Friday, March 15, 2024

Montessori-Inspired Red Panda Activities Using Free Printables

By Deb Chitwood from Living Montessori Now

Red pandas aren't related to giant pandas, but they're very cute ... and they're fun to study! They're also an endangered species. We're starting a red panda unit for preschool through early elementary.

Our red panda unit has Montessori-inspired activities using free red panda printables along with a new Montessori-inspired red panda 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 posts at PreK + K Sharing. 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 post with resource links of Free Printables for Montessori Homeschools and Preschools.

Montessori Shelves with Red Panda Themed Activities

Montessori Shelves with Red Panda Themed Activities

You’ll find Montessori-inspired red panda themed numbers, letters, and 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 Red Panda Printables and Montessori-Inspired Red Panda Activities post at Living Montessori Now for the free printables and activity ideas you see on the shelf and collage above!

Free Montessori-Inspired Red Panda Pack



Montessori-Inspired Red Panda Pack for DIY Cards and Counters, Number or Letter Matching, Number or Letter Basket, Bead Bar Work, Hands-on Math Operations, Number or Letter 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).

Related Resources and Activities

Amazon Affiliate:


Red Panda Toys on Amazon

Helpful Animal Classification Posts

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

Be sure to go to my Free Red Panda Printables and Montessori-Inspired Red Panda Activities post at Living Montessori Now for lots of free printables and activity ideas!
 
Have a wonderful spring!
 
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 48 years (and lives in the city where her kids, kids-in-law, and grandkids live). She blogs at Living Montessori Now.

Thursday, February 15, 2024

Montessori-Inspired Women in Science Activities Using Free Printables

By Deb Chitwood from Living Montessori Now

March is Women's History Month, and I'm sharing resources today for our new women in science unit! This unit has resources for preschool through elementary!

Our women in science unit has Montessori-inspired activities using free women in science printables along with a new Montessori-inspired women in science 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 posts at PreK + K Sharing. 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 post with resource links of Free Printables for Montessori Homeschools and Preschools.

Montessori Shelves with Women in Science Themed Activities

Montessori Shelves with Women in Science Themed Activities

You’ll find Montessori-inspired women in science themed numbers, letters, and 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 Women in Science Printables and Montessori-Inspired Activities post at Living Montessori Now for the free printables and activity ideas you see on the shelf and collage above!

Free Montessori-Inspired Women in Science Pack



Montessori-Inspired Women in Science Pack for DIY Cards and Counters, Number or Letter Matching, Number or Letter Basket, Bead Bar Work, Hands-on Math Operations, Number or Letter 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).

If you'd like ideas for calendar-based themes throughout February and March, see my February Themed Activities for Kids and March Themed Activities for Kids

Be sure to go to my Free Women in Science Printables and Montessori-Inspired Activities post at Living Montessori Now for lots of free printables and activity ideas!
 
Have a great Women's History Month!
 
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 48 years (and lives in the city where her kids, kids-in-law, and grandkids live). She blogs at Living Montessori Now.

Monday, January 15, 2024

Montessori-Inspired New Baby Activities Using Free Printables

By Deb Chitwood from Living Montessori Now

My daughter and son-in-law are expecting a new baby in March ... and their 5-year-old son is expecting a new sibling! So we are having lots of fun with a new baby unit, which is easily adaptable for home or classroom! 

Our new baby unit has Montessori-inspired activities using free new baby printables along with a Montessori-inspired new baby pack for subscribers to our free newsletter at LivingMontessoriNow.com!

You'll find many activities for preschoolers through first graders throughout the year in my previous posts at PreK + K Sharing. 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 post with resource links of Free Printables for Montessori Homeschools and Preschools.

Montessori Shelves with New Baby Themed Activities

Montessori Shelves with New Baby Activities

You’ll find Montessori-inspired new baby themed numbers, letters, and 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 New Baby Printables and Montessori-Inspired New Baby Activities post at Living Montessori Now for the free printables and activity ideas you see on the shelf and collage above!

Free Montessori-Inspired New Baby Pack


Montessori-Inspired New Baby Pack for DIY Cards and Counters, Number or Letter Matching, Number or Letter Basket, Bead Bar Work, Hands-on Math Operations, Number or Letter 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 New Baby Resources

Amazon Affiliate:

New Baby Books for Kids If you'd like ideas for calendar-based themes throughout January and February, see my January Themed Activities for Kids and February Themed Activities for Kids

Be sure to go to my Free New Baby Printables and Montessori-Inspired New Baby Activities post at Living Montessori Now for lots of free printables and activity ideas!

Have fun!

Deb Chitwood Deb 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 48 years (and lives in the city where her kids, kids-in-law, and grandkids live). She blogs at Living Montessori Now.

Sunday, January 14, 2024

When a Child Says, "I HATE YOU"


You've done so much for them, slaved for them and sacrificed for them, and then if you don't give them what they want, they get mad at you. It hardly seems fair, all the things we do for our kids and they don't appreciate it. Then we hear them say things like, "I hate you," or "I hate this house." We hear, "You're a mean mom," or "I'm mad at you!" It's common for kids to get mad at their parents but the solution is the hardest for parents to do... just let them be mad. Good parents learn quickly that they are not their child's friend; they are their parents. But if the parents aren't prepared to hear it and know how to respond, they get defensive or they get even. Worse, they give in to regain the love the child is withholding.

I was in the toy section of a department store one day, shopping for a gift for my grandson. A mom and her little boy were in the same aisle, and the little boy, about seven, was admiring a toy airplane. "Mom," he said, "I want this airplane." 

The woman replied, "No, sweetheart, you have toy airplanes all over your bedroom floor; I'm not going to buy you the plane." 

The boy quickly replied, "Mom! I want this airplane." 

Mom replied, "No, I said no airplane, I don't have any extra money." 

"But mom!!!! I want this airplane!: The volume and intensity of the boy's voice were increasing.

"Honey, your father is on a business trip, and he took all of our money; I'm not buying you the toy." The boy continued to demand that Mom buy him the plane and the woman continued offering different excuses.

"Your birthday is right around the corner and I'm sure your grandparents are going to buy you


a new airplane." With the intensity of a near scream, the boy demanded she buy him the airplane, and Mom quickly complied.

Children, especially young children, either love us or hate us; there is nothing in between. They get mad at us because in a moment of not getting their way or not having the emotional intelligence to know how to deal with frustration, they act out in a way that tells us they are mad at us and don't like us; it hurts our feelings. Often times our initial response to that hurt is to act out some sort of retaliation or, as in the case of the mom above, to give in to get them to like us again and not be mad.

Children getting mad at their parents is just emotion, and emotion is not right or wrong; it just is. The best response to your child getting mad is to just let them be mad. That means not reacting and not getting mad back. Conjure up your best listening skills and don't talk at first. Just stay physically close to them, get to eye level if you can, and hear them. If you do feel the need to speak, tell them what you see. Say to them, "It looks like you're mad at Mom," especially if they say, "I hate you!" If they agree, let them agree. Don't react and don't talk... just listen. Getting mad is energy and when the parent allows that energy to come out, the mad moment will evaporate.

When your child or teen is mad at you, don't get mad back, don't ignore them, and certainly don't try to make it all better. Your child needs to feel that emotion so that they will eventually learn to let it be and then move on. It's the beginning of the development of their emotional intelligence. We spend years teaching children reading, writing, and arithmetic but do very little in the area of emotional intelligence. The prisons are filled with adults who can read, write and add numbers just fine, but it was probably their inability to manage their emotions that got them there to begin with.


Bill Corbett is the author of the book LOVE, LIMITS & LESSONS: A PARENT'S GUIDE TO RAISING COOPERATIVE KIDS and host of the podcast:  CREATING COOPERATIVE KIDS (https://billcorbett.podbean.com/). He has a degree in clinical psychology and is the author of 8 books. In 2011, he developed and launched the Creating Cooperative Kids public access television show that aired on over 650 public access stations internationally. He has spoken at hundreds of behavior conferences and delivered the keynote at the Dutch Education Conference in Amsterdam, NL. Bill Corbett has three children, three stepchildren, five grandchildren and one great-grandson. He and his wife Elizabeth travel the US in their Tiffin motorhome.


Friday, December 15, 2023

Montessori-Inspired Ice Skating Activities Using Free Printables

By Deb Chitwood from Living Montessori Now

Winter is such a fun time for ice skating in all its forms! Our new ice skating unit has Montessori-inspired activities using free ice skating printables along with a new Montessori-inspired ice skating pack for newsletter subscribers at LivingMontessoriNow.com!

You'll find many activities for preschoolers through first graders throughout the year in my previous posts at PreK + K Sharing. 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 post with resource links of Free Printables for Montessori Homeschools and Preschools.

Montessori Shelves with Ice Skating Themed Activities

Montessori Shelves with Ice Skating Themed Activities

You’ll find Montessori-inspired ice skating themed numbers, letters, and 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 Ice Skating Printables and Montessori-Inspired Ice Skating Activities post at Living Montessori Now for the free printables and activity ideas you see on the shelf and collage above!

Free Montessori-Inspired Ice Skating Pack


Montessori-Inspired Ice Skating 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 Winter Sports Resources 

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

Be sure to go to my Free Ice Skating Printables and Montessori-Inspired Ice Skating Activities post at Living Montessori Now for lots of free printables and activity ideas!

Have fun!

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 48 years (and lives in the city where her kids, kids-in-law, and grandkids live). She blogs at Living Montessori Now. 

Wednesday, November 15, 2023

Montessori-Inspired Evergreen Tree Activities Using Free Printables

By Deb Chitwood from Living Montessori Now

This is the perfect time of year for an evergreen tree unit! You can either focus on evergreen trees in general or add Christmas trees to the unit. Our evergreen tree unit has Montessori-inspired activities using free evergreen tree printables along with a new Montessori-inspired evergreen tree pack for newsletter subscribers at LivingMontessoriNow.com!



You'll find many activities for preschoolers through first graders throughout the year in my previous posts at PreK + K Sharing. 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 post with resource links of Free Printables for Montessori Homeschools and Preschools. 

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

Montessori Shelves with Evergreen Tree Themed Activities

Montessori Shelves with Evergreen Tree Themed Activities

Go to my Free Evergreen Tree Printables and Montessori-Inspired Evergreen Tree Activities post at Living Montessori Now for the free printables and activity ideas you see on the shelf and collage above!

Free Montessori-Inspired Evergreen Tree Pack



Montessori-Inspired Evergreen Tree 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 Tree Resources

Tree Books for Kids 

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

Be sure to go to my Free Evergreen Tree Printables and Montessori-Inspired Evergreen Tree Activities post at Living Montessori Now for lots of free printables and activity ideas!

Have a great evergreen tree unit!

Deb 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 48 years (and lives in the city where her kids, kids-in-law, and grandkids live). She blogs at 
Living Montessori Now

Sunday, October 15, 2023

Montessori-Inspired Detective Activities Using Free Printables

By Deb Chitwood from Living Montessori Now

This month, we have a high-interest unit for pre-k through elementary! It's a detective unit with Montessori-inspired activities using free detective printables and a new Montessori-inspired detective pack for newsletter subscribers at LivingMontessoriNow.com!


You'll find many activities for preschoolers through first graders throughout the year in my previous posts at PreK + K Sharing. 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 post with resource links of Free Printables for Montessori Homeschools and Preschools.

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

Montessori Shelves with Detective-Themed Activities

Montessori Shelves with Detective-Themed Activities

You’ll find Montessori-inspired detective-themed numbers, letters, and 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 Detective Printables and Montessori-Inspired Detective Activities post at Living Montessori Now for the free printables and activity ideas you see on the shelf and collage above!

Free Montessori-Inspired Detective Pack





Montessori-Inspired Detective 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 Resources

Detective Books for Kids 


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

Be sure to go to my Free Detective Printables and Montessori-Inspired Detective Activities post at Living Montessori Now for lots of free printables and activity ideas!

Have fun!

DeDeb Chitwoodb 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 48 years (and lives in the city where her kids, kids-in-law, and grandkids live). She blogs at Living Montessori Now.

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