Montessori-Inspired ideas for enjoying books with your child or students
Maria Montessori talked about hands-on materials much more than books.Still, books are very important in any Montessori-classroom.Along with hands-on activities,reading books in one of the best ways to reinforce interested learning and a love of learning in general.And there’s no denying the positive feelings for learning that come from closeness shared in reading books together.
团圆是春节的主题，无论相隔多远的距离，亲朋好友都会团聚在一起，在这个节日里，我们的宝贝会接触到很多的亲朋好友，而幼儿的社会性礼仪发展，正是在人与人之间相互沟通和交流中建立起来的，所以，不妨利用春节假期，对孩子进行一场“静悄悄”的礼仪教育，让孩子在潜移默化中获得成长。
访友礼仪
1、孩子在进入他人家中时需要更换室内拖鞋，家长可以示范给孩子看，主动将更换完的鞋子摆放整齐，给孩子树立整理意识。
2、主动称呼他人，这是常规性礼仪，家长可以事先在家和孩子一起模拟训练，提前告知孩子将会见到那些亲朋，避免现场见面孩子不配合，引起不必要的尴尬，同时也让孩子知道，任何时候称呼他人，是我们尊重他人的第一步。
3、双手接受物品，不当面拆开红包。新年拜年，长辈会给晚辈准备礼物或者是红包，很多孩子看见喜欢的东西会开心，但是不喜欢的甚至都不看一眼，给他人造成尴尬，家长可以引导孩子双手接纳，并感谢他人，可提前引导孩子换位思考，别人为我们准备礼物，是花费了心思，如果我们不接纳，他们会伤心的，红包接受，可以交给父母保管。
4、不随意跑动、打闹。由于过年亲朋集聚，会导致空间较为狭小，但是孩子之间的相处，会出现跑动、打闹的情景，一方面会导致碰损他人家长物品，另一方面会造成环境的混乱，家长可以引导孩子在一旁玩耍，切忌呵斥孩子，给予孩子尊重。
5、没有允许，不翻动他人的物品。在一个新的空间，会激发孩子的探索欲望，当孩子表现出这样的欲望时，家长不要一味的压抑孩子想法，反而会激发孩子探索欲，家长可以陪同孩子一起询问主人意见，再去打开物品，告知孩子不能随意翻动。
6、长辈先落座，夹菜有礼貌。现在孩子独生子女较多，过年餐桌上有很多的好吃的，孩子可能菜品刚刚端上来，就迫不及待的坐上板凳，用手夹菜，这时候，我们可以寻找一个身边有礼貌的孩子做示范，鼓励孩子向他学习，邀请长辈先落座，自己再坐下，有想吃的菜品，请父母帮忙夹菜。
7、好吃的食物，不独享，分享给他人。幼儿社会认知有限，看见比较喜爱的食物，可能会想一个人“占有”，因此在日常生活中，家长应该逐渐渗透分享理念，甚至可以演一场戏，让孩子体验不被分享的失落。
8、卫生用餐。春节孩子在一起嬉戏，小手可能会弄得脏兮兮的，稍不留神，细菌进入肚子，引起不适，家长主动带孩子在饭前便后洗手，提醒幼儿使用餐具饮食。
待客礼仪
1、礼仪用语我会说。过年家中来了客人，家长要引导孩子主动打招呼，使用“您好”、“请”、“谢谢”、“下次再来玩哦”……等等人际交往常用语，同时，新年新气象，彼此之间的祝福也不能少，可以储备几句常用句，例如“新年快乐”、“万事如意”“大吉大利”……等，增添节日气氛。
2、不随意打断他人对话。过年大家许久不见，免不了寒暄几句，孩子可在一旁安静倾听，如果有什么需要，可以提前询问“请问我可以打断一下吗”，这个习惯会让孩子终生受益。
3、谦让，友好相处。过年家中的小伙伴也会比较多，孩子会拿出自己的玩具，或者共同观看电视节目，孩子们之间也许会为了不同选择发生争执，家长可在日常使用绘本故事等方式教育孩子学会谦让，让孩子知道，别人来我们家做客，我们要以客人为主，在孩子落实行为时，及时夸奖。
4、待客行为，我会做。客人来到家中，不仅仅是家长需要做一些待客的行为，可以邀请孩子参与，比如为客人端上水果，递上鞋套等物品，树立基本的待客礼仪常识。
新年的环境氛围，为孩子提供了一个良好的社会性发展时间，所以，爸爸妈妈们，你们也要以身作则，为宝贝们做一个好的示范哦！新的一年，希望孩子伴随年龄增长，礼仪也越来越棒，我们一起加油！
Do you get a little panic when your friends or relatives give food to your little ones without asking for your consent? In my opinion, I would say it is absolutely acceptable to politely remind your friends and relatives about your little ones’ food allergies and your personal preference of “please ask me before giving food to my child”.
Here is a list of festive snacks that adults cannot resist but not necessarily healthy snacks for children:
Flavoured dried plums
The tasteful flavoured dried plums are irrisistible (for adults). Did you know that it is actually made of lots of artificial flavoring and preservatives? Take a look at the ingredients list and I’m sure you can find very little natural ingredients.
It is bad for children as children’s detoxification system is yet to be mature. Moreover, children might risk swallowing the small seeds, a serious choking hazard.
Salted vegetables & dried meat related products
The high sodium content in this category of festive food can easy surpass one’s daily recommended sodium intake. Marinated food products are often packed with nitrite, aflatoxin and benzopyrene, that are the main cancer causing culprits.
Nuts & Seeds
Many parents might assume that as long as children have a mouthful of teeth, they should be able to safely consume nuts and seeds. In fact, children below 3 years old have yet to fully developed their chewing and swallowing skills, therefore they might not be able to productively chew the nuts and seeds into a digestible form. In rare cases, children suffer from choking hazard especially when they are eating while playing.
Honey
Honey is not suitable for toddler below 1 years old due to the risk of Botulism. Botulism is a rare and potentially fatal illness caused by a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. The disease begins with weakness, blurred vision, feeling tired, and trouble speaking.
Jelly
The colourful and tasteful jelly is another artificial food that you should not be giving to your children. Not only that it contains little or none nutritional values, it is also one of the common choking hazard.
Alcohol
It’s absolutely not all right to have a two-year-old sipping wine and beer, it provides absolutely no benefit to the child and it can be quite harmful.
Alcohol has very specific effects on the body that can be particularly harmful to a child. It causes the blood sugar to fall to levels that can cause irritability, confusion, and even seizures. It lowers the body temperature, and since children’s bodies have such a large surface area relative to their weight, they lose heat rapidly and can become hypothermic very easily. Additionally, alcohol has very direct effects on the brain. Since most of a person’s brain growth occurs during the first few years of life, repeated exposure to alcohol could interfere with brain growth and cause delayed development and lowered intelligence.
Ginkgo
Ginkgo is known for containing a small amount of toxin, more if consumed uncooked. However if a child consumes uncooked ginkgo, the risk of food poisoning and fatality is much higher than adults.
Coffee
Caffeine in coffee may hinder children’s brain and bone development. Who needs an even more hyper child when your child is already active without caffeine?
Glutinous Rice Balls, Rice Cakes
The main ingredient for this festive snack is glutinous rice. Although it is a relatively healthy option, but children’s delicate digestive system may not be able to handle them well yet. Overeating this category of snacks will cause bloated stomach, nausea and poor digestion. Definitely not recommended for toddler below 3 years old.
Sashimi, medium rare beef, alcohol-cooked seafood etc
Most of the sashimi slices on top of the Yee Sang are not hygienically prepared, so you can imagine the risk level of food poisoning, especially for those with poor digestive system and children.
Children do not have a mature digestive system to protect them against food-borne disease.
What should you be doing?
Keep an eye on them
Better be safe than sorry. Remind your children if they have any food allergies, give gentle reminders to your friends and family on your take of giving food to children.
Emergency Assistance
Seek immediate medical assistance if needed. Better be safe than sorry!
Know your limits
It is impossible to ban your children to snack on every single type of less healthy snacks. Set your limit and educate your children to consume these snacks responsibly and sensibly. After all, the big part of CNY is food sharing, right?
学龄前孩子在新年期间，听到舞狮团敲锣打鼓！由于年纪小，小朋友即害怕又期待，想看又紧张！五味杂成的心情，爸爸妈妈了解吗？
这些年的观察与体验，看到小朋友紧张地观察这个庞然大物，不知所措……终于嚇哭的心情！
于是我们设计课程，首先介绍狮头的各部分名称：
从会贬的眼睛开始摸，再看到两眼中间的独角，大大的嘴巴可以伸出手来分享橘子🍊或者金币，再沿着狮子的身体摸到狮尾，感受一片一片的鳞片。
接着我们再介绍乐器，先让鼓队打鼓，再响锣、用小棒子敲钹，完成介绍乐器各部分名称后再组合起来，从小声量到大声量，最后一片锣鼓响满天！让孩子们体会热热闹闹的开心气氛。
这些年的观察经验，发现到小朋友最后都爱上了狮子，热情地在狮子边跑来跑去。
再与舞狮团队挥别的当儿，还依依不舍……
欢迎到绿茵或绿野蒙特梭利学校参与循序渐进、按歩就班班的文化体验。
