The time spent as a family on vacation is what makes them special. Adults can break their routines and find fun and relaxation in a fresh location.
Even though traveling is exciting, it can be challenging to decide which aspects of your kid’s routine and daily activities to continue while on vacation. Many families started using the Montessori method at home during the pandemic because their child’s school was shut down.
If you are traveling over the holidays, you might be concerned about how you’ll maintain the Montessori schedule you’ve established. Let us tell you; it’s much simpler than you might think!
The greatest advice we have for being true to Montessori ideals when traveling is provided here, along with a reminder of some aspects you can simply let go of.
Read Here: Montessori At Home
Importance of Montessori in kids
The Montessori Approach promotes a child’s holistic development. Along with enhancing their academic skills, Montessori education promotes children’s social, physical, and emotional development.
It is urged that kids develop their independence and follow their innate curiosities. It’s crucial that kids pursue their interests in a variety of contexts and at their own speed. Children learn by doing because learning emphasizes hands-on engagement with their environment.
Children have a lot of learning possibilities as they explore new places. A family vacation enables practice in novel ways as well.
On the other hand, a brand-new place can inspire a spirit of exploration in kids; anything from the local cuisine to the language is a chance to discover and learn.
Read Here: 7 Tips to increase concentration levels in kids
How to Implement Montessori Learning While Traveling
There are numerous ways to implement Montessori in kids, even if you are on vacation. You may find those ways below:
Promote Unrestricted Exploration
Large blocks of undisturbed time for exploration are permitted in Montessori classrooms. The same can be said for your trip. Unstructured exploration was seen by Maria Montessori as the best way to learn, and she stated that “free choice is one of the highest of all mental processes.”
However, the National Recreation and Park Association reports that in the past 50 years, the amount of unstructured outdoor play for kids has declined by 50%. It’s crucial to resist the urge to overschedule your youngster in order to prioritize leisure time.
A family vacation can seem even more rejuvenating with more leisure time. While exploring, When you notice that your child is attentive and involved in an activity, consider offering help as a method to motivate them to delve more.
Instead of describing to your youngster the precise activity, they would be performing while on vacation, describe the location overall. You can have much more freedom if you tell your kid that you will spend the day at the beach. This does not imply that the shovels and swimsuits are not prepared to go. However, by not planning the day’s activities in advance, you give your youngster more freedom to imagine what will happen.
Read Here: About Early Childhood Literacy
Look for Chances for Practical Learning
The Montessori method values experiential learning and face-to-face contact. Several strategies promote this type of learning while away from home. Give infants and young children time to explore their senses through touch and play with various materials.
Consider what distinguishes your destination from home. Take the time to touch the sand, seashells, and other treasures if the beach is what makes your trip special. Learning by doing also promotes problem-solving and taking risks. You can even buy them some souvenirs to make the trip more interesting and engaging.
Bring Life Skills With You
The experience can start even before you depart because packing for a trip encourages the development of independent skills. Since it requires us to picture ourselves there, in the future, rather than here, in the present, preparing for a trip offers significant mental challenges.
Your child will feel more independent and free to make their own decisions if you allow them to choose the clothes, games, or books that will go on vacation with them. Embrace the fun task of figuring out what your child believes they’ll need from the bathroom for grooming and self-care.
It takes a lot of cognitive development for young children to realize that they need toothpaste for their toothbrushes and a brush for their hair. It honors their capacity to relate their wants and needs to the world they live in.
Once you’re on the move, enjoy the same domestic activities that bring you fresh joy overseas. Encourage your youngster to assist with food preparation or table setting with objects that are different from theirs.
Read Here: The Ultimate Guide to Montessori For Beginners
Set Aside Time To Appreciate Nature
The educational value of nature for young children was emphasized by Maria Montessori. According to the author of From Childhood to Adolescence, “there is no description, no image in any book that can replace the sight of actual trees, and all the life to be found surrounding them, in a genuine forest.”
When you’re on vacation, it’s almost effortless to appreciate the natural world. New locations offer your youngster diverse forms, sights, and colors. As for you, what distinguishes your travel destination from what your youngster sees at home? Keep a lookout for new and unusual plant and animal life, such as palm trees that don’t exist where you are from or birds with unusually patterned beaks.
Take some time after the sun has set to see the stars and see if they differ from how they appear from your home.
A great approach to enhancing learning about nature is via art. Play archaeologist and get your hand’s dirty digging, building, and in the mud, sand, and dirt. Together, listen for unfamiliar birds or other creatures as you analyze the noises. Gather some leaves to explore the patterns on and trace over. Try to make a stop to explore if animal sanctuaries, aquariums, or gardens are close to your locations.
Observe And Make Them Learn Courtesy
This is an amazing moment to take a step back and watch your youngster adjust to their new surroundings! The embarrassed, overexcited child who opens too many presents is something I always observe. It helps me remember that we don’t have to buy “all the things” and that a few meaningful presents or experiences are far preferable to an endless stack of presents.
You can still start modeling polite behavior even though the sensitive time for grace and courtesy doesn’t often occur until around the age of 2.5. Your child will see good table manners and polite interactions with the family, including parents and kids because they are still young and have an open mind.
Some Other Essential Tips
- You should spread out your activities. You could even package them and reveal a new one every hour to increase the excitement.
- Another advises making friends with your seatmates so they can take over halfway through the flight.
- Lightweight and portable are picture cards that can be matched and sorted. Create cards that label items found in the traveling environment if you have the time.
- Remember that Montessori activities for this age category focus on motor and sensory instruction as well as language as you put something together a travel kit for your kids. According to Montessori’s findings, children are intensely involved in acquiring these skills at this time. Consider bringing goods that cater to their interests.
- There are various iPad games and ebooks you can turn to if none of these suggestions are successful. Otherwise, try watching unrestricted television; the only goal here is survival, and tomorrow will bring back the regular rules.
Travel Activities for Toddlers and Kids Montessori Inspired #montessoriwithhart – video
Montessori While You Are Traveling – FAQ
How do I engage my kids when traveling?
Montessori While You Are Traveling is a great way to engage your kids while traveling. It is a system that is designed to help kids learn and explore while being on the go. There are a variety of activities and games that are included in the program that will keep your kids engaged and excited about learning.
Is traveling stressful for babies?
Is traveling stressful for babies? It can be, if you’re not prepared. Here are some tips to make traveling with your baby a little easier:
Make a list of everything you need to pack for your baby, and pack it ahead of time. This will help you remember everything, and you won’t have to scramble at the last minute.
Bring along some familiar toys and items from home to help your baby feel comfortable in new surroundings.
How do I keep my toddler busy when traveling?
When traveling with a toddler, it is important to keep them busy so they do not get bored or restless. One way to do this is to bring along Montessori materials that they can use while on the go. For example, you can bring along a small tray with some beads and buttons for them to sort, or a set of nesting blocks to stack. You can also bring along some books and puzzles to keep them occupied. Be sure to pack plenty of snacks and drinks to keep them fueled throughout the day. With some advance planning, you can ensure that your toddler has a fun and enjoyable time while traveling.
Conclusion
Traveling is extremely difficult for children because they are thrown out of their comfort zones, their regular rhythms and habits are disrupted, and there is a lot of overstimulation. Be patient, schedule plenty of breaks, make an effort to take your scheduled naps, and bring extra snacks.
A youngster will be able to explore the strange in a new environment while yet feeling loved and safe by their family. They can give their surroundings new meaning by applying what they already know (such as how to be inquisitive or assist their parents) to a new setting.
The preceding questions are meant to get you started, but remember that the finest learning opportunities come from spending quality time fostering your child’s natural curiosity.
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Montessori While You Are Traveling
