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KackyK
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| Posted: June 07 2007 at 3:38pm | IP Logged
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What do you all do with your Montessori materials when friends come over for playdates or other activities? Our workroom is in the sunroom off the kitchen and very very accessible to the famiy room where there are toys. My kids, in the past (I didn't do any Montessori this past year, but plan on reimplementing this upcoming year), always wanted to show some of the materials to their friends.
I don't know...I guess I will need to make a bigger better point to my dc that this is work and not play and others don't get to use them, because when that happened, nothing ended up where it should be.
But I didn't know if anyone had a better system or better words to use to explain the situation to the dc and/or words for me to use to our friends too 
Thanks for any advice!
KackyK
mom to dd (12), ds (10), ds (8), ds (6), ds (5) & dd (2)
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Meredith
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| Posted: June 07 2007 at 4:41pm | IP Logged
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Well, depending on the *friends* I would probably put away some items, and/or have everyone play OUTSIDE 
Sorry, that's not really helpful, but I do think it's important to restrict any *play* with the Montessori items and only refer to them as the children's work during school time, thus the materials are OFF LIMITS. 
Anyone else???
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Meredith
Mom of 4 Sweeties
Sweetness and Light
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Mackfam
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| Posted: June 07 2007 at 5:12pm | IP Logged
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I do talk to the kids before company comes over. We are pretty relaxed here when company is over, but I do make sure my kids know that the Montessori materials are not toys - we don't call them toys at all. I make it very clear that ALL learning room materials are generally off limits. I do make exceptions of course in certain situations, but as a general rule, Montessori is only for those who know how to use a mat!
I do remove fragile or special items from the shelf before company comes - no sense in providing too much temptation.
This is something I think we all struggle with to some degree or another, just a part of having beautiful things in our homes - they WILL be attractive to others. Remove as much temptation as is reasonable, and make sure your dc understand what the rules of the house are before company comes.
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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KackyK
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| Posted: June 07 2007 at 8:02pm | IP Logged
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Thanks for the reinforcement on "reinforcing" for my dc what the rules are...I think that unfortunately that becomes something I let slide too often.
I can remember a time I let someone come over and "play" with a tray and it definitely did "ruin" or at least change the meaning for my kiddos the next day.
I know consistency is the key, and the only way the kiddos will learn is from my consistency...something that takes effort for me and I need to remember to do ALL the time.
Good to know too I'm not the only one saying "No" though!
KackyK
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Erin
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| Posted: June 08 2007 at 3:12am | IP Logged
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Kacky
IMO I would have it as OFF LIMITS from sad experience  You may have some friends dc who are respectful of other people's belongings so they could be fine. But some children and your beautiful materials may not be a good mix. For this purpose when we rebuilt I intend on having a lockable cupboard. Then you and your friends can relax whilst the children play, outside. 
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Erin
Faith Filled Days
Seven Little Australians
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CathinCoffeland
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| Posted: June 08 2007 at 7:08pm | IP Logged
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this was a real problem with a few of dd's friends not respecting our rule about not playing with our learning shelves (except the one in a montessori school )
i took a bunch of foam boards (presentation ones from the office supply store) we had laying about and cut them to the size of the front of my shelves and covered them with felt.
then i screwed in strips of velcro to the sides of my shelves. the velcro wraps around the front to hold on the "doors"
a lot of the time the felt boards sit behind the shelves but always come out if a freind is coming or the kids are not using their materials appropriately or a baby is getting into them.
we have also used cardboard.
i am into cheap scrounging
maggie
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KackyK
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| Posted: June 08 2007 at 7:53pm | IP Logged
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Maggie thanks so much for that idea! It sounds perfect. I had tried to come up with something and velcro and felt weren't in my mind. They sound great. In the past, not with Montessori materials, but with other things I haven't wanted little ones to see, I've put our couch throw blankets over...but it doesn't look so great...and it really does scream out "there's something hidden here, don't look".
Great tip!
KackyK
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: June 08 2007 at 8:57pm | IP Logged
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Oooh! I LIKE the felt board idea. Now if we ever have kids come visit I will know what to do!LOL!
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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KackyK
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| Posted: June 08 2007 at 10:04pm | IP Logged
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And...treating it like a felt board...
I could save felt figures and such to be played with when the occasion arises that friends come to play. Then it doesn't feel like a whole room is useless and my dc, hopefully, would be excited to play with something that only comes out when friends come over too.
Sounds like another project on the do-to list...
KackyK
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4Real Forums : Nurturing the Years of Wonder
Topic: When friends come to play...
