What Moms Want To Know

Cold Lunches/Finger Foods For Toddlers

 My little boy attends a Mom's Day Out program a couple days a week and I have to prepare his lunch and send it with him.  He's not eating sandwiches yet, and his teachers do not heat the kids' food, so I have to find finger foods to send that are tasty when cold.  He doesn't quite have the spoon thing down just yet, so yogurt and applesauce are out of the question.  (He can use a spoon, I just don't think his teachers would appreciate having to hose him down after lunch everyday!)  Here are some of the things that I pack for him.

Black Bean andTomatoes (See simple recipe here.)
Ritz Cracker Sticks w/Hummus
Cheese 
Grapes (Quartered)
Bananas
Granola Bar (cut-up)
Granola/Cheerios with Raisins
Waffles or Pancakes (cut-up)
Meat Sticks
Fruit Cups
Cucumber (sliced and peeled)
Pasta Noodles
Goldfish Crackers

I would love to hear any suggestions anyone else may have.  I am always trying to figure out something new to have for lunch, cold or hot!

 

Should You Choose Montessori?

Part 1 of a series I am doing about the different types of pre-schools available.

The Montessori approach is truly one of discovery and hands-on-learning.  They believe that children learn by doing, not just watching.

A true Montessori pre-school allows the child to be in charge of their own learning.  Children play with items of their choosing at a time of their choosing.  There is a teacher, of course, but she is an observer more than an instructor.  The teacher is there to observe where the child is developmentally and to provide meaningful choices for the child.  For example, the teacher might notice that "Emily" is very tactile and enjoys touching and building with her hands.  The teacher would then be sure to provide various mediums to allow Emily to experiment with and touch.  She might provide clay, finger paints, and play sand for Emily to use.   She would not force these items on Emily, she would just provide them, so that Emily might see them and choose to use them.

Believers of the Montessori method believe that there are critical periods of development that childern progress through and these are optimal learning times. These periods include but are not limited to walking, talking, and reading.

Children are basically in charge of their learning in a Montessori environment.  It is believed that children will learn because they want to learn, not because a concept is being forced upon them.

Be careful!  The name "Montessori" is not trademarked, so there are "schools" out there that use the name that do not actually practice the true Montessori method at all.  As always, do your research!

Should You Send Your Child to Pre-School?

My friends and I have this discussion quite a bit: If you are staying at home full time, should you send your child to pre-school?  I know some people think absolutely not, others think of course you should, and others could care less.  I am one that doesn't really care whether someone else sends their child to pre-school or not.  I think it's a totally personal decision and one that can only be decided by the family affected.

That being said, I stay at home, and my son goes to pre-school a few days a week.  There is a church close by that offers a Mother's Morning Out program for 4 hours daily and he attends 3 days a week.  He seems to love it.  He raises his little hands over his head and smiles everyday when I pull up and tell him "We're at school!"  He has teachers that dote on him and buddies that he plays with.  I have a little time to myself.

Although I feel totally comfortable leaving him, we can afford it, my husband supports it, and my son enjoys it, I sometimes still feel guilty when I tell others that my twenty-month-old goes to pre-school while I stay at home.  I know that everything he learns there I could teach him at home. I know I could arrange play dates and he goes to the nursery at church on Sunday mornings, so he would get all the socialization he needed.  But, I still send him and I am under no illusions that he needs it or that is vital to his healthy development.  I send him mainly for me.  I am selfish that way.

I have finally admitted that I just do not have the temperament to stay with him 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  I need a break.  I need to be alone.  So I send him.  I admire people that are always with their children and never seem frazzled, but I, unfortunetely, am not one of them.  I am more patient with my son, kinder to my spouse, and more in touch with my friends when I have a break.  (And I have finally found the time to start a blog, *smile* which I have been wanting to do fo quite awhile.)     

Over the next couple of weeks, I will be writing a series on the different types of pre-schools and how to tell when your child is ready to attend.