The Kavanaugh Report

Like I said last week, Henry was gone for several days last week, so I decided to continue the Farm Theme at Tot School again this week. We used the same trays as last week, which were still a big hit. So this week, I thought I would share all the other toddler farm activities we've been working on! First up, our book bin was back this unit. Henry enjoyed the books, but still had a hard time dedicating tot school time to reading. I'm working on some big changes for our former book bin and activity wall, I just need some time to get it altogether! Science Experiment: watch-them-grow farm capsules {Target dollar spot}. Henry loved these, and actually has still been playing with the little sponge shapes. Lots of farm puzzles! This was my favorite because the shapes didn't match the picture underneath. It was the perfect difficulty for Henry who has been transitioning to more complex puzzles, but still needs some help with where to place pieces. ...

Want to know what the most popular toy in our house is? It's our play farm! Hands down. There's not a day that goes by that someone doesn't play with the barn, the animals, or one of the accessories. And, I'm not just talking Nora here -- it's all the kids. They LOVE the farm. This post contains affiliate links at no cost to you.  For them, it's the ultimate pretend play opportunity. It sparks so many scenarios. Each of our people have backstories, relationships, and history personalities. The animals have names, favorite foods, and families. To watch them play is amazing. And, I can't get enough.  Our farm setup is really quite simple. First, we have the barn ! The barn we got a few years ago on sale at Target. It's mostly wood, with a plastic base, fencing, and doors. It's a really great size, and very sturdy.  When we stored it on the ground, it never got much play. But, one day {about a year and half ago} I moved it to it...

I'm excited to finally share this project! If you follow me on Instagram , then you know that I've been working on a DIY farm play mat for the last couple months.  My intention is to have the mat for Henry to use as a Montessori grammar farm as he gets older. But, right now he is not quite ready to use it for grammar work. Hopefully, he will start by labeling things as he gets a grasp on reading. For now, it's for play and exploration. Even Nora enjoys it.  Montessori Friendly DIY Farm Play Mat The mat is made entirely from felt and embroidery floss . Both were purchased from a craft store. To make, you need a large piece of felt for the base. Mine is approximately 3 feet by 3 feet . You'll also want some brown felt and multiple colors for the flowers. The exact colors are up to you.  The farm mat includes a pond, mud pit, and several gardens. I sprinkled some random dandelions around the farm for good measure. Henry is obsessed with them. Each piece...

When you are interested in Montessori, it can be difficult to know exactly what types of products you should get for your home. Or which types of "Montessori" materials are really worth the price. There are no rules about types of products can use the name Montessori which can add to the confusion. Not to mention, every toy manufacturer slaps the word "educational" on the package for good measure! Jump To: Babies and Young Toddlers | Toddlers 18-months to 3-years | Preschool 3-years to 5-years 2023 UPDATE: Everything updated for 2023 with some fun new finds added! 

This past week in tot school was so fun! I've been waiting to do a farm theme during letter F week and it totally paid off. Henry is away for the first time ever, so we only had a few tot school days, so we are going to continue the theme again this coming week! Prior to this week, Henry could identify and say the letter F, but struggled with identifying the lower case f.  On our first tray was a set of Montessori 3-part cards that I made for various farm animals. Then, there was a corresponding bin of animals to match each card. Henry could then match the 3-part cards together with the toy animal.  Henry really enjoyed these. He had a blast playing with the toys and matching them to the cards. He had a more difficult time matching all the 3-part cards and couldn't match the words, but he did attempt them at least. He also insisted that the horse and foal stay together at all times -- so cute!  The second tray was a fruit color match...