Beginning With Pita Pocket

I did a few simple Montessori-ish things with Pita Pocket this last week - finally!  I realized that due to his speech delay I've been underestimating him.  He just seems so much "younger" than my other kids did at 20 months.  He seems to understand everything just fine, but only has about 8 words at a time when he should have between 20-25. (he's actually being evaluated for speech therapy mid-month)  I've been working to remind myself that he can understand TONS more than he can verbally communicate, and that he's definately not too young to begin simple activities. 

Short Pants and I worked together to make him a simple color book using the idea I saw over at Hearthstone House.  We didn't have any magazines, so I just downloaded pics from the net and then Short Pants helped me glue them in place.  It came out pretty cute:

 
 Short Pants wanted his (scribbled on) hand in the picture too:

 
I also introduced Pita Pocket to placing pom poms one by one into a muffin tin:

 
He promptly dumped the whole bowl onto the tin and then looked at me like, "Seriously, woman, why must you waste my time with this?"

 
A much more successful activity was showing him how to place spaghetti noodles into the holes of an old parmesan cheese container.  Pita Pocket loved this one and worked at it for some time:

 
His fake surprised face:

 
He also discovered that breaking the spaghetti was fun as well:

 
I downloaded Montessori for Everyone's Comprehensive List For Toddlers, which looks to be a great resource for the younger Montessori set.  I've also been looking at tot trays and am thinking about starting our own little "Tot School" postings so that I can link up with other mamas of toddlers doing similar things.  It seems like that might be a good way to hold myself accountable to doing mini lessons with my littlest guy every week.      

Hope you all have a great weekend!  Bean and Boba will be here, and I'm really looking forward to spending some time with my big kids. 

Comments

[Christy]

Awesome! *giggle* And what a character.

Have a great weekend!

[Zonnah]

I love the book and will have to try it. I understand about underestimating. My sons speach is a bit behind as well but boy does he understand everything.

[Karen]

So Cute!!!!. I love the book as well, my princess prepared one too!! (of course with my help)!!lol I was a great experience!! Thanks for share!!!

[Nisha Reddy]

wow.....soooper!!!

nice pics and the book toooo.........

[Mari-Ann]

We love love love Tot School - so many clever mamas out there with loads of great ideas!

[One hook wonder]

Yep, sometimes he's TOO much of a character, if you know what I mean! ;)

[One hook wonder]

My friend whose son had a speech delay said she experienced the same thing (underestimating) - must be a common issue, huh?

[One hook wonder]

Thanks, Karen - I love sharing ideas through blogs!

[One hook wonder]

Thanks Nisha! Short Pants has had a lot of fun "reading" the book to him.

[One hook wonder]

Good to hear a "review" - I think it would definately help me with getting Pita Pocket started. :)