Apple Slicing

I was never a big fan of apples as a child. In fact, I don't think I enjoyed eating apples until I was 23 and living in Morocco. I had never learned how to properly slice an apple, and I thought they were so difficult to eat! As many of you might know, once a child decides they don't like something, these ideas will often stick, which is exactly how I felt about apples. In Morocco, I was shown how to  easily slice apples, and I fell in love with them.
One of the benefits of food preparation activities for children is that they are exposed to different types of foods and ways in which to prepare it. As a child becomes part of the process of preparing something, they are much more inclined to taste it and maybe even realize that they like it!

To prepare the apples, I slice them into three pieces horizontally.

You will need:

1. Apples (smaller apples will be easier for a child to slice)
2. A small cutting board
3. A small plate for the apple cores
4. An apple slicer
5. Small tongs to transfer the sliced apples into the serving bowl
6. A serving bowl (I use a basket that I found in my kitchen)

Why I love this activity: this lesson will allow a child to exert their maximum amount of effort, as strength is required to push down on the apple slicer. Additionally, this activity supports a child's fine motor development, refinement of sense, and ability to follow a logical sequence of movements. Remember, when children prepare food for those around them, they are supporting their sense of community. 

Show your child how to use the tongs to transfer one of the apple slices onto the cutting board. Then, demonstrate how to place the apple slicer onto the apple, making sure the apple core is in the center hole of the slicer. Push the slicer down strongly and show your interest in the crisp sound an apple makes when being sliced (this is a big point of interest for a young child!). Use the tongs to remove the apple core, and show your child how it goes onto the specific plate. Then, show your child how to transfer the now sliced apples pieces into the serving bowl. Remember to move slowly and with purpose, so that your child can study your movements. 

I love seeing the strength of Abbi's hands in this picture. 

Abbi is very focused when using the tongs to remove the slices.

This was an exciting week for many reasons. I received my toddler table and chair set from Sprout Kids, and I cannot wait to set it up. It makes me happy to think about a child working on furniture that is environmentally friendly and sustainable. That is probably one of the reasons I am such a big fan of Monti Kids too since their toys are made with natural materials. This week, Simply Real Foods Market is having a huge sale on organic, natural snacks made without GMOs. I think it is so important to not only provide children with activities for growth, but that their surrounding environment, including the furniture, toys, and foods that they are eating, consist of all natural products. 

Let's meet!

When sitting down to write this week's post, I realized that I have yet to fully introduce myself! I hope that this post will give you a better understanding of who I am and my love for Montessori-inspired practices, as well as support for the development of young children.

My name is Bérénice, and I am an AMI trained Montessori teacher. I currently work with toddlers between the ages of 18 months to 3 years old. 

About Me

I was born in Madrid, Spain and raised in Louisiana and France. I attended Tulane University where I earned a bachelor’s degree in Russian History in 2011. While in college, I worked in the Ural Mountains for a Russian summer camp for orphans and underprivileged children of the region for six months. After graduating, I joined the Peace Corps and lived and served as a youth development volunteer in a rural village in Morocco for two and a half years. I completed my Montessori training, for children between the ages of 0-3, and their families, at the Montessori Institute of San Diego. My trainer's passion for and knowledge of Montessori theory was fascinating and inspiring. It was an exciting endeavor, and I look forward to completing my master's of education next summer. Additionally, I recently became a trained Labor Doula through DONA International.

Why do I love Montessori?

Montessori education focuses on providing young children with the proper experiences they will use to create themselves. While the children move freely throughout the environment, it is the adult's role to properly prepare the environment allowing children to thrive. With an understanding of child development, Montessori offers the possibility for parents to support children in different capacities. It is my goal to guide children, so that they can become thriving and successful citizens of the world. 

My Goal

I am obsessed with food preparation ideas for young children because a child can gain so much from working with foods! I decided to write this blog in hopes that parents can duplicate these ideas at home with their own children. Cooking with your child will support their development, while also creating long-lasting memories. 

Opportunities to Work with All Natural Materials

In the Montessori community, we believe in providing children the opportunities to work with all natural materials. This is another way in which we show our respect to children. As I learned more about the importance of providing children with beautiful all natural materials, my desire to find other all natural products to support children and their families also increased. Thus, I partnered with Simply Real Foods Market as my go-to for organic, natural, and Non-GMO products. Additionally, I continue to love Monti Kids' toy kits, as their Montessori-inspired toys are made with natural-colored materials without lights, sounds, and many bright colored patterns, minimizing the possibility of sensory overload. I couldn't agree more with the principles of Sprout Kids. They strive to create spaces that encourage creativity, independence, and confidence, while using natural and sustainable materials. 

Montesorri Is Education for Life

By now you may have realized that Montessori principles can extend to all aspects of your life. I love that Montessori is education for life. 

The child is capable of developing and giving us tangible proof of the possibility of a better humanity. He has shown us the true process of construction of the human being. We have seen children totally change as they acquire a love for things and as their sense of order, discipline, and self-control develops within them.... The child is both a hope and a promise for mankind

-Maria Montessori

Peeling and Slicing Carrots

Before delving into this fun activity, I wanted to share my excitement about continuing to partner with companies who strive to provide families with natural, earth-friendly materials. I recently teamed up with Simply Real Foods Market. I love that their products are organic, natural, and Non-GMO. Additionally, they sell everything at wholesale value! I am continue to love Monti Kids' toy kits. Their Montessori-inspired toys are made with natural-colored materials without lights, sounds, and many bright colored patterns, allowing your child to concentrate without distraction and over-stimulation. Finally, Sprout Kids is my new favorite place for furniture. They strive to create spaces that encourage creativity, independence, and confidence, while using natural and sustainable materials. I recently ordered their table and chair set, and I cannot wait to use it for these cooking activities!

Okay onto this week's activity!

Color coordinating and keeping everything in an orderly fashion supports your child's sense of order.

You will need:

1. Long carrots (I boil these the night before so that they are softer and easier to peel)
2. A bowl or container to hold the carrots
3. A small knife 
4. A small peeler
5. A small cutting board
6. A small pair of tongs to transfer the carrots
7. A small serving plate on which to place the peeled and sliced carrots

  Why I love this activity: the lesson requires great motor and self control, your child's sense of order is supported, as they must follow a logical sequence of movements, and this serves as a motive for repetition which leads to concentration and the solidification of skills and knowledge. 

Remember to move slowly, as you will want your child to be able to analyze your movements.

Show your child how to transfer a carrot from the bowl to the cutting board with the tongs. Demonstrate how to peel the carrot (because the carrots have been boiled ahead of time, the peels can be eaten) and transfer them onto the serving plate with the tongs. Then, show your child how to slice the carrot using the knife, and finally, demonstrate how to use the tongs to transfer the carrot slices onto the serving plate.

You may remember Abbigail from some of my other posts. I loved observing her concentration and hard work as she followed multiple steps to complete this activity. 

Observe how Abbigail uses her left, non-dominant hand to hold the carrot still, while using her right, dominant hand to peel.

As your child prepares food for their community, whether at school or at home, they are supporting their natural tendency to be part of community!

    

Peeling and Slicing Hard Boiled Eggs

This is one of my favorite food preparation activities. Although the hard boiled eggs have a very strong smell, it is important to remember that this adds to the benefits of this activity because the smell evokes the use of our senses, and toddlers are sensorial learners! 

Remember, color coordinating supports your child's sense of order.

When the eggs are brown, your child can see the difference between the shell and the egg, supporting their sense of sight. This also serves as a point of interest. 

You will need:

1. Brown hard boiled eggs. I boil these ahead of time, so that they are not too hot to peel, and I pre-crack them. 

2. A small cutting board

3. A small knife (this activity may also be done with an egg slicer such as this one).

4. Small tongs

5. A bowl or container for the eggs

6. A bowl for the egg shells

7. A serving bowl for the peeled eggs

Show your child how to peel the eggs. Move slowly and try to minimize your words while you are moving. This will allow your child to concentrate on your actions. Invite your child to peel an egg. Then, show your child how to use the knife to cut the egg (use your non-dominant hand to hold the egg steady while you cut with your dominant hand). Finally, show your child how to transfer the now peeled and cut eggs into the serving bowl. 

This activity can get messy, but this is all part of the learning experience!

 

My student Tommy loved this activity today. He was so happy when he peeled the shell and "found" the egg! Tommy is two years old and was able to concentrate for almost 40 minutes, as he peeled and sliced over a dozen eggs!

  

You can serve these eggs by themselves or even use them for a soup. I would recommend using them with the broths from Simply Real Foods Market, especially because they are natural, organic, and made without GMOs. 

Also, have you checked out my previous post about my favorite things? You can find links to books and articles I love, as well as information about Monti Kids, my favorite place for Montessori toys.