Live & Love Montessori
Nap Time Narratives with Morah Rachael:
Squeezing in a blog post here and there during the sacred nap time. Grab a snack, tiptoe over, and join me as I discuss living and learning through the Montessori method in the modern world. I’ll show you how to ‘live & love Montessori’ through my experiences teaching and parenting young kids. Shhh, don’t wake the baby!
Fresh Snack
1.30.20
I love carrots!” “Mmm, these tomatoes are juicy.” “Ok, I’ll try a bite of green bean.” “When will be my turn to bring the veggies in?”
It’s easy and natural to love veggies at Chai Tots! When I peeked into the Daled classroom this week, I was struck by the beauty of the Vegetable Basket program. Each week the basket is sent home with a different child, who gets to grocery shop with a parent and choose a few veggies to share with the class.
The rainbow of colors in fresh veggies is naturally inviting to young children. Yet the beauty of this program lies not only in the aesthetic of the colors, but more importantly in the lessons learned along the way.
This is one of the first things that attracted me to Montessori as a parent— the emphasis on nature, natural materials, and the natural and communal way in which food is offered. I love that the children at Chai Tots are offered fresh foods for daily snack, and that the children wash, scrub, and prepare the food. I love that children have the autonomy to choose whether, when, and how much they want to eat for snack. I love that the children independently serve themselves using real kitchen utensils.
From veggies and fruits, to homemade oatmeal and rice, there is an array of fresh and natural offerings at our school. Of course, all children love the tea biscuits, but they also truly enjoy the Vegetable Basket. It teaches the children the benefits of eating fresh foods, the art of cooking, and the joy of tasting with friends!
Home tips:
-Involve the kids in meal prep with butter knives, graters, peelers, and cutting boards. Kids enjoy using real kitchen tools and gadgets. Their involvement naturally leads to more “buy-in” to eat new and unfamiliar foods.
-Use the word “fresh” instead of “healthy” when describing fruits and veggies. “Healthy” is overused and can carry a negative tone when adults emphasize eating veggies over other foods.
-Try serving veggies or salad as a first course. I discovered this technique by surprise when my kids were anxiously waiting for dinner, which wasn’t ready. I served the veggies first, and since they were so hungry, they ate it happily without the temptation of mashed potatoes or rolls to “steal the show.”
Hi!
My name is Rachael Thompson. My 3 kids keep me feeling simultaneously loved, tired, and busy. In between work, raising kids, and daily trips to Kroger, I might squeeze in a run, do home improvement projects, or take a nap in my minivan, in my workout clothes, in the Home Goods parking lot — the ultimate in Mom multitasking!