Monday, January 19, 2026

Montessori-Inspired Horse Activities Using Free Printables

By Deb Chitwood from Living Montessori Now

In honor of Year of the Horse, we're having a horse unit ... but it's designed for any year! Our new unit has Montessori-inspired activities using free horse printables along with a new Montessori-inspired horse pack for subscribers to our free newsletter at Living Montessori Now! 

You'll find many activities for preschoolers through early elementary throughout the year in my previous PreK + K Sharing posts. You'll also find ideas for using free printables to create activity trays here: How to Use Printables to Create Montessori-Inspired Activities. 

At Living Montessori Now, I have a page with lots and lots of free printables.

Disclosure: This post contains some affiliate links (at no cost to you).

Montessori Shelves with Horse-Themed Activities

Montessori Shelves with Horse-Themed Activities

You’ll find Montessori-inspired horse-themed numbers, letters, and more (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my newsletter to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber) 
 
Go to my Free Horse Printables and Montessori-Inspired Horse Activities at Living Montessori Now for the free printables and activity ideas you see on the shelf and collage above!

Free Montessori-Inspired Horse Pack



Montessori-Inspired Horse Pack for DIY Cards and Counters, Number or Letter Matching, Number or Letter Basket, Bead Bar Work, Hands-on Math Operations, Number or Letter Salt/Sand Writing Tray, Letter Tracing, DIY Movable Alphabet, and Creative Writing (subscriber freebie, so just sign up for my newsletter to get the link and password – or check your inbox if you’re already a subscriber).  

More (Non-Human) Mammal Resources and Activities

Mammal Toys on Amazon

Helpful Animal Classification Posts

If you’d like ideas for calendar-based themes throughout January and February, see my January Themed Activities for Kids and my February Themed Activities for Kids.

Be sure to go to my Free Horse Printables and Montessori-Inspired Horse Activities for lots of free printables and activity ideas.
 
I hope you have a happy Year of the Horse!
  Deb - Signature
Deb ChitwoodDeb Chitwood is a certified Montessori teacher with a master’s degree in Early Childhood Studies from Sheffield Hallam University in Sheffield, England. Deb taught in Montessori schools in Iowa and Arizona before becoming owner/director/teacher of her own Montessori school in South Dakota. Later, she homeschooled her two children through high school. Deb is now a Montessori writer who lives in San Diego with her husband of 50 years (and lives in the city where her kids, kids-in-law, and grandkids live).
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Friday, December 19, 2025

Montessori-Inspired Beluga Whale Activities Using Free Printables

By Deb Chitwood from Living Montessori Now

Beluga whales are so cute ... and perfect for a winter theme! Our new unit has Montessori-inspired activities using free beluga whale printables along with a new Montessori-inspired beluga whale pack for subscribers to our free newsletter at Living Montessori Now! 

You'll find many activities for preschoolers through early elementary throughout the year in my previous PreK + K Sharing posts. You'll also find ideas for using free printables to create activity trays here: How to Use Printables to Create Montessori-Inspired Activities. 

At Living Montessori Now, I have a page with lots and lots of free printables.

Disclosure: This post contains some affiliate links (at no cost to you).

Montessori Shelves with Beluga Whale Themed Activities

Montessori Shelves with Beluga Whale Themed Activities

You’ll find Montessori-inspired beluga whale themed numbers, letters, and more (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber) 
 
Go to my Free Beluga Whale Printables and Montessori-Inspired Activities at Living Montessori Now for the free printables and activity ideas you see on the shelf and collage above!

Free Montessori-Inspired Beluga Whale Pack



Montessori-Inspired Beluga Whale Pack for DIY Cards and Counters, Number or Letter Matching, Number or Letter Basket, Bead Bar Work, Hands-on Math Operations, Number or Letter Salt/Sand Writing Tray, Letter Tracing, DIY Movable Alphabet, and Creative Writing (subscriber freebie, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password – or check your inbox if you’re already a subscriber).

More Arctic Animal Resources and Activities

Arctic Science

More Ocean Resources and Activities

Ocean Science

More (Non-Human) Mammal Resources and Activities

Mammal Toys on Amazon

Helpful Animal Classification Posts

 If you’d like ideas for calendar-based themes throughout December and January, see my December Themed Activities for Kids. and my January Themed Activities for Kids.

Be sure to go to my Free Beluga Whale Printables and Montessori-Inspired Activities for lots of free printables and activity ideas.
 
I hope you have a wonderful winter!
  Deb - Signature
Deb ChitwoodDeb Chitwood is a certified Montessori teacher with a master’s degree in Early Childhood Studies from Sheffield Hallam University in Sheffield, England. Deb taught in Montessori schools in Iowa and Arizona before becoming owner/director/teacher of her own Montessori school in South Dakota. Later, she homeschooled her two children through high school. Deb is now a Montessori writer who lives in San Diego with her husband of 50 years (and lives in the city where her kids, kids-in-law, and grandkids live).
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Wednesday, November 19, 2025

Montessori-Inspired Reindeer Activities Using Free Printables

By Deb Chitwood from Living Montessori Now

A reindeer theme is so much fun in December ... whether or not you want to focus on Santa's reindeer. Our new unit has Montessori-inspired activities using free reindeer printables along with a new Montessori-inspired reindeer pack for subscribers to our free newsletter at Living Montessori Now! 

You'll find many activities for preschoolers through early elementary throughout the year in my previous PreK + K Sharing posts. You'll also find ideas for using free printables to create activity trays here: How to Use Printables to Create Montessori-Inspired Activities. 

At Living Montessori Now, I have a page with lots and lots of free printables.

Disclosure: This post contains some affiliate links (at no cost to you).

Montessori Shelves with Reindeer-Themed Activities

Montessori Shelves with Reindeer-Themed Activities

You’ll find Montessori-inspired reindeer-themed numbers, letters, and more (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber) 
 
Go to my Free Reindeer Printables and Montessori-Inspired Reindeer Activities at Living Montessori Now for the free printables and activity ideas you see on the shelf and collage above!

Free Montessori-Inspired Reindeer Pack


Montessori-Inspired Reindeer Pack for DIY Cards and Counters, Number or Letter Matching, Number or Letter Basket, Bead Bar Work, Hands-on Math Operations, Number or Letter Salt/Sand Writing Tray, Letter Tracing, DIY Movable Alphabet, and Creative Writing (subscriber freebie, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password – or check your inbox if you’re already a subscriber).

More Advent and Christmas Resources

You can find many reindeer books here: Reindeer Books for Kids (including books as they’re published) Advent

Christmas If you'd like ideas for calendar-based themes throughout November and December, see my November Themed Activities for Kids. and my December Themed Activities for Kids.

Be sure to go to my Free Reindeer Printables and Montessori-Inspired Reindeer Activities for lots of free printables and activity ideas.
 
I hope you have a wonderful holiday season!
  Deb - Signature
Deb ChitwoodDeb Chitwood is a certified Montessori teacher with a master’s degree in Early Childhood Studies from Sheffield Hallam University in Sheffield, England. Deb taught in Montessori schools in Iowa and Arizona before becoming owner/director/teacher of her own Montessori school in South Dakota. Later, she homeschooled her two children through high school. Deb is now a Montessori writer who lives in San Diego with her husband of 50 years (and lives in the city where her kids, kids-in-law, and grandkids live).
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Monday, November 3, 2025

Teaching Gratitude at Christmas: A Gift that Lasts Beyond the Season

The book Christmas Gratitude Journal for Kids

Because I once taught parenting classes in Montessori classrooms in New England, I know you strive to teach children to explore with their hands, hearts, and minds, to notice, reflect, and find joy in meaningful moments. Christmas offers the perfect opportunity to extend that philosophy beyond the classroom and into the realm of gratitude.

Why Gratitude Matters

Gratitude helps children recognize abundance, not in things, but in relationships, experiences, and acts of kindness. When children pause to reflect on what they’re thankful for, a warm home, a caring friend, a teacher’s encouragement, they begin to see life through a lens of appreciation rather than expectation.

This mindset builds emotional resilience, empathy, and self-awareness, qualities that Montessori educators strive to nurture daily. Gratitude teaches children that joy isn’t something we wait to receive; it’s something we practice.

Christmas as a Season of Reflection

Amid the excitement of lights, presents, and parties, children benefit from gentle, daily moments of reflection. A short gratitude practice before lunch, circle time, or at the end of the day helps them slow down and connect with the deeper meaning of the season, love, kindness, and community.

One simple practice you can try in the classroom:

Have each child share one thing that made them smile today, one thing that made them think, and one act of kindness they noticed. This not only builds verbal expression but also cultivates emotional vocabulary and awareness.

A Simple Tool to Guide the Journey

To help families and classrooms bring this practice to life, I created the Christmas Gratitude Journal for Kids, a 25-day guided journey of reflection, creativity, and kindness. What it is NOT is an empty journal with the same thing on every two pages like many other low-content journals. In this journal is a 2-page section each day which includes writing prompts, coloring activities, and small “kindness missions” that help children celebrate what truly matters during the holidays. You will also find four pages in the beginning with clear instructions, along with a parent/teacher guide at the end and a certificate of completion.

It’s designed for ages 7–12 and works beautifully in Montessori environments that value reflection, independence, and emotional intelligence.

You can find it now on Amazon by CLICKING HERE.

But I want to give away 5 copies FREE of charge and I will pay the shipping. Everyone who leaves a reply to this post that you want to be considered will go into a drawing for one of 5 copies of my new journal.

Let’s make this Christmas not just merry, but mindful. When we teach children to give thanks, we give them a skill that lasts a lifetime.

Read more »
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Wednesday, October 22, 2025

How to Use Your Magical Hand to Get Kids to Pick Up Their Toys (and Other Things)

The outstretched hand is the technique for lovingly guiding children back to something they agree to do
 

AKA: The Secret Loving Hand Technique

Every parent knows the pain of stepping on a Lego at two in the morning — that sharp, unforgettable reminder that the kids didn’t clean up again. We’ve all been there, asking (or begging) our children to put their toys away, only to find the same mess waiting later.

But what if there were a calmer, more loving way to teach kids responsibility — one that doesn’t involve nagging, yelling, or power struggles?

Over the years, I discovered one of the most effective and heart-centered methods I’ve ever used. I call it the Loving Hand Technique, and it’s all about connection, agreement, and gentle follow-through.

(If you'd rather listen to the podcast version of this blog post, CLICK THIS LINK now. Or watch the Youtube video version by CLICKING HERE.)

1. The Two Types of Toys (and Why It Matters)

When it comes to toy clutter, not all toys are created equal. I like to think of them as two types:

Big, Bulky Toys

These are the stuffed animals, guitars, and books — the kind of things that can easily be tossed into a toy box or kept neatly in a playroom.
If your toy box is overflowing, don’t just buy a bigger one. Instead, rotate or donate some of the toys.

Create a fun nightly routine to make cleanup part of the day — I like to call it a “pick-up party.” Before bed, everyone joins in, music playing, and together you get everything off the floor. It doesn’t really matter who picks up what — what matters is that it gets done, together.

Chaos Toys

These are the sets with a hundred tiny pieces — Legos, doll accessories, or building kits. They’re the toys that can turn your floor into a minefield, and they’re the hardest for kids to manage.

Here’s the key: these toys should not be freely available all the time. Instead, keep them in a closet or on a high shelf, and have your child ask for permission before taking one down.

2. Setting Clear Rules for Chaos Toys
A child playing with a pile of legos

When your child asks to play with a set, take it down yourself and use the moment to set expectations.

Say something like:

“Okay, before we play, let’s talk about the rules for this toy set. What do we do when we’re done playing?”

Coach them into saying:

“I have to pick up all the pieces when I’m finished.”

Then smile and affirm:

“That’s exactly right, honey! I love that you know how to take care of your toys.”

Once they’ve agreed, let them play freely. When they finish — and forget to clean up (which they will!) — that’s your moment to step in with calm guidance.

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3. The Loving Hand Technique

This is where the magic happens.

When your child walks away from a mess, don’t say a word. Instead, quietly find them, gently place your hand on the middle of their back, and guide them back to where the toys are scattered.

No lectures.
No frustration.
Just calm, silent direction.

Look at them with warmth, guide them to the toys, and walk away.

The silence speaks louder than any words.

If They Resist

If your child pulls away or refuses, stay quiet. Simply pick up the toys yourself and put them away indefinitely.

Later, if they ask to play again, calmly explain:

“I was disappointed last time because the toys weren’t picked up. That set is in time-out for now.”

Let natural consequences do the teaching.

If They Have a Meltdown

Sometimes, they’ll see the mess and collapse in frustration. That’s okay. Let the meltdown happen, stay calm, and walk away. You’re teaching self-regulation by modeling it.

If they start to pick up and then walk away halfway through, quietly finish the task yourself and put the set away for a while.

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If They Ask for Help

If they say, “Mom, will you help me?” — go for it! Working together builds teamwork and makes the task feel less overwhelming.
When you’re done, thank them for helping:

“Thanks for being my cleanup partner — that was great teamwork!”

Girl handing up her backpack after school

4. Using It Beyond Toys

Once you’ve mastered this approach with toys, you can apply it to almost any daily task:

  • Hanging up backpacks after school

  • Putting shoes in the closet

  • Bringing dishes to the sink

  • Clearing homework off the table

Start by making a clear, loving agreement:

“Hey buddy, we have a new rule for your backpack. What is it?”
“It goes on the hook when I get home!”

Then, the first time they forget, don’t talk — simply guide them back with your hand on their back and point to the backpack.

5. Why the Back?

The middle of the back is a neutral, calming place. You’re not grabbing their arm or pulling them along — you’re gently guiding them with love.

And yes, they’ll probably protest at first! My kids used to say:

“Dad! Don’t touch me! Just tell me what you want me to do!”

But over time, they began to understand what that gentle touch meant: a reminder to follow through on what they’d already agreed to do.

Agreement → Follow-through → Loving Hand → No Talking.
That’s the cycle.

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6. The Moment It Came Full Circle
Boy guiding his dad down the hallway

One day, my son used my own technique on me — and I’ll never forget it.

I was packing for a conference and had walked out of my bedroom, forgetting to turn off the light. My preteen son noticed the light on and decided to “parent” me.

He found me in the living room, leaned in with that familiar look, and gently placed his hand on my back. Without a word, he guided me back to my room, pointed to the light switch, and walked away with a triumphant grin.

I burst out laughing — and felt so proud.

He had learned the lesson so deeply that he used it on me, and in that moment, I realized something powerful: our kids imitate the parenting we model.

7. The Gift That Keeps Giving

Today, my children are grown with families of their own — and I see them using the same gentle guidance with their kids.

There’s no better reward than watching positive parenting ripple through generations.

When we lead with love, patience, and consistency, our children don’t just follow directions — they carry those lessons forward, creating calmer, more respectful homes of their own.


Final Thought

The Loving Hand Technique isn’t just about toys or chores. It’s about teaching follow-through, respect, and connection — all without a single harsh word.

Try it this week. Stay silent, stay loving, and use that gentle hand on the back.


You’ll be amazed at how much more cooperation — and peace — shows up in your home. Everything I wrote in this post is absolutely true! As I stated, the best gift is watching your kids immitate you at first, then develop these skills into their adulthood.

Below is a free link to the handout I created you can downoad with all the details and more, to help you adjust and begin the process of using the loving hand to get your kids to do what you need them to do. Go to this link: https://payhip.com/b/jlhY7 to download it for FREE.

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