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Monday, January 16, 2023

Helping Children to Transition Between Activities


I'm the author of the book LOVE, LIMITS & LESSONS: A PARENT'S GUIDE TO RAISING COOPERATIVE KIDS and I've been working with parents and teachers for a long time. How would you like to have some easy-to-implement tools in your parenting or teacher toolbox to help you gain your child's cooperation when you're in a rush or need to suddenly change gears? That's what you're about to learn in this episode of the COOPERATIVE KIDS PODCAST.

As a parent educator and behavior specialist, I spent over 25 years talking to parents about the things that frustrated them most about their kids. And it was easy for me to agree with them, having 3 children of my own who drove me absolutely crazy. The fact is that children don't naturally transition well, and parents need some strategies for helping them to do this. In this episode of the podcast, I'm speaking to a group of parents and teachers who invited me to offer advice on creating cooperative kids. Here are some solutions to helping children and teens to transition easier.

THE COOPERATIVE KIDS PODCAST

@cooperativekids
To summarize quickly, 3 techniques for helping children to transition between activities is to
provide as much advance notice as you can, have them help you set up rules before a segment begins, and use visual timers to help them see the passing of time. My favorite device can be found at www.timetimer.com. One last bonus tip is to create some motivation for a child to stop an activity and to want to follow your lead to the next. One day I couldn't get my son to stop an activity in the playroom and to put his shoes and get in the car. I suddenly had somewhere I had to go and I needed his full cooperation. I could have pulled the toy out of his hands and picked him up kicking and screaming and put him in the car, but no effective parent ever wants to do that. So in that moment, we needed to drive to a relatives home. I thought to myself, "what does my son really like about going to that home," and I remembered that he loves playing with his cousin. So getting to my son's eye level, I said in a very excited voice, "Hey buddy, we're going to your uncle's house and I bet Timmy is waiting right at the door for you to show up and play with him!" Instantly, he dropped the toy he was playing with, ran to get his shoes and coat on and off he ran to get into the car. What motivating factor can you come up with the next time you need your child to transition suddenly.

Thanks again for listening and please consider subscribing to the Cooperative Kids Podcast. All information in the podcast is the property of Bill Corbett and Cooperative Kids. Copyright 2023. All rights reserved. 

Sunday, January 15, 2023

Montessori-Inspired Germ Activities Using Free Printables

By Deb Chitwood from Living Montessori Now

I have some helpful, free printables and activities for parents, teachers, and caregivers. Our new unit is a germ (and hygiene) unit! You'll also find a brand new germ 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 Germ-Themed Activities

Montessori Shelves with Germ-Themed Activities

You’ll find Montessori-inspired germ-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 Germ Printables and Montessori-Inspired Germ Activities post at Living Montessori Now for the free printables and activity ideas you see on the shelf and collage above!

Free Montessori-Inspired Germ Pack



Montessori-Inspired Germ 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 Hygiene and Medical Worker Printables and Activities

Montessori-Inspired General Anatomy Activities

If you'd like ideas for calendar-based themes throughout January and February, see my January-Themed Activities for Kids and Feburary-Themed Activities for Kid
Be sure to go to my Free Germ Printables and Montessori-Inspired Germ Activities post at Living Montessori Now for lots of free printables and activity ideas!
 
I hope you have a happy, healthy 2023 :) 

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