Snow White has pulled her cylinder blocks off the work shelf quite a few times this week. She loves doing many of the extensions as you can see HERE and HEREThe 2 year old girl really wanted to try this work, so I sat with her and showed her how to use cylinder block #1. I was amazed that she did this work over and over again.
Well, Little miss Belle could NOT be left out, so I sat with her and let her try too. I was amazed that she would try to put one in and if it did not fit she would keep trying till she got it. After 20 minutes I had to get lunch ready so I put the Cylinder block away (she could choke on the small cylinders) and she had a complete MELTDOWN. I am pretty sure she screamed for longer than she actually “worked” with it.
What do you think? Should I allow these tiny girls to keep working with this (with me at the mat) even though it is meant for the 3-6 year olds? Or should I just put it away even though the older children may want to choose it?
The children here are:
Girl – age 4
Snow White – age 4
Boy – age 3
Little girl – 2
Belle – 18 months
Any tips with how to use materials with this age group would be greatly appreciated!
(my training is in the 3-6 range, so I am not sure what the infant/toddler training would suggest).
Christine
Tuesday 19th of January 2010
We do Montessori at home too and I always allow my younger ones to play with un-age-appropriate toys. They can sort mancala beads, play with toothpicks and styrofoam balls, etc. as long as I'm with them. If they're interested, and they don't seriously mouth everything (my daughter was the only one out of 4 who I couldn't trust with little things as a toddler), go for it!
The girl who painted trees
Tuesday 19th of January 2010
I have let Bear do many things before the recommended age. She would have been able to do the cylinder blocks at 18 months I am sure and I wish I had bought them much earlier. As long as she doesn't get frustrated, I would let her. Of course, I don't know if you are looking for a purist Montessorian answer.
http://theadventuresofbear.blogspot.com
Mari-Ann
Tuesday 19th of January 2010
I'm definitely agree with the others - don't remove the cylinders. Such a key piece of material is really needed in the classroom. I would remove the smallest pieces and should the older children want them, have them come and ask you for them. Or better yet, put those pieces in a nice wooden box on a shelf so that they can retrieve it themselves, while keeping it out of reach of the little ones. I was going to suggest the toddler version of the cylinders, too, but it's just an added expense imo.
I'm NOT a VOLCANO!
Monday 18th of January 2010
I would never prevent a child from learning something just because the child is younger than the recommended age. In this case, the reason the toy is for ages 3-6 is because it has small pieces that a young child could easily swallow. It isn't because it's supposed to be too difficult.
If I were you, i would put it somewhere where all the children can see it, but that they have to ask you to get it for them. that way, you don't have to be watching it at every moment so no one swallows a piece, but they can still choose to play with it if they prefer.
Great blog! I'm following from theblogfrog!
Heidi
Monday 18th of January 2010
I'm not sure how this would work with the knobless cylinders, but at my house, I adjusted the pink tower and brown stair to have 5 matching pieces instead of 10 or my 18mo so the work wasn't so overwhelming.
If you look at some of the companies they do make smaller versions of the knobbed cylinders for the same purpose. Obviously the cylinders are harder because you can't take out the empty holes, but could you set it out with only 2-3 blocks and slowly increase the number as they master the work better?
I think taking it out when there is a clear interest would be a shame.