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MarilynW
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| Posted: May 10 2007 at 8:01pm | IP Logged
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I have been reading my Michael Olaf catalogs and trying to prepare an environment for our new little one. We have a fairly small house - definitely no luxury of separate bedroom or exploring room or learning room for an infant/toddler. I would be interested in knowing how you have set up in smaller houses. The baby will be sleeping in our bedroom for a while - I have a cosleeper. I am planning on getting a First Shelf look alike for our learning room - to put all the infant/toddler books and activities on. I will just have baskets with things in my bedroom. I can put a basket of infant things in a corner of our living room - though we are pushed for space.
Any other ideas would be appreciated.
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Marilyn
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Bridget
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| Posted: May 11 2007 at 7:47am | IP Logged
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I use tote bags to hold like objects. They are easy to pull out and put away. We have hooks up and down the inside of a closet for them.
It's more Montessori to have everything out and available, but it just doesn't work in small, multi purpose living spaces.
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: May 11 2007 at 8:42am | IP Logged
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I suggest a basket of things to use at the high chair. Also handy is a low cabinet or drawer in the kitchen, with child-safe bowls, utensils, etc that a crawler can access.
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Theresa
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Maryan
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| Posted: May 11 2007 at 10:17am | IP Logged
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I second what Theresa does -- and my lower cupboard has one of those built-in pull-out shelves (that you can screw in) that makes things even easier for him. I also have a mini table and chairs in the kitchen for him.
Also we keep a few pull-out type things under our couch.
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Maryan
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Meredith
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| Posted: May 11 2007 at 4:37pm | IP Logged
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Marilyn, I love the Michael Olaf catalogs, especially the Birth to Three. Makes me wish I was having another little teeny person coming soon  but I digress...
One thing that I feel is truly important in the very earliest stages is the emphasis on the prepared enviornment and it's "lack of things". In other words, a beautiful mobile over the changing table or floor bed. One wooden rattle that might have some sensory feature to it. A mirror down at baby's level when they are able to be on their tummy, etc.
I really like the ideas suggested above about the tote bags and baskets, as they can be easily tucked away when need be.
How fun to explore a new set up. Let us know what you decide and praying for a healthy pregnancy and delivery this summer 
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Katie
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| Posted: May 17 2007 at 7:14am | IP Logged
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Well this is less for the little ones - I agree that less is more for the babies and toddlers. I have a low shelf and I change out the baskets and pictures when I think of it, or I ask my dd 5 to do it - she really likes setting things up for her little sister.
I wanted to add my space saving idea fpor the older kids, though. I find that things in cupboards don't get used and shelf space is at a premium, so on the various shelves (geography, science etc) I have suggestion boxes for activities or books to read or something to research. They might be doing the botany puzzles then see the card suggesting they plant a bean in a jar and watch the roots and stem emerge. Or there might be a reminder on another shelf about the Egyptian pyramid blocks. You get the idea.
Have fun setting up for the little one.
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Mackfam
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| Posted: May 17 2007 at 7:36am | IP Logged
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Katie wrote:
I find that things in cupboards don't get used and shelf space is at a premium, so on the various shelves (geography, science etc) I have suggestion boxes for activities or books to read or something to research. They might be doing the botany puzzles then see the card suggesting they plant a bean in a jar and watch the roots and stem emerge. Or there might be a reminder on another shelf about the Egyptian pyramid blocks. You get the idea.
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This is an awesome idea. I have been trying to figure out how to make the best use of the books and manipulatives I already have! I'm so inspired by this idea!
How do you decide what makes it onto a card, and how do you organize the subject matter on the cards? Do you just write a card as you are studying that particular subject? It seems like this cataloging process might be good to start over the summer - just get some basics, or maybe the subjects I know I'm going to cover next year, then add to it as we go. Is that what you did??
Thanks so much for sharing this great idea!
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MichelleW
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| Posted: May 17 2007 at 9:35am | IP Logged
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Katie,
How do they see the cards? Are they posted and then rotated or are they filed in a box? I am afraid my kids might be daunted by having to look through a card catalogue type system, but I love the idea in principle. I'll have to think on this...
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Michelle
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Meredith
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| Posted: May 17 2007 at 9:51am | IP Logged
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This isn't totally a *Montessori* idea, but I wrote about what we do occasionally to liven things up a bit in our school. Maybe you can glean some ideas for more Montessori based activites and adapt to your kids ages, etc!! HTH!
Grab Bag Day!
Blessings!
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: May 17 2007 at 11:28am | IP Logged
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We did Meredith's grab bag idea and it was a BIG hit here. Perhaps to adapt this to daily use you could have a spot on a shelf with a basket filled with slips of paper (or cards) with fun ideas written on them. That way they know they can pull out an idea any time! These could be fun, simple things that they can do independantly, like the bean sprout idea, playing with magnets, make a sock puppet, etc.
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Theresa
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Katie
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| Posted: May 17 2007 at 3:02pm | IP Logged
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Regarding the cards, I don't have a really good system. I try and have a few cards per area eg botany, zoology, history, geography, etc. I place a small number of laminated cards on the shelf in a little box or basket. Sometimes I get a bee in my bonnet and get lots of ideas and change them all around, sometimes we get something new and as I place it in the cupboard I make a card. Sometimes I make cards that actually stand up in an attempt to nudge the kids in a certain direction, especially if I'm trying to cover a certain topic. It's a bit haphazard but it does help us all from forgetting things. And if I hear the dreaded "I'm bored" I can suggest they look for ideas on a card of activities or something.
I suggest that if you think it might work for you, don't get hung up on the perfect system, just write out a couple of cards, or print some off, and see what happens.
HTH!
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4Real Forums : Nurturing the Years of Wonder
Topic: Montessori in small spaces
