Traveling with little ones can be an exciting adventure…or it can absolutely suck. Keeping your toddlers and babies entertained on the go is key to a smooth journey. That’s where travel toys for toddlers and babies come to the rescue! As a parent who loves to explore new places, I’ve discovered some fantastic toys that […]
When we think about educational toys for 1-year-old babies, it’s critical that we also consider the whopping number of milestones and skills children achieve in this one short year. Between 12 months to 24 months, a child’s brain is expanding with connections that help them piece together their world. It is a time of curiosity, […]
Do you love the child-centered Montessori approach to learning, but don’t know what Montessori toys will actually engage your wiggly and wild 1 year old? One year olds are busy working on gross and fine motor skills, spatial awareness, object permanence, problem-solving, and even language development. Choosing the right toy at the right time to […]
Nothing fills a parent’s mind with more dread than the unexpected tantrums and embarrassing outbursts of a young child on vacation. What if they scream through our fancy dinner? What if they refuse to sit still? It’s the stuff of nightmares! Being prepared is the best antidote for parent travel anxiety. Our well-traveled family learned […]
In the Montessori parenting sphere, there’s so much focus on how to play the Montessori way with your infant or toddler, but what about three years and beyond? During this time, gross motor and fine motor development are exploding; dramatic pretend play is happening almost 24/7; and unique passions or interests emerge. It’s an age […]
You might not think newborns and infants have any use for toys, but you’d be shocked by how much they enjoy them and can learn from them – especially when you buy suitable educational toys for babies! It’s easy to think, “Nope, there’s no way I’m buying my six-month-old a bunch of toys,” but you […]
We’ve touched on many Montessori topics here at Undefining Motherhood, but today we’re unraveling one of Montessori’s greatest mysteries. The Montessori toy is both simple and complex, somehow unlocking even the youngest child’s natural desire for intense focus and learning. Yet, there is no official standard or authoritative list of these toys anywhere. What’s the […]
Creating simple Montessori toy storage is an easy way to dip your toes into the Montessori method without investing a ton of time, money, and research. At Undefining Motherhood, we love borrowing from the Montessori method to promote free play, independent learning, and emotional development in toddlers. And of course, it’s backed by loads of […]
Let’s face it. A lot of toys these days are all flash and no substance. That’s why I use the Montessori method as my guidepost for selecting toys for every age and stage. Today we’re scoping out the best Montessori toys for 2 year old toddlers. We’ll use the Montessori perspective on early child development […]
To spend an afternoon with a four-year-old is to witness a child’s personality in full bloom. These preschoolers are bouncing with boisterous energy and brimming with imagination. Purchasing educational gifts for 4-year-olds is rewarding for everyone – the child, the parent, and the gift-giver. According to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, unlike […]
