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Activities & Games
Educational games and activities are a powerful way to support young children’s development while keeping learning fun and engaging. From interactive apps and hands-on puzzles to music, movement, and simple science experiments, these experiences help build essential skills such as problem-solving, language development, coordination, and social interaction. Whether indoors or outdoors, structured or play-based, educational games encourage curiosity and active participation. By balancing screen ti
Sensorial Materials - The amazing Montessori Sensorial "HANDS ON" learning materials
Dr. Maria Montessori established that sensorial experiences begin right when a child is born. Children use their senses in order to study their environment. By participating in sensory activities, children can consciously obtain clear information that helps them classify their surroundings. These classifications serve as stepping stones to organized intelligence, which gives children the ability to adapt to their environment. Montessori sensorial materials are materials used
Apr 23, 20202 min read
Left Handed Children
By Julia Gorham Did you know that about 10 percent of the population prefer their left hands? And that genetics plays a large role? Did you know that left-handed children are generally right-brain dominant, they are often more creative, emotional and think holistically? Scientist Clyde Francks, isolated a gene called LRRTM1 that contributes to left-handedness. This means that it can be inherited and is predominantly from the father’s side. Here are some facts on left handed p
Sep 20, 20182 min read
Sorting Buttons
Written by Julia Gorham What a fun activity to do at home with your child. This game gives your child experience in dividing objects into sets which a good experience for mathematics. What you need; Small containers or small dishes A set of different sized buttons in size and colour A larger bowl to place the mixed buttons A small tray To do: Show your child how to feel the buttons and sort them by size and colour into the different bowls and dishes until they have been used
Aug 30, 20181 min read
Practice Makes Perfect
By Julia Gorham “Repetition is the secret of perfection” Maria Montessori Remember the saying “Practice Makes Perfect?” In our Montessori environment, the Montessori learning materials are designed to support learning through repetition. Repetition is a characteristic of a child’s “‘sensitive period” where a child learns a new skill with the greatest of ease. The Montessori materials, which are multi-sensory learning tools, teach children how to problem solve and self-cor
Apr 13, 20181 min read
Encouraging self-expression with free painting for young children.
“This is an essence of oneself” Written By Julia Gorham What our children love best at the Fields Montessori Playgroup and Pre-School is being presented with large sheets of paper, bowls of colourful paint and paintbrushes, where they are free to paint. This assists each child to communicate their emotions or feelings. They are able to express themselves without the use of words, growing their emotional development.. Through free painting, young children will be able repr
Apr 13, 20181 min read
Music and Movement
“Movement through music means active listening, whereby a child adds to their understanding of their feelings about the sounds that they hear in their environment “ (Crencec, et al) When young learners hear music playing, their bodies feel the music and they start to move accordingly. As movement and music are important ingredients in the child’s world, music without movement will not have the same impact on the child’s learning process. When children sing, they also discover
Feb 4, 20181 min read
Pass the Parcel
by Julia Gorham An absolute must party game and best traditional game for your children to enjoy to music with a hidden present for the child who unwraps the last layer of wrapping!! You will need: A small gift (a nice idea when you are doing this with a group is a bottle of bubbles to blow: because it is something they can all enjoy afterwards) Wrapping paper or newspaper Sticky tape Music to play To do: Wrap a small gift with many layers of wrapping paper Gather the childr
Oct 4, 20171 min read
Singing with Your Toddler
By Julia Gorham Assist your toddler to learn new songs by adding motions to accompany your toddler’s favourite, simple songs. Use short, familiar melodies and keep it rhythmic to hold your child’s attention – making it easier for them learn! Foster body awareness by selecting songs that involve body parts such as “Hokey, Pokey”, “Head, shoulders, knees and toes”, “This is the way we brush our teeth ….. early in the morning”. Choose songs that have repeated words, phrases and
Oct 4, 20172 min read
Tree Rubbings
By Julia Gorham Tree rubbings are a great way to explore the garden or a park with your child, allowing them to experience the patterns of different textures from trees. The Fields Montessori children loved this nature activity. You will need: Pieces of white paper Different coloured, long thick crayons, with crayon paper removed Large trees To do: Take your child into your garden or for a special outing to the park Place a piece of paper over the bark of the tree Ask your
Sep 24, 20171 min read
The value of playing games with your children
Playing games with your children is always great fun, but the important reason is that it involves your child’s participation with family, building lasting and memorable relationships. All children are eager to participate in games which attract their attention; they will learn to wait their turns, count, match and learn the rules of the game. Games also encourage problem solving and memory skills. Games are excellent for assisting children to develop intellectually and devel
Sep 12, 20171 min read
Floating and Sinking Game
This is a fun educational game and science experiment which combines the sensory fun of water play with observation of the objects tested. You will need: A large bowl, plastic container, or sink filled with cold water. Different objects that sink and float e.g. cork, sponge, stone, small plastic objects, metal spoon, paper clip, key, stick, wooden objects, etc. A small container to place your sink and float objects A plastic mat Or to laminate an A 4 cardboard, draw a line
Aug 25, 20171 min read
Listening to Music with your Child
Whether your children sing along with a popular song or your child asks you to turn up a popular song on the car radio, children love music. Here are some helpful tips on creating an appropriate musical library for your child. Not Just for Listening Before you pick the songs, keep in mind that your child benefits from doing more than just listening. To get the full benefits of music, children need to sing, clap and dance along with the tunes. Singing and moving to music tel
Aug 8, 20176 min read
Fun Kids Magnetic Experiment: Kissing Fish
This is a fun science experiment to do with children to show them a magnetic experiment using two fish. You will need: 1 sheet of card Outline of 2 fishes Scissors 2 pins Tape Magnet Water Plate To do: Cut out two fish shapes Rub each pin with a magnet about 30 times Rub towards the nose of one fish towards the tail of the other Fill a plate with water and float the fish on top Attach the pins lengthwise along one side of each fish with a small piece of tape Watch how the f
May 21, 20171 min read
Sensory Bottles
Sensory bottles are a beautiful craft to make, but they also serve a purpose for little kids. Have fun making these bottles and enjoying the different items you can add to them. Sensory bottles have a calming down effect on toddlers. When the world becomes too much they can anchor down on the bottle, rattling it and rolling it around as a physical outlet (instead of hitting). As they watch the glitter and objects fall, their eyes are brought into their midline which helps org
Apr 22, 20172 min read
Practical Life Activities in Your Home
Pouring beans Practical life activities are one of the most essential you will find in any Montessori classroom because they introduce the child to the basic functions that they will need in everyday life. So, how can these activities help my child? Coordination Practising control of movements Fosters independence Concentration Working from left to right How can parents get started at home? Pouring bells All children are at different levels of skills and have different intere
Jun 16, 20165 min read
Sensory Activities for Preschoolers
Sensory activities for preschoolers are very important for giving them a concrete experience of the world, where the process of playing with the material is more important than any particular outcome. Children learn better when they engage with all their senses and we also know that they have a lot of fun with it. Here are some fun sensory activiites: You can have a dry sensory container filled with dried beans, coffee beans, coffee grounds, unpopped popcorn kernels, or smal
May 28, 20162 min read
I Spy Game
The main aim of this game is to make your child aware of the PHONETIC sounds in spoken language and to make the process of exploring sounds and words fun and exciting. Please teach your child with phonetic sounds only. Writing of letters must be lowercase. Stage 1 Choose 6 to 10 objects that will be easy for your child to sound out phonetically . E.g. “p” for pen, “b” for book, “c” for cup etc. Place these objects on a tray or table . Pointing to each object ,
Feb 23, 20153 min read
Fun in the garden
A few ideas for the garden: Play ‘hide and seek’. Let your child set up a tent in the garden with chairs, blankets, cushions, soft toys, torch, books and a few healthy snacks. Plan a picnic. Prepare and pack a picnic basket with your child. (That’s the fun part!) Don’t forget a blanket. Have a treasure hunt. Write simple clues on small pieces of paper and hide them in the garden. Examples :“I am long, thin and green and I am used to water the garden, what am I?”, “Where is th
Jul 7, 20121 min read
Outside play for children is vital
Outside play for children is vital. It enables them to enjoy their natural environment which provides them with exercise, fresh air and develops their gross motor skills. Children need to run, climb, shout, jump, release pent-up energy, hide, explore and have imaginary adventures! #Outsideplayforchildrenisvital
Jun 25, 20121 min read
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