Welcome New Toddlers and Primary Families!
Dear New Toddlers and Primary Families,
As we approach a new school year, we want to extend our warmest welcome to all of you joining Oak Knoll in the Fall and express our excitement to be part of your child’s continuous journey of growth! Together, we are becoming the Village that will support our children in these precious years of development. Thank you for being part of this community! Now... What does it mean to be part of this learning community as educators and parents of a child in a Montessori program? I invite you to watch this inspiring video that will surely spark conversations among us!
Important information and answers to parents’ frequently asked questions:
1. How can we get our child ready to begin school? What can we work on at home?
Montessori is about providing your child with Aid to Life. Let's help your child begin the Journey to Independence! You begin at home, and we will take it from there once they step in Oak Knoll! Let's do it together!
- Independence in dressing and undressing (for Toddlers and Primary children):
Guide your child to practice choosing clothing from his/her wardrobe and drawers and putting them on independently. Give your child time to do so in a designated area, and aim for independence for the whole process (for Toddlers, we aim for as much collaboration as possible), from putting on underwear, pants, shirt, socks and shoes. Avoid items that are too tight or too loose, or need dependence on adult assistance, such as buttons, snaps and bows in the back, or shoes that are difficult to put on and close. Being able to take care of oneself is the beginning of being independent, noticing your own capabilities and becoming confident!
- Independence in using the toilet (for Primary children):
Provide plenty of opportunities for your child to listen to his/her body and practice going to the restroom independently. This process includes taking off pants and underwear, urinating, or having a bowel movement, wiping, flushing, and washing hands. Being able to follow inner needs and successfully using the toilet helps the child develop self-care and awareness!
- Independence in setting up the table and eating (for Toddlers and Primary children):
Invite your child to help set up the table and clean up every day. Practice sitting down for the duration of the meal. Promote table manners such as using utensils and napkin, and making sure to eat with closed mouth and swallow before talking.
Toddlers children are encouraged to use glass cups. This is the best time to wean children from breastfeeding, bottles and pacifiers. Your child will join a full day program in which she/he will interact with the joyful and peaceful community, learning to self-soothe and regulate in a natural way. Please support this process at home.
For Primary children, guidelines around how to have conversations at the table without talking loudly across the table are also encouraged to be practiced at home. Your child will enjoy lunch with peers at school and bring all these habits from home to school too.
- Independence in falling asleep at nap time (for Toddlers and Primary children)
Allow your child to practice falling asleep without much assistance.
Toddlers children learn to listen to their body's cues to fall asleep. Please help prepare them for school by weaning him/her off the bottle for nap. To wean your child off the bottle, let your child know before lunch that you will provide him/her with the beverage (milk or water) in a small cup during lunch, and that after lunch, it will be time to get ready for nap.
Some children might resist the change and protest when on their bed. This is a time to be with your child and reassure that you understand, and that you are making this decision to help his/her body. Remember that weaning from the bottle is also strongly recommended by dentists for the benefit of the child's teeth.
You might be surprised too and find that your child accepts the new routine with ease and understanding. As they grow and mature, children become aware of what is best for their bodies, and when adults are firm and kind and consistent, they trust our guidance.
Thanks for your help with this important step to promote falling asleep by themselves at school too. We appreciate your commitment to work as partners in all aspects that positively impact your child's development.
Thank you for this partnership and collaboration!
Lake Campus Teachers