“The hands are the instruments of man’s intelligence." – Dr Maria Montessori One of the things that distinguishes Montessori from more classical educational approaches is the way children are encouraged to learn by touching, feeling and doing. In traditional learning environments, children sit at desks and listen to a teacher. In contrast, Montessori children are encouraged to move around the classroom and engage with the wide variety of activities available. They choose the activity they … [Read more...] about Hands-on learning
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Lantern fun in the Vondelpark
11 November is a special day here in the Netherlands with beautiful Sint Maarten celebrations (for all the facts visit the Wikipedia page). There is a lovely lantern parade in the Vondelpark for young children, starting at 6.00pm from the Emmastraat entrance to the Vondelpark, near the former Stadsdeel building. Details here (in Dutch). Be warned: they are very prompt in their departure and it is nice to be near the front where there is a band playing. The children bring along their … [Read more...] about Lantern fun in the Vondelpark
What I learned from a speech coach
I have recently been to some speech coaching with my softly-spoken daughter. It has been an amazing experience. It is so interesting to see how your voice tone and speed can make a big difference in the way your message is received. And it started me thinking about how we use our voice with our children. ToneWhen we are trying to engage cooperation from our children, it can be really hard to get the tone right. Sometimes we are too aggressive; sometimes too whiney; and when we are … [Read more...] about What I learned from a speech coach
5 fun things to do for a memorable summer
Classes are finished for the summer break. It has been a wonderful year – I feel so lucky to have worked with you and your children. And the sun is finally out, so here are my essentials for a memorable summer with children! 1. Wear bare feetI love bare feet – and there is nothing better than bare feet whilst exploring outdoors, at the park or at the beach. Find a safe bit of ground and let the children wake up those senses after wearing shoes all year long. Don’t forget to take off your … [Read more...] about 5 fun things to do for a memorable summer