and giving all at the same time.

Here are 5 simple ways to take action now without making any major changes in your child’s play area.

1. Plan: Pick a location, child or family you would like to donate toys too. Make any prior arrangements to drop off the donations shortly after declutter to avoid having the pile of donation laying around the home or sitting in the car for weeks. Then, block out a least one hour to declutter with your child.

2. Prepare: Grab one large sturdy bag, bin or box.

3. Talk about it: Sit with your child in front of the toys with out any distractions (meaning no screen time during this conversation). Talk about letting go of a couple toys to donate to some children who would appreciate them.

4. Take action: Allow your child to pick a couple toys to put in the bag, bin or box you choose. Its important they are apart of the detaching process. Be patient with your child, even only a few things end up in the pile, at least you are practicing the act of giving little by little.

5. Let go: Make a trip with your little one to drop off the donations. This where the feeling of joy kicks in! A sense of relief will come through you and your child’s heart will be filled with doing a good deed.

Simple Ways to Create a Montessori-Inspired Peace Corner at Home

Many families use the time out chair or some small spot in the house to send thier child to when they are "misbehaving". During those tuff moments it helps to have a space for children to go to relax and think about their actions, but sometimes the time out chair isn't the most effective for all children. Some children can benefit from having a personal environment with tools to help them relax and calm down. That's why there's a peace corner!

Why create a peace corner for my child at home? 

When children seem sad, tired, upset or definat in a Montessori classroom they are often redirretced to the peace corner. The intention is to have a space where children can have a place to help calm themselves down. You can create a Montessori-inspired peace corner like this at home. 

Like adults, children also need inviting space to regroup at times. A peace corner provides not only a comfortable spot to play in but it also becomes a great source for redirecting during challenging moments too. The purpose of the “peace corner” is to support peace within ourselves and others by using materials that represent and encourage positive behaviors, mindfulness and self-reflection.

You may also use it has a space for your child to cool off and redirect him/herself independently. Then you can calmly approach your child after you have reflected on how to take this challenging moment and turn into a learning one. Sending your child to this space also gives you the time to calm down by walking away from them to think about realistic consequences you will set follow through with. Through that consistent practice, this space will support building a deeper collaborative relationship with your little one.

How to Create a Peace Corner

Find a Spot

First, find a place in your home you know would be ideal for your child to safely access anytime. It doesn't have to be a corner in the home necessarily, the key is that it must be a calm area your child can really have some personal space. If you already have a "library or book nook" for you hild at home you can easliy intergreat the peace corner within that same space. Consider decluttering in and around the space you choose. Natural lighting and simplicity are two components that help create an inviting nook your child will really enjoy and use.

Consider  

Anything you use in this space should be looked at with some type of positive purpose for your child. Age, personal interest and level of development should be considered when choosing materials for this space. If you have multi-age children at home it is key to consider each child's personal interest too. 

Gather

1. Small Mirror
2. Images of Emotions 
3. Peaceful/ Happy/Family Images 
4. Manipulative Toys/Objects
5. Sensorial Object
6. Books Related to Purpose 
7. Timer
8. Pillows
9. Carpet 

You can find one of a kind nick-nacks, objects and even pictures like these in second hand stores, local shops or online boutiques. Read the purpose of items listed below so you have an understanding of what to look out for before you gather items. 

• Small Mirror: A mirror is a great way to for your child to gain self-awareness by noticing his facial expressions during different moods (happy, sad, angry).
• Images of Emotions: Images help the child distinguish what words to use when expressing their feelings. Ex: I feel “happy” when we play together. 
• Peaceful/ Happy/ Family Images: Pictures help communicate what peace looks like around the world and at home. You can find art works of landscapes, pictures of influential people and even your own family pictures of happy moments. 
• Manipulative's: Simple objects your child can play with in the peace corner will not only promote concentration and relaxation but inspire creativity.
• Sensorial Object: Any safe and pleasant items your child can smell, hear or feel to support sensory stimulation.
• Books: Books related to the purpose of the space will also help your child calm down and can become a great tool to use as a conversations starter after a heated moment. 
• Timer: Any timer will do the trick! Sand timers make a meditative tool to look at as the time goes by. Having a timer in this corner also becomes helpful during those tuff moments you need to give your child a time limited time to calm down.
• Pillows & Carpet: You want this space to feel comfortable and cozy. Other wise the space will feel stiff and uninviting. 

Keep in Mind

Use your creativity when creating this space for your child. Remember you can rotate the items to avoid cluttering and to keep your child interested in the simplistic space. 

May peace be with you! :)

Teaching Communication Skills

@@Practicing communication skills is an important aspect in the child's mental and spiritual growth@@. Children absorb their parents interactions with others, collect words they hear daily and later use to communicate and express themselves. Frustrating moments can be the most challenging time to encourage your child to practice communication skills in a clam manner. But the challenge becomes more within ourselves to stay focus during trying times and guide your child to practice communicating in a calm mindful way in his early years. 

Below are two techniques you can apply to encourage your child to practice communication skills everyday.

1. Show Me

 “Showing vs telling” approach tends to be a powerful tool many educators use and has proven to effectively work for parents too. "Showing" is like presenting a visual guide of expectations they can practice immediately while setting clear expectations they can imitate. "Telling" them what to do sometimes comes with to many words and the child can become easily distracted or unclear about whats he is expected to do instead. Although language is an important aspect when redirecting, role modeling allows opportunity to make teachable moments.  

Example: Megan likes to pet her dog but is consistently ruff when she does.

         Instead of telling her:

               "Megan leave the dog alone!"

                Try showing how to gently pet the dog:

               "This is how you pet the dog."         

Speaking clearly and concisely to the child will help him understand how to communicate his needs and emotions effectively vs winning, hitting or crying. 

2. Encourage Use of Words

Providing simple words he can use to communicate his needs while he gains language development.

Example: Ben and Michael are playing together in the playroom. Suddenly Ben takes away a block from Michael's hands. Michael becomes frustrated and begins to cry and while trying to take it back from Ben.

 Encourage use of words by: Providing Michael with the words to communicate his frustration to Ben.

“Michael it seems like your frustrated because Ben took the  block from you. Tell Ben its my turn, give it back please.”

Allowing the child to speak up for themselves it gives opportunity to gain self confidence by encouraging the use of words.

Tips to help you apply these techniques:

• Come down to their eye level to communicate to your child.
• Try to practice calming techniques like breathing before redirecting your child. Then show him to take a deep breath before confronting the situation in a mindful manner. 
• Remember to always provide a couple words he can repeat, that will help them communicate his needs. Using to many words will confuse your child and discourage the use of words. 
• Practice communicating to your spouse and others in a clam and respectable manner. Be an active role model! 

Here a resourceful link to learn more about experts have to say on language development: https://childdevelopmentinfo.com/child-development/language_development/

New Year New Room

This is my sons bedroom/play space. His room has an eclectic feel with mid-century pieces. Every detail and pieces of furniture have a story, which creates a warm and personal unique little space. He has been building Legos since he was 4 years old and is currently adding more to the collection. His deep interest in Legos lead us to display his work on a bookshelf so he can continue to be inspired to play with his creations at any time. He's also a very active and competitive little character that spends a lot of time playing basketball and football outside of school. Since he's always on the go he has a large basket with different balls and other outdoor toys he plays with daily.  

I have spent over 5 years in a Montessori classroom and I am still fascinated by what children are capable of doing on their own when the environment is set up for them to succeed in. My first year my son and I were in the same classroom (that was interesting) and I got to witness another side of him I didn't get to see at home. I was amazed that he was cleaning up after himself with ease and not at home. So I decided to try and imitate some basic deign techniques we use to create a child size Montessori environment in his bedroom. I wanted him to have the same opportunity at home, so I began designing his bedroom with his interest and needs in mind. 

My vision was to create a simplistic space where he can find his belongings easily and put them away independently just like he could in his classroom. Now he has a beautiful, simplistic and unique bedroom/play space that not only meets his interest but it also supports his creativity and independence.