Lots of pictures!

One thing I've learned about the Montessori method is that there are periods in a child's life when certain abilities are heightened and which allow them to take in the world around them. For example, around Sasha's age, she's learning her world through her senses, and all of them are particularly sharp at this time. Montessori takes advantage of these "sensitive periods" to introduce activities that allow them to use those senses to their fullest. I've introduced a few of them, (matching sounds, smells and textures). Something new we've been doing is when I rock her to sleep for her nap, we sit up in the landing and listen to the sounds outside. She tells me what sense she's using, and then describes everything she can hear. Another activity is called the Mystery Bag. I put several objects in a bag and, with closed eyes, she feels each one and tells me what it is. She's getting better and better and keeping her eyes closed (it's such a challenge to not look!!)
These are activities which all three of us enjoy!





Some other activities- Sorting beads with tongs:



Tea time:



And her all-time favorite, building castles:



The play group was held at our house today. I had a couple of art projects for them to do since it's still quite hard for them to share their toys.



Afterwards, Sasha showed Mariel her room and her doll house:






And took care of Mariel's little brother, Gael:




Then we went to the park:





Yesterday was a beautiful, warm day (about 70 degrees!) Sasha wanted to wear a dress (lately she's been really into them) and of course, we had to go outside.

But not before she banged on a few pots and pans:




And posed for the camera in her beautiful dress:






We went for a walk in the woods. Sasha was extremely happy, not only to be outside, but to be WARM. She skipped (as best she could), and danced, and twirled and sang. It was delightful. I took so many pictures to try and capture her joy:













Random older pics: