If You Can't Beat Them.......

then you must join them!!

This is just my observation with the children that I observe. I am not challenging any philosophies I am just sharing:) Since I am a home based preschool it sometimes is a challenge to offer Montessori inspired activities. Some challenges I face are children coming while some children are leaving. Some children actually spend all of their daylight hours with me. Parents are always wanting some sort of educational experience for their children. Unfortunately, most are herebecause their parents work. The parent's main focus sometimes has to be can I care for the child during set hours, which are not always traditional hours for school time. I have to be be able to bend the rules a little!! A child who has been here all day, really doesn't want to do the traditional Montessori activities all day. I can, but they can't. I have been slowly following the child in thinking out of the box. Which leads me to bending the rules:)

Maddux everyday wants to hang up his coat, because he loves order. He sees all of the other coats neatly hung, and he wants to follow along.

 Maddux is now successful with this task after being shown how. Boy,did he practice!!

He did not like the traditional way of showing a child how to hang up their coat and he definitely didn't like standing at the coat rack doing this work. I used Maddux's love for Firefighters and created a successful work for him 

 There are hooks lower, but Maddux is challenging himself with this work now.

    He has turned the Firefighter jacket into a dressing frame. Mastering those clasp!!                                                                        

 I am not endorsing dress up in a Montessori setting, I am just sharing what has worked for Maddux.