"Little Pumpkin" Helpers

Kids love everything about the holidays! There's a new energy in the air, friends and family are gathering to spend time together and the house is filled with sensory-pleasing sights, sounds and scents. While you might think at first that kids love to sit back and enjoy everything you've prepared for them, the truth is that kids prefer to help with the work and want to participate in the preparations. What a perfect time to let them help and spend time together as a family!
Not sure how to get started with involving your little helper? Need some ideas? With proper adult supervision, kids as young as one can be meaningfully involved. Sure, you should expect plenty of messes, but don't worry, it's all about the process (just keep telling yourself that, though, because as adults, we're hardwired to seek out the perfect end-product. But really, where's the fun in that?!). Set aside plenty of time so you don't feel rushed or pressured, think ahead of all the materials you'll need & lay them out in an orderly fashion and at a kid-friendly level, dress your child in a work smock or apron of some sort (kids absolutely love this part!), and have plenty of clean-up supplies at hand. Then have fun with your "little pumpkin" & remember to take pictures to remember your special holiday together!
Here are 3 pumpkin-themed ideas to help you get started:
1. Scrub pumpkins & gourds in small bowls & washbasins with a variety of scrub brushes & be sure to add plenty of soap for bubbles (this is a stand-by favorite at our house & really helps out at dinnertime when you need to occupy your hungry kids!)
2. Paint miniature pumpkins for beautiful, homemade centerpieces and table settings. Older kids can write out name tags and tie them to the pumpkin stems.
3. Measure & mix ingredients for pumpkin pie. Enjoy the smells of the spices you add to the mix. Cover their eyes as they try to guess which spice they are smelling. Also, kids love to make crust and can make & bake their own pies with any leftovers. Not surprisingly, kids also love to help clean-up & wash the dishes (the whole bubbles & water thrill!).
Working on a project from beginning to end is highly important for young children as they develop their concentration & capabilities. Remember to "follow your child" and to watch their energy level and interest to make sure they are enjoying the experience. Tailor activities to meet your child's developmental abilities. You can gracefully end an activity when your child has had enough of it. On the other hand, when your child is deeply involved in his work, try not to interrupt (even well-intended praise is perceived by the child as an interruption). Instead, allow your child the time & peace of mind to absorb himself completely in an activity. It is an amazing gift to observe your child working hard at something of his own creation & control, fully immersed in the moment. Honor your child.
We have so much to be grateful for with joy-filled children in our lives!
Happy Thanksgiving,
Brittany

Parenting through Transitions

As I backed out of the driveway for the last time, I glanced in the rearview mirror to see my children’s expressions. Would there be sadness? Would my four-year-old son shed tears? He’d spent three years of his life here, and it was the only home he’d ever known. We were leaving behind his beloved swing set, a source of endless hours of summertime happiness. My 20-month-old daughter had spent the entirety of her short life here. Would she miss the way the morning light entered her sunny yellow bedroom?
My husband and I had just sold our home. Our children were leaving their nest. To my surprise, the sweet voice of my daughter sung out: “Bye-bye house!” My son giggled and echoed her, waving goodbye to his swing set as we drove away.
When adults think of children facing the challenge of transitions, we tend to worry for them. How will they handle their first time with a babysitter? Will they be happy at preschool? How will they cope with moving? However, as this recent experience revealed, children embody flexibility and resilience. When they are properly equipped with attachment and security within their family, they are able to bend in the wind, just like the reed in Aesop’s fable. Their fundamental needs are met, and they are open to life’s new experiences.
All the late-night worrisome discussions with my husband had been for naught; not only would our children be okay, but moving would make them more flexible and bring us closer together as family. Would I miss the beautiful wooden swing set? Absolutely. Would I remember the morning light filtering into my daughter’s nursery? Forever. But everything was going to be okay. And so, I too whispered, “Bye-bye house!”

Brittany Ladd is a Montessori teacher and Literacy Specialist, who lives in Steamboat Springs, Colorado with her husband, two children and two dogs. Everyone survived the move just fine, although Curious George (the beloved stuffed monkey) is still missing.