Montessori and Reggio Emilia activities that spark learning and imagination
With the busyness that can come with the winter holidays, you may not have time to plan activities for your children. We have provided some engaging ideas to try at home so you can make one less decision this time of year!
As you invite your children to participate in these activities, remember through the Montessori and Reggio Emilia approaches, focus on the process more than the end product. Your children experiencing these
Painting: Can You Make the Color Brown?
Prompt: Can you make the color brown? (representing leaves, turkey feathers, potatoes, forest animals, etc.)
Materials: Primary colored washable paints (red, yellow, blue), paper, paintbrushes, paper towels
Ages: All ages
Provide the 3 different colored paints and paintbrushes for your child and allow them to mix as much color together as they’d like. As the colors change, you can narrate and discover with them what colors are made when mixing red, yellow, and blue together. Eventually, all of that mixing will turn the paper brown. Not the prettiest art piece but it’s about the process, not the product! Ask your child what things are brown, what color they used the most, what would happen if there was no blue to mix in, etc.
Painting strengthens the following skills: fine motor, cause and effect, sensory, creative inquiry, pre writing, confidence, and visual/spatial awareness
Cooking a Holiday Meal
Prompt: Cooking a holiday meal
Ages: All ages
Invite your child to join you while making food that they enjoy eating. They can help pour, stir, add ingredients, and most importantly, taste test!
The youngest in the family can enjoy trying new textures and flavors while the oldest can beam with pride when telling the rest of the family they helped prepare the meal.
Cooking strengthens the following skills: fine motor, math, sensory perception, problem solving, science concepts, following directions, and more.
Wrapping Gifts
Prompt: Wrapping gifts
Materials: Wrapping paper, tape, kid safe scissors, objects to wrap, markers, ribbons, bows, tags, etc.
Be sure to choose objects that you don’t mind being covered in tape!
Ages: Toddler years and up but any age can observe, touch, and be involved!
Younger siblings can help unwrap.
Provide the materials listed above and either:
– Allow your child to wrap an object without directions to observe how they instinctively approach the task or
– Assist them in the step by step process of how to wrap a gift, showing them your tips and tricks!
Either way, they will gain knowledge of a new skill and feel proud of what they have accomplished.
Wrapping gifts strengthens the following skills: fine and gross motor, visual/spatial awareness, math, autonomy, step by step sequencing, and bilateral coordination
Plate Decorating
Prompt: Plate Decorating
Materials: Clear plastic plates, paint markers, paint sticks, permanent markers
No matter what you celebrate, family meals this time of year are a staple for most holidays. This is a fun way for children to create their own space at the table!
Ages: Toddler years and up
Provide children with the clear plastic plates and drawing materials. Be sure to supervise as the drawing materials are permanent. On the BACK of the clear plate, children can draw and decorate for the upcoming holiday. Drawing on the back of the plate will ensure the plate is safe to eat from while still providing a unique place setting for each child!
To extend this activity, cups and plasticware can be decorated as well, along with placemats and name cards for the whole family.
The kids table this year is bound to be the most creative yet!
Drawing strengthens the following skills: fine motor, visual/spatial awareness, creative expression, early writing, shape and pattern recognition, and early symbolic thinking
These life skills, and art based activities are just some of the experiences that our students at MKU take part in daily through Montessori and Reggio Emilia philosophies!
