Finding new ways for our children to become smarter, more independent, and more engaged self-learners is something that most parents do. In a world where there is too much information, and in which new knowledge is extremely accessible, it becomes both easier and harder to keep up with our children’s learning pace, and to keep them engaged while developing new skills and abilities.
That being said, there are several approaches to education that show us there is another way to do things. The Vigotskyan education philosophy establishes, for example, that education isn’t more than just an ongoing process of social interaction. But, is there a real social interaction in a world where screens play the leading role? We can open this debate!
Another educational methodology, proposed by Dr. Maria Montessori, is an educational approach that emphasizes the importance of the child’s autonomy. It looks at children as beings who are naturally ambitious for knowledge and capable of initiating learning by themselves, if in a supportive and well-prepared learning environment.
Taking that into consideration, we are going to share with you three Montessori activities for kids of all ages, that will strengthen their connection to the world around them, and that will bond their processes of socialization. Even if we deeply believe that screens can be used to nurture our kids with 21st-century skills, these unplugged Montessori activities for children are a must.
Are you ready? Let’s discover these Montessori activities you can do at home, with your children!
DIY Montessori activities for children
A few months ago we shared with you another three Montessori activities that were presented as activities to do at home, to boost your kids’ skills and abilities. Many people wrote to us asking for a new set of activities of this style, and we decided to listen to them.
In the next few paragraphs, you are going to find simple but amazing activities that will make your kids eager to learn, and that will make your heart pump faster when seeing how well they interact with the world around them, through these activities.
Here we go…
An exploratory box
How many times have you seen your kids looking at seashells at the beach with lots of attention and patience? When our kids look at something that is new for them, or even when they look at something known but from a different perspective, they are simply amazed.
The invitation here is to create an exploratory box, fill it with sand, and add different kinds of elements to it. You can add seashells, rocks, and even a spinning top. But that isn’t all! Give your kids a magnifying glass to explore and discover all the items you’ve hidden inside the box.
You can even ask them to draw the details of the seashell after they’ve seen it through the magnifying glass. Cool, right?
Just in case you didn’t know, activities like this one, that focus on the value of self-discovery can improve mental health. Why? Because it enables your children to gain a deeper understanding of themselves, while discovering something new. These kinds of Montessori activities will make your kids feel more confident and reduce their stress levels.
Gardening. Yes, gardening!
According to many recent research projects, being in contact with nature can help us and our kids in a number of different ways. Gardening and being in touch with Mother Earth can help kids reduce their stress levels, reduce their anger and fatigue, increase their happiness levels, and even reduce their symptoms of depression.
All of this can happen if we spend only a few hours a week in direct contact with nature. Simple and cheap, don’t you think?
For the Montessori educational approach, the area of practical life is very important. In almost every Montessori school around the world, kids have their very own mini orchard, in which they grow their own plants, fruits and vegetables.
Also, looking at the process of life itself is amazing. The first step is planting a seed and you know where it goes from there. Through an activity like this one, your kids can understand the value of care, respect, persistence and dedication.
Even if you don’t have a big backyard, you can always create a little space for your kids to garden. Yes, even indoors. So, what do you think? Maybe the salad you’ll eat a few weeks from now will include some arugula and tomatoes your kid harvested.
Addition and subtraction with real-life objects
For some children, math can be a real nightmare! Sometimes, this is because it is hard for them to take something so intangible into a real-life situation. Therefore, in Montessori education math is taught with objects and didactic materials that help kids understand big, complex instructions in a simple way.
If your kids are struggling with addition, subtraction, multiplication or division, try using real-life objects they love. If, for example, you have the typical math problem that includes apples and pears, bring some real apples and pears and explain it to them.
If they need to learn fractions, for example, you can even cut that apple into a certain amount of pieces to explain math in a simple, fun and accessible way.
In case they are young and don’t know how to count well, create a board with numbers and ask them to bring the number of real objects the board says. That way, they can feel like they are touching math, instead of struggling with comprehending something they’ve never seen before.
What do you say? A fun way to learn, right?
Let your kids tell their stories. YouTube can strengthen their self-expression and self-esteem!
If your kids enjoy these activities, why don’t they inspire other kids who, just like them, might be about to discover the new wheel? Well, YouTube is here for that, and your kids can now learn how to create their very own videos in a fun and engaging way.
In the live online courses offered by Tekkie Uni, your children can not only learn how to program, but also how to create engaging videos from scratch. Doing something like this will strengthen their self-expression and, of course, their self-esteem levels.
Do you want your kid to receive all the 21st-century skills needed to succeed in tomorrow’s world? Check out the live online courses for children offered by Tekkie Uni.
