McDonald's

When the media tells us that advertising for young children can influence their behaviors and actions, I now can personally attest. We are driving home and we pass a large billboard on the highway for the McDonald's that is 20 miles north. What does Izzy yell from the back seat, "Pizza!" Now I know McDonald's doesn't sell pizza, but at 20 months she has figured out that what they have is what she wants and it is probably like pizza. Pizza to her could also mean pasta. Her two favorite foods. So now every time we drive pass this sign and she yells, "Pizza". I yell back, "No, McDonald's". Again I reiterate, how does a young child who cannot read, know that that sign that only states McDonald's, the classic arches, and where it is located, know that is what she wants?

Montessori in the Home

I have been fascinated with the ideas of Montessori education since before Isabella was born. We have begun to rethink how we interact in the environment with her and how our house is set up for her. Paul finished a stool for her in the bathroom so she can reach the sink to wash her hands. She has her own hook for her towel when she is done. Her eating utensils are set low in a drawer, but I think within the next week they will be put into her cupboard, arranged for her to access easily and with as little mess as possible (she already gets her own bowl, plate, cup, top, spoon, and fork when prompted independently). I am going to begin to teach her how to fold a napkin and set the table. She already clears her plate. For Christmas I am going to buy her some beautiful pitchers to pour her milk and water from (she already does this daily at school). By summer, I would like to set up a wash station for her to begin to wash her own dishes. (I saw a parent on a website turn over a large plastic storage container, put down some towels and have a two water tubs). Around Christmas we will turn her bed into a toddler bed. She asks to go to bed and usually falls right to sleep so we think she is ready for this. Starting tomorrow we will have no tv. Yes, we are escaping the holds of television. We have had channels 2-13 for almost a year now and have found anything that we truly want to see can either be seen on the internet or on Netflix. Plus, the cable company was going to charge us $40 a month for this. We are not home that long during the day so what the heck. We increased our Netflix to 4 movies at a time and bought some new Christmas music, so we are going to see if we can do it.


Going back to my Montessori kick. I was wondering if anyone out there has some of the following items that they don't need anymore and may just be sitting around your house. I plan to set up one "job" at home per day and maybe two or three on the weekends and will rotate them. If you have one of these items, maybe the next time I see you, you could pass it on.

1. A round paint pallet (the kind you use to mix acrylic paints. Usually has 10 or 12 holes to put paint into). We are going to use it to put colored gems into.
   
2. Round colored gems (usually used to put in vases to simulate water). Used to put into the paint pallet.
   
3. A clear glass salt shaker (almost looks like a Parmesan cheese shaker). Used to practice putting toothpicks into.
   
4. Golf tees. Will use to hammer or push into clay.
   
5. A plastic Parmesan cheese container (the kind with a lid that you get at the grocery store). Used to shake out lentils from.
6. Straws. Used to put into a water bottle.
7. Various containers with tops (could be from peanut butter something like that). Used to practice screwing and unscrewing.
8. Sand paper (various courses). Paul is going to put together some Rough and Smooth boards to practice textures and will eventually lead to sandpaper letters and numbers.
9. Buttons (various). Used to practice sorting colors, sizes, transferred between containers, etc.

Daddy's Little Me

Paul walked by me today and tickled my hair (I was sitting on the ground near Izzy) and he proceeded to the kitchen. Izzy got up and tickled my hair, just like Daddy. I quietly told Paul and he came back around the island to give me a kiss and walked back. Izzy came over and gave me the same kiss. He then walked back over to tap my hands. What does Izzy do, but the same thing. She gets it! She knows exactly what we are doing at all times, even when we think she is not watching.


Which takes me to another point. She is an astute observer. She may not share a lot of words when others are around, but she is watching like a hawk and picking things up. Now get her in the car and she is not quiet the entire 40 minute drive home.


Which leads me to again another point. We love living in Plumas Lake. We have an opportunity every single day to share with her something new especially on our rides home. Recently we have seen tractors and combines out in the fields, the walnut trucks bring in the harvest, crop dusting planes, horses, sheep, goats, pigs, ostrich, wild turkeys, a leaf storm while driving through downtown Sacramento, the geese are migrating back to our area, trains and RTs, helicopters, airplanes, the large trucks moving dirt to widen our highway, create overpasses, and improve our levees, and lastly the KCRA 3 (a local television station) water fountain in front of their building. Izzy is so much fun to be around because everything is new.