Tag Archives: early childhood

How to Feed Your Child in a Busy World: Advice from a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and MCA Parent

By Karla Gabre, RDN

Every day we are faced with decisions to help build a strong foundation for our children’s future. We make decisions on education, enrichment opportunities, and what technology they are exposed to. We agonize over the choices we have and lay awake wondering if we’ve made the right ones. And often the hardest decision of all? What and how to feed your child! It’s really the first decision we are met with when that little human comes into this world, and we continue to face it every day! Feeding kids is hard work…. even for a Dietitian! I can remember thinking it was going to be a breeze… I mean I had almost 10 years of clinical nutrition experience under my belt when my twins were born. I was used to calculating formulas to feed patients on respirators and making meal plans for newly diagnosed diabetics. How hard could it be to feed these healthy little people? Wow, was I wrong! For me, it wasn’t just the “what” but the “how” that was important. Getting my kids to eat well most of the time in this busy world, but most importantly instilling a good relationship with food that would carry them into adulthood, became a priority for me.

Here are a few tips that I believe are important to help build that strong foundation necessary for healthy relationships around food.

1. Have your children connect with the food that they eat. This might mean you plant a garden together or have a few planted pots of herbs or small vegetables on the back patio or kitchen windowsill. Or maybe you join a CSA or community garden. At the very least, check out some books about food and food sources from your local library and read through them together with your child. It is essential that kids know where their food comes from and that the foods that nourish them come from the earth.

2. Involve your kids in meal planning. After your children learn where food really comes from, get them involved in your family’s meal planning through grocery shopping, prepping, and cooking. Kids as young as three can chop vegetables, peel carrots, and grate cheese. The Montessori philosophy involves children in food prep and serving as part of the Practical Life area of the classroom. Studies show that involving your children in food prep leads to better eating habits long term.

3. Try your best to eat as a family as many nights as possible. Our busy schedules can rob us of precious time sharing a meal. Eating as a family improves eating habits in addition to creating a sacred time and space that your children will start to depend on. Meal time should be a time to share experiences of the day and a time to reconnect. Eating “family style” can also be a great way to empower children to make choices around food. For children that tend to eat selectively, it will give them more control over their meal, as many times this choice can ease the stress for children and increase variety and acceptance.

4. Plan ahead. To get a meal on the table each night takes a little work and some pre- planning. So, whether it’s pulling chicken from the freezer in the morning so that it’s ready to put on the grill or in the oven later or prepping the crock pot the night before, initiating a plan is essential. Busy families may also decide to allocate time to prep or even cook a few large meals ahead of time so that there are meals ready to go in the fridge throughout the week. This food can be packed up for lunches or reheated for a quick meal on a night that meal prep is not possible. A menu pre-planned for the week is also a great way to take the thinking out of the stressful dinnertime hours. Families should work together to create this menu so that everyone’s favorites are incorporated.

5. Be a role model. Having a child makes you take stock in your own behaviors and habits. If your goal is for your child to be a healthy eater (as in eating a variety of foods and trying new foods), make sure you are doing the same! If you have struggled with your relationship with food or body image, this might be a time to take a deeper look into this and work to resolve any issues.

6. Teach mindfulness around food. Breath work and meditation in the Montessori classroom are ways to teach mindfulness and stillness to our children in this fast-paced world. We are a culture of “eating on the run” and this is quickly catching up to us. In the Montessori classroom, children eat together as a community, words of gratitude are said, and children independently choose from their lunch boxes. Talking amongst friends at their lunch table is encouraged. At home, try to make these practices part of your daily routine. In addition, encourage children to “listen to their bodies” for cues of hunger and fullness. It’s important for children to know these feelings in order to develop healthy regulation of food. Many times, when mealtime is rushed or food is eaten “on the go”, it is hard for children to develop these skills and feelings of stress are associated with eating. Meals and snack times should be intentional and joyful experiences for children in order to build a healthy relationship with food.

7. Keep it simple! Strive to make meals and snacks that are balanced and from as many whole foods as possible. Try to “eat the rainbow” to ensure you are providing your children with a variety of essential vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. Overall, keep it simple and attainable for YOUR family.

For additional reading on this topic, consider checking out the following resources:

Fearless Feeding – How to Raise Healthy Eaters from High Chair to High School by Jill Castle and Maryann Jacobsen

Ellyn Satter Institute – www.ellynsatterinstitute.org

Falling in Love with Interactive Books

By Shahrooz Aziminia with Alex Chiu

As we cozy ourselves into the autumn season, it’s an especially wonderful time of year to
cuddle up with your child and read a few good books! It’s never too early to begin reading
to your children, and if you haven’t established a family reading routine, it’s certainly not too late! Consider adding a before bedtime, early morning, or Sunday afternoon reading ritual to promote and instill a love of books and reading within your children. Today we’re sharing with you reviews of a few favorite interactive book collections from Mrs. Aziminia’s PM class, as well as a special extension project you might be inspired to do at home!

Happy fall, and happy falling into a love of reading!

The first time we read Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson was as a group. Together we observed the life cycle of an apple tree unfold through beautiful illustrations as we followed the directions on each page. The actions for interacting with the book are simple: tap the tree and a leaf will appear on the next page, or shake the tree and the blossoms fall off the tree on the next page. Children find interactive books both funny and magical. Taking turns completing each action gives the story a theatrical feel as each child acts out his or her part in the story.

In our class, Tap the Magic Tree has become a favorite book that brightens moods, brings children of different ages together, and acts as a springboard for an apple tree lesson! If you would like to view the book in action, there are YouTube videos available on line. Follow link to view the book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Otnip3-zDus.

At home, you might be interested in checking out Christie Matheson’s book Touch the Brightest Star, a sweet interactive story that’s perfect for bedtime. As for our class, we are looking forward to reading our next Christie Matheson book- Plant the Tiny Seed!



Another dynamic author whose books our class has enjoyed is Herve Tullet. His most famous books are Press Here and Mix it Up! His artsy, interactive books engage the children’s imagination in a humorous way. His books are fun to read aloud and can engage a wide age range of children. They can be read by children of all reading levels, including non-readers. There are no wrong ways to read these books and no limit as to how silly you can get when you do. If you need some ideas on different ways to deliver the interactions, just watch the author on YouTube. He is a master at igniting imaginations and creating a space where everyone can feel welcomed. Follow this link to see Herve Tullet’s presentation at the Library of Congress’ Young Readers Center: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNi-3pvLrGM.

    

So far our class has loved Say Zoop! and I am Blop! In the book Say Zoop!, the reader repeats silly sounds as each dot appears on the page. In I am Blop!, Tullet uses a quatrefoil shape named Blop to tell a story that seems so simple that the children were inspired to create their own. In class, the students set about illustrating their books using Do-A-Dot markers (that mimic Tullet’s signature dot paintings), our quatrefoil and circle Metal Inset shapes, as well as the quatrefoil stamp. This textless book was quick to put together, and the children “read” them to the class afterwards. The simplicity of this project made the creation fun, and the humorous delivery of these authors was nothing short of exhilarating!

 
 

The children are already looking forward to creating new stories soon!

My personal favorite Herve Tullet book is The Trail Game. This fantastic book has the child trace a winding path with his or her finger that leads either to the top of the page or to the bottom. The hand-eye tracking involved is a phenomenal pre-reading exercise and a mesmerizing endeavor. These books appeal to and are appropriate for many age levels, which is very Montessori-like! All of the 2 ½- through 5-year-olds in class were enthralled with these selections.

Tullet has been quoted as saying “A children’s book is a book that is going to be read by an adult and a child. My idea is that the book is in the middle where everyone can play, talk, touch, and so on….” We hope that your family enjoys discovering new favorite books of your own where you can ‘play, talk, and touch’ together to bring the books alive and make reading time together memorable. When you do, please share these special finds with your children’s teachers—we are always looking for treasured titles to add to our list!

The MCA Parent Book Club

By Alex Chiu with Jacqueline Pisciotto and Imelda McShane

 

MCA is delighted to be hosting its 4th Annual Parent Book Club at two of our campuses this spring. This year’s featured book is Raising Resilient Children by Dr. Robert Brooks and Sam Goldstein. The book, selected by MCA’s Director of Montessori Development, Camilla Nichols-Uhler, provides parents with strategies to help their children prepare for the challenges of today’s world. Ms. Nichols-Uhler shared, “I selected it because Dr. Robert Brooks was a speaker at MCA several years ago. He made a very special impression and shared a lot of positive and insightful wisdom to our MCA families. His book is very practical, and I love the importance of focusing on a child’s strengths versus weaknesses.” The general consensus from the parents involved in the book club this year is that this is one of the best parenting books they have read to date.

The MCA Parent Book Club meets for one hour once a week for six weeks, and each week, one of MCA’s experienced Montessori Head Teachers facilitates the group discussion. The book club is an opportunity for parents to come together to share experiences, ask parenting questions, and discuss their concerns and hopes for their children. The teachers facilitating the meetings provide their professional insights into the conversations as well. Through this book club community, parents connect with others and build bridges between what happens at school and what happens at home. They learn new information not only from the selected books, but also from one another and the teacher leading the discussions. The teachers also help the group members grow in their understanding of how Montessori is connected to so many things and that it is not just an educational method, but a way of life.

Featured topics from this year’s book so far have included information for parents about how to:

• be empathetic
• communicate effectively and listen actively
• change “negative scripts”
• love children in ways that make them feel special and appreciated
• accept children for who they are
• help children to set realistic expectations and goals
• help children experience success and identity

Upcoming topics for the final book club meetings will include strategies to:

• help children realize that mistakes create learning opportunities
• develop responsibility, compassion, and a social conscience by providing children with opportunities to contribute
• teach children to solve problems and make decisions
• discipline in a way that promotes self-discipline and self-worth

The authors of Raising Resilient Children present real life scenarios and then recommend ways of dealing with them. Participants in the book club also share experiences and have engaged in some lively and insightful discussions during their book club meetings! As participants dig into the information provided in the book, they can consider how to apply techniques in their own family situations. Dr. Brooks even provides a self-assessment parents can take to find out if they are nurturing resilience in their children. You can find it online at: www.drrobertbrooks.com/0105.

The teachers who facilitate the meetings often find that conversations grow deeper as parents share their own parenting dilemmas. This affords the group an opportunity to brainstorm together and think about what strategies suggested in the book might help. It also allows the teacher to incorporate many Montessori approaches that are used on a daily basis at school to address certain behaviors or concerns. Parents do come to see that, not surprisingly, many of the topics presented in the book relate directly to the Montessori approach to education in so many ways. For example, a recent discussion that developed at one meeting was regarding the importance of family meals. The teacher could share classroom experiences of how the children set up their lunch spaces and eat together, enjoying not only the food in their lunch bags, but also the company of the others around the table. Parents sometimes forget that children gain skills by helping to prepare dinner, setting the table, and participating in dinner conversation. But children need modeling and guidance (and patience from parents!) as they learn these important Practical Life and social skills. The act of sharing a meal together provides a perfect opportunity for having children learn the art of conversation, taking turns with both talking and listening. And parents were reminded how being together around the dinner table is a great place for everyone (parents, too!) to practice these skills!

Our book club parents seem grateful to have an outlet for sharing parenting challenges. This community not only provides them with a place to release some of the pressures they feel in different parenting situations, but it also allows for new information to be learned and shared. The parents we see really do want to do their best by their children, and we hope that through the MCA Parent Book Club, they have yet one more resource to assist them on their parenting journey. After all, our children do not come with manuals, and many parents are looking for guidance. Fortunately, we can try to learn from one another’s experiences, glean information from some wonderful books shared by experts in their fields, such as Raising Resilient Children, and be inspired by the educational methodology set forth by Dr. Maria Montessori!

We hope to see more of our MCA parents join us for our MCA Parent Book Club next year!

 

Growing Up with a Grateful Heart

 

By Alex Chiu

Your spouse passes a dish from the dinner table to your son. You bring a tissue to your daughter when she is sniffling while watching TV. Your mother brings your child a birthday gift. As parents, our almost kneejerk response when any of these things occur is to immediately prompt our child with “What do you say?” Sometimes we do this even before the child has had a chance to process that someone has done something kind for him or her. But what do we really accomplish with that prompting? Generally, children will give the required “thank you” response you are seeking, but is there a real sense of gratitude behind those words?

To nurture a true grateful heart, we must make gratitude a daily practice with our children. It’s important for them to understand that there is so much we can be grateful for—big and small— and recognizing this at an early age helps children grow up with gratitude as a matter of course. Why is this important? Research indicates that having a sense of gratitude can help people reduce feelings of sadness, stress, and loneliness. In his article “7 Surprising Health Benefits of Gratitude”, author Jamie Ducharme outlines how gratitude can help people become more patient, reduce overeating, combat depression, improve relationships, improve sleep, and generally make you feel happier (Time Health, November 2017). And Ann Morin has her own list of seven benefits (seven must be a lucky number!), adding that gratitude can lessen aggression, improve empathy and self-esteem, and promote better physical and psychological health (“7 Scientifically Proven Benefits of Gratitude That Will Motivate You to Give Thanks Year-Round”, Forbes, November 2014).

So how can parents help their children (and themselves) learn the practice of gratitude? Let’s count some very simple ways to express gratitude at least four times throughout the day:

1. First thing in the morning: Begin the day by sharing one thing you’re grateful for that morning. Warm water to wash your hands, the sun shining, fuzzy pajamas, breakfast—model a sentence of gratitude and invite your child to think of what he or she is grateful for that morning.
2. On the way to school: Comment about one thing you see that makes you feel grateful. Recently, for me, it was having all green lights on the drive to school! But it could be anything—a car that functions, the beauty of the changing leaves, a favorite song that comes on the radio. A simple recognition of “I’m so grateful that song came on—it really brightened my mood!” is a great way to share your gratitude with your child.
3. At home after school: Express your gratitude to your child when he or she is helpful, kind, or considerate to you or any other family member. But be specific and add on to the usual “Thank you”. If your child remembers to put toys away before coming to the dinner table, you might extend your gratitude by saying “Thank you for remembering to clean up—that really helps me and shows me that you’re responsible and that you care about taking care of your toys and our house!” Invite your child to think about who has done something since coming home from school that he or she would like to thank.
4. At bedtime: Have your child share one thing about the day that he or she is truly grateful for—it could have been time spent with friends, learning a new skill or concept at school, the yummy dinner you made, snuggling with the dog, anything!

It may take some time for this habit to take hold, but if you take the initiative in sharing what you are grateful for on a regular basis, your children will very likely follow suit. And then the entire family can reap the many more than seven benefits of a grateful heart!

For a list of fun gratitude activities for the whole family, including how to make a ‘gratitude box’, some gratitude prompts, gratitude games, and even gratitude apps you can download, check out: https://positivepsychologyprogram.com/gratitude-exercises/

More information and resources on gratitude, including those used as references in this article include:
http://time.com/5026174/health-benefits-of-gratitude/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/amymorin/2014/11/23/7-scientifically-proven-benefits-of-gratitude-that-will-motivate-you-to-give-thanks-year-round/#13d897b9183c
https://tinybuddha.com/

And some lovely children’s books with a gratitude theme you might enjoy:
Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? by Dr. Seuss
Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message by Jake Swamp
Splatt Says Thank You by Rob Scotton
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig
Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts

Preparing for Parent/Teacher Conferences

By Alex Chiu

With Parent/Teacher Conferences coming up very soon, we thought we would repost this article from last fall to help parents prepare for these special school meetings.

By the month of November, students are well into their school routines. They have learned the classroom rules and guidelines, refreshed their memories after a summer off from school, likely made some new friends, and are deep into their new learning. This is why November is often the time of year when schools will schedule their Parent/Teacher Conferences. It’s a perfect time for teachers to connect with parents to share their observations about their students, and it’s the opportune time for parents to glean some insights into how their children are performing in school both academically and socially.

Prior to conference season, teachers take a great deal of time to prepare for their upcoming meetings with parents. They may work with the students individually for the most up-to-date assessments of certain skills, they will take more time observing the children as they interact with peers in the classroom and on the playground, and they will collect any important and pertinent information for students, which depending on the child and the school, may include support services reports, samples of student work, or additional notes.

Montessori teachers have an edge in preparing for Parent/Teacher Conferences because a large part of their training specifically focuses on observation in the classroom. Montessori teachers learn and practice the art of observing how their students work and interact, using their observations to drive which lessons to present to which children, which materials to rotate, and which parts of the environment to adjust to meet the children’s needs. Therefore, parents of Montessori students can be assured that at their conferences, they will learn quite a bit about how their children function at school and what they might be able to do at home to bridge the school to home learning.

For parents with children in school for the first time, we’ve gathered some information to help you prepare for your first Parent/Teacher Conference. For ‘veteran’ parents, these reminders may help you get the most out of your conferences this year.

At your conference, you can expect to learn about your child’s:
1. Recent academic progress.
2. Behavioral development as observed by the teacher since September.
3. Social interactions and development in the classroom.
4. Strengths and challenges within the classroom.

During the conference, you can help your child’s teacher learn more about your child by:
1. Describing your child’s attitude towards school.
2. Sharing anything that currently may be impacting your child’s academic or social progress (e.g., family illness, move to a new home, other family changes or potential stressors).
3. Discussing what you see as your child’s strengths and challenges.
4. Providing information about any special interests/activities your child has outside of school, so as to help your child’s teacher get to know a little more about your child.

What parents can do to prepare for and help facilitate a smooth conference:
1. Bring a list of questions you may have or topics you would like to discuss, keeping in mind the time allotted for your conference. Prioritize your list.
2. Ask your child if there is anything he or she would like to discuss with the teacher and share his or her comments with the teacher.
3. Come prepared to listen and take notes.
4. Ask to see samples of your child’s work or which Montessori materials he or she has been using.
5. Ask what you can do at home to help your child with academic, social, and emotional development. Inquire if the teacher has any community references that may be helpful to your family.
6. Be respectful of the time. If you have more questions than time allows for, do ask for a follow-up meeting at a later date. Communication with your child’s teacher can and should continue beyond the conference as needed.

Parent/Teacher Conferences are a wonderful opportunity to learn about what a typical day at school is like for your child, develop stronger connections with your child’s teacher, and gain insights into your child’s development. By participating in these conferences, you are showing your child that you are interested in what happens at school. You also are modeling the importance of open communication, and you are building the bridge between home and school to promote your child’s success as a student. Happy conferencing!