You are currently browsing the monthly Archive for March, 2009.
I’m hearing you, Newfoundland and Labrador Tourist Commission. Clearly your province and territory is worth a visit. Someday I hope to make it your way as yours is the only province and territory in Canada that I haven’t visited.
Looking at the videos promoting this region, I’m reminded of my childhood in Ireland (and similar trips to the back country of Scotland, England and Wales). If you have children in your life and you’re looking for a memorable adventure, nothing compares to the opportunity to get out into the rugged outdoors, don an Aaron sweater and run like the wind – rain or shine.
Clearly Newfoundland and Labrador is a place for the child in all of us.
On your journey through life, make sure your biography has at least one extraordinary chapter.
In a world oddly bent on conformity, there’s something strangely encouraging about a place that’s anything but.
The traveler sees what he sees. The tourist sees what he has come to see.
Where is this place exactly? It’s about as far from Disney Land as you can possibly get.
Around every corner – around every turn – you are reminded that around here not every work of art hangs on a wall.
You’ve seen them in magazines – maybe even at Ikea. Perhaps a friend has taken the plunge. Let’s face it, your mediocre art collection could be starting to get you down now that you’re no longer 24. If you’re looking for a fast way to apply a pop of colour and design to some blank walls in your Preschool, Kindergarten or home, consider using wall decals. (Also referred to as wall stickers, wall tattoos or vinyl wall art.)
Here are some options if you’re looking for temporary solutions to decorate a child’s room or playroom. Most of these wall decals are not reusable once removed; however, some are.
Surface Collective - a Vancouver based firm – call their work wall tattoos. Their unique collection includes some children’s designs.
If you’re looking for some designs inspired by nature, check out the offerings at mydigitalprints.ca
Dalidecals has a wide range of colour options that can be applied to cut-out/silhouettes. (A note about getting a 10% discount from Dalidecals.)
For some colourful, bold patterns check out Wallnutz.com’s collection.
For the nature lover who likes floral and nature inspired decals (some of which are repositionable) check out the British collection at Allposters.co.uk
Ferm living is a Danish company whose decals have a clea, woodblock print feel and colours that pop. They also have a children’s collection.
A search for decals on Etsy.com will reveal a wide selection of decals offered at a wide range of prices.
An appealing option for a child’s room is a custom made decal available from Figgy Wink (on Etsy.com)
Dvider.com offers “a mix of hip and playful vinyl wall decals designed for the young, or simply the young at heart. Baby your baby and stick em in the nursery, the playroom, the children’s bedroom…”
If you’re looking for unique, cutting edge, clean and simple lines, check out domestic.fr – a French company. (To progress to the next design company click on a name above the images.)
How to make your own decals
How to apply decals. This is a useful video if you’re ready to take on the “I hope this won’t be a sticky nightmare” wall decal challenge.
More Design for Children
Not long after uploading a post about graphic design for children, I find a portion of a website that is literally dedicated to design for children. Yum yum. I love it. It must have been the funky, groovy design elements I was exposed to as a child in the 70s. I don’t know. But I have a keen eye for and appreciation of good quality design for children’s products. In particular I am very interested to learn about innovative designs for educational settings.
Good design is also about function. Troll through this site to find useful information about new products such as the amazing Lullabub crib rocker.
There are many math resources available online and in bookstores. So where do you start when you want to learn more about fresh approaches to providing mathematics support to a student?
A quick search on You Tube, for example, will yield all kinds of math topics. Watching a video is a fresh way to review basic math principles. You can also search by topic.
A recently launched series of articles about why math matters (published in the Vancouver Sun) is a good place to start when considering mathematics and how students and parents can approach the topic.
Dr. Gupta (the author of most of the articles) suggests the following:
Websites
Math.com
Coolmath.com
Mathplayground.com
Games
Set (online version)
Set Daily Puzzle
Set Card Game
Sudoku
Minesweeper
Lemmings
Books
The Colossal Book of Mathematics
The Colossal Book of Short Puzzles and Problems
Great Book of Math Puzzles
Further to Dr. Gupta’s suggestions, if you’re interested in how math is taught in Singapore, you can order these books online.
If you struggled with mathematics in school, the hardest challenge will be to face math with a fresh attitude. Enthusiastic support from math lovers such as Dr. Gupta is always a good support.
Information about articles attitudes towards mathematics
Ken Ken (A new numerical math puzzle from Japan)
Girlstart.com (Girlstart is a non-profit organization created to empower girls to excel in math, science, and technology.)
Math Book Helps Girls Embrace Their Inner Mathematician
Math Doesn’t Suck: How to Survive Middle-School Math and not Break a Nail
Image source“The importance of a child’s infant and toddler years cannot be overstated, for this is when the development of the personality occurs. Today, care of young children is increasing provided by people other than parents. These infants and toddler specialists need to be aware, knowledgeable, and qualified so that children will develop the skills, strengths, and support systems they need to create the foundations of the adults they will become; and the kind of world they create tomorrow.” – Virginia Vargus, CMTE NY, AMS Master Teacher Trainer
If you live in Vancouver, British Columbia, and you’re interested to work in a daycare for children from birth to three years old, you will want to know about the Montessori Infant Toddler’s training course being offered by the AMI Training Centre in British Columbia. For one time only (or at least in the foreseeable future), this course will be offered from 2009 to 2010.
The centre’s brochure provides more information about this exciting programme.
I have had a chance to visit three infants centres in Japan. (See reference to the Takane nursery under NAMTA DVD/Videos.) They are beautiful places and offer inspiration to professionals currently working in non-Montessori daycare centres. There is still much to learn and much information to share in relation to the early years!
A Mother’s Perspective
Information about the Montessori Infant Toddler programme and ideas about the birth to three years can be hard to access. A writer on a Montessori topic blog has provided her observations about this programme based on her training and experience raising her own children.
Commentary on Chapter 11 of Dr. Sylvana Montanaro’s book “Understanding the Human Being”
The Stage 2 Child (one to four months)
The Stage 3 Montessori Environment (The first few months and how a home environment is set up based on Montessori principles.)
The Stage 4 Child (Age eight to 12 months) Further notes re stage 4
The Stage 5 Child (12 to 18 months) and further notes and more notes
The Stage 6 Child (18 to 24 months)
The 2 to 3 Year old Child
*****
Other Resources
*Infant Toddler Training
If you cannot attend a longer, full-time programme, consider the North American Montessori Centre’s distance education programme.
* Creating a Montessori Home Environment
The Prepared Montessori Environment
Simple Montessori material for the infant toddler
Simple Montessori material – part 2
Simple Montessori material – part 3
Age Appropriate Toys (Birth to three years)
Montessori Floor Bed and More notes
Montessori Hanging Toys (From Pink House at Etsy)
More Montessori results from Etsy (some of which may inspire you to make your own items)
The famous Michael Olaf catalogue: Montessori for birth to three: The Joyful Child (includes numerous articles about the zero to three years (PDF versions).
* DVDs/Videos from NAMTA (See description below)*
In a Montessori Home: A Parent’s Guide to Preparing the Home for Children Birth to Three
Three families introduce how the Montessori philosophy is in practice in their home. The DVD covers the preparation of the home from birth to three years and describes the four main areas to be prepared in a home: sleeping, dressing, eating, and playing. As you meet Alexis (4 months), you learn how her parents have prepared her home to maximize movement opportunities and create interest at her level. Ian (7 months) is home with his father, where he is beginning to eat solid food and seeks out the different areas of the house prepared with his exploration in mind. Oliver (15 months) and his older brother, Edison (3 years), introduce you to their shared room and how they participate in family life. Learn how these families have embraced Montessori principles in their daily lives and see practical ways to incorporate these same principles into your life. (2008; 17 minutes).
A companion book by AMI Assistant to Infancy Sarah Moudry (full color, 36 pages, 11 x 8.5 inches) is also available.
| Montessori Under ThreeAn introduction to the Montessori infant program chronicles early infancy, the parent-infant class, and scenes of the infant-toddler community. (1987; 24 minutes) |
|
 Edison’s Day
“Help me to do it by myself!” Every event in the day offers 20-month-old Edison an opportunity to live naturally, to discover the everyday tasks and activities of life in the home. Getting up in the morning, eating breakfast, going to school, having friends over, going out in nature, helping around the house, preparing dinner-Edison blossoms with his myriad of joyfully accepted responsibilities. The message is gentle; the accomplished level of what Edison can do is understated and unthreatening to parents who are thinking about children participating in the home for the first time. (2006; 29 minutes) |
Japanese children are depicted in prepared environments demonstrating the fullest potential of infant-toddler communities. This video makes an excellent parent education film as well as a
* Other Videos*
Bringing Out the Brilliance In Your Infant – Home Tools
“In the Beginning: The First Years of Montessori” is an American Montessori Society program for parents. The full programme is available from www.edvid.com.
* Weblogs
My Montessori House blog (covering Montessori at home and the Infant Toddler to Primary years).
Montessori Mama (Montessori education information from a Montessori teacher and Mom.)
* Helping the Developing World the Montessori Way
Montessori Around the World (Montessori programs around the world serving children in need with available resources)
* Books *
Montessori from the Start: The Child at Home from Birth to Age Three
From sleeping to eating, personal care to playing, this book helps with suggestions on how to implement Montessori in the home from the start.
How to Raise An Amazing Child the Montessori Way
Practical ways to incorporate Montessori methods in the home.
Link to complete content of “The Montessori Method” by Maria Montessori
Awakening Your Toddler’s Love of Learning
Infant Toddler Books available from the Montessori Foundation
Today I happened upon the Presidiacreative.com website where I found a number graphic design images that would appeal to children. (Click on the image sources to see larger versions of the artwork.)
The website itself is a great source for information about art and graphic design.
