Language

• Introduce your child to language sounds by playing rhyming and I spy games
• Use phonetic sounds to describe letters until your child is older and has a comprehensive grasp of the alphabet
• Eat meals and explore nature together
• Engage in meaningful conversations using specific, accurate speech, and precise vocabulary
• Be sure to listen and elaborate on what your child is saying

Reading

• Set up a reading area and incorporate reading time into your child's daily routine.
• Have 4-5 nicely illustrated, well written, non-fiction books displayed with covers facing out
•  Let everyone have a chance to read. If your child is not reading, ask him if he wants to tell a story from a book they know.

Math

• Teach your child about numbers.
• count out loud during your activities
• frequently use numbers in your observations and conversations
• play sorting games

Arts
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• Have an arts and crafts area where there is a low table and accessible art supplies
• Organize the area with only a few choices per activity
• An outside easel may also be good for painting with fingers or brushes
• Have your child get into the habit of wearing an apron to help signify the importance of the activity and denote a start and finish to it
• Dedicate an area to music. 
• Having a music player that your child can operate on their own is ideal

Culture

• Lead by example, model acceptable, courteous, and kind behavior towards others.
• Participate in community service projects, particularly ones children can be involved in
• Teach you child about other cultures by introducing them to other countries through books, cooking, music, people, celebrations, and rituals. 
• Interest and knowledge about other countries and culture will foster acceptance, peace, and harmony in regard to cultural and ethnic differences

Providing limits and structure with clear, consistent and appropriate expectations, guidelines, feedback, and enforcement/follow-through helps your child feel more secure and fosters their independence. Rules provide structure and should be consistent with the parent's values so enforcement will not be problematic. A child should be presented with advanced warning of changes, either to limits or circumstances which may lead to an act of parental enforcement. When not adhering to established limits, a child should be given choices regarding how to proceed and a firm but kind stance in the enforcement procedure. Stop your child's disorderly behavior and redirect their energy whenever it arises. Remember to be firm but kind and do not shame or humiliate the child. At this age, this can often be done by distracting the child and diverting their attention. Expect them to test the limits and try not to take anything personally. As your child develops, make sure that the rules and limits reflect those changes.

Maria Montessori stresses the importance of allowing children to complete tasks on their own. Honor your child's work, ability to focus on details, and growing concentration by not correcting or interrupting them. Interrupting a child's focus can create an increased dependence on adults and a loss of confidence in their abilities. Try offering help only if necessary and don't explain things in too much detail. Your child is in the sensorial period of learning which is optimized through hands on experience. 

Provide unconditional love while avoiding rewards and punishments. Your child's self-esteem will benefits from you expressions of gratitude and appreciation for their productive behavior, activities, and work. You child will also learn from comments about natural consequences of their actions. Be careful not to talk to others in their presence as though they are not there. Allow your child to answer the questions that are presented to them by others as well as questions concerning you child that are asked in his presence (assuming they address matters that the child is able to answer).

Offer more freedom with more responsibility. As your child's motor skills improve and allow for greater participation in your daily life, slowly offer them more freedom. Observe you child in a controlled environment as they work. If your child is disorderly in their work, put it away until you determine that he child is ready (this may be weeks or months). Note that with new work comes new responsibility. Make sure to communicate these changes to your child. When given freedom, a child is faced with choices. This is a vital component in the formation of a child's intellect. Believe in your child's abilities and their internal process. Treat errors kindly. Mistakes and accidents are usually signs that your child is practicing new skills or testing his limits. Being understanding towards their errors encourages them to keep trying. 

"Never do for a child what they can do for themselves" - Maria Montessori

Remember to have fun! Children move slower than adults. So, encourage your child's independence when you feel like you have time and are not stressed. For 3yrds choose a consistent time of day that is calm, establish a routine that includes some practical life skills and lets them practice choosing between two options. As your child becomes more confident their independence will grow and they will want to do more and more on their own. If your child shows signs of frustration or lack of interest, take a break, and try again in a few days or a week.
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Below is a list of things you can do at home to help your child feel empowered in their daily life!
​Practical Life Skills at Home:

• Put your child's clothes in low drawers or hang on low rods,
• Place a set of dishes in a low cupboard or drawer so that they can serve themselves.
• Place beverages in a smaller pitcher and let them serve themselves.
• Place snacks on a low shelf in the pantry or fridge so they are accessible to your child.
• Remind your child to tuck in their chair, clean up what they've used, and put things back where they belong.
• Buy and dress you child in clothes that they can put on and take off independently. 
  • If your child has an accident at school, they are expected to change their own clothing with minimal adult intervention. 
• Children are expected to put on their own socks and shoes after nap time.
  • If your child cannot tie their shoes, please buy Velcro or slip on shoes.
• Teach your child to cough or sneeze in their elbow. This will help control the spread of germs and illnesses in the classroom.
  • Remind your child to always use a tissue for their noses instead if their fingers or clothing.

• Teach your child what their written name looks like. This will help them locate their items at school.
  • Write you child's name on all items that come with them to school.
  • This will help them learn to recognize their name as well as help prevent items from getting lost.
• Restroom - Remind your child to always flush the toilet, wash their hands with soap, and dry them on a towel after using the toilet.
• ​Lunch - Please only pack containers that your child can open and close on their own.
  • Practice with your child at home to determine which containers are best.
  • We have found that Ziploc reusable plastic containers are great and fairly easy for most children.

Here's to your child's success, happiness, and independence!