4Real Forums: Help with 18mo old

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Nurturing the Years of Wonder
4Real Forums : Nurturing the Years of Wonder

Topic: Help with 18mo old

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mooreboyz
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Joined: March 16 2008
Location: Wisconsin
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Posts: 318

Posted: Sept 23 2008 at 7:23pm \| IP Logged

My 18 mo old is really challenging me all of a sudden. He isn't happy unless he is doing what the rest are. So, when my 4 yr old is working with beads, the little one is climbing up in the chair to do it too. And is bot allowed he screams and thrashes. I know this is a time when he starts needing his own "work", per Montessori, and I have done that. He enjoys his work, but wants what the 4 yr old is doing all the time. Any advise?

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Jackie
7 boys - 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 15, 17 years

happymama
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Joined: Feb 05 2007
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Posted: Sept 23 2008 at 7:42pm \| IP Logged

Boy, Jackie, I have been there! Actually I am there!

I definitely try to not let my kids SEE things if they aren't going to be permitted to touch them. All our Montessori work used to be in our classroom, and I'd use baby gates and doorknob devices to keep the little ones out. Eventually, they figure out how to climb over gates or push them down, and open the doorknobs anyway.

I recently moved all of our math, music, and geography materials to another room altogether, and we keep that door locked. I've also put all of our art supplies into a big tub, and we only get it out when the 23-mo-old is napping.

Good luck to you! It's a constantly changing battle.

Susana
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Joined: April 30 2008
Location: Illinois
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Posted: Oct 17 2008 at 12:54pm \| IP Logged

I have a shelf for our 2 year old with work that he can do. One thing I noticed that helps keep him concentrated on his work and not on doing what the big kids are doing is actually giving him a formal presentation. At 18 months or even 2 years it is difficult for them to always sit still when you are presenting because they just want to do it already, so I just keep it simple and short and always make sure to have only what I need and exactly what I need. After actually presenting to my son, I notice he is focused and intent on what he is doing. It's almost as if I am giving credibility to his work when I take the time to present it, rather than just saying, "Go choose some work off the shelf". I think he senses the importance of his work when I take the time to present it too, and that's important because they tend to take things more seriously that way. By the way, I've got a 6, 5, almost 3, 2, and 6 1/2 month old :) I hope this helped! Let us know how it's going!
-Susana
My blog:
http://www.montessoricandy.com

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