Montessori

A method of educating young children that stresses development of a child's own initiative and natural abilities, especially through practical play.         Maria Montessori

As with all alternative styles of parenting, Montessori is getting more and more common amongst families and bloggers and our parenting has naturally taken us the way of Montessori, learning practically and respectfully.

From a very young age, Louie has been given practical toys and tasks to undertake. Be it pouring from jugs with rice or water, to sorting coloured buttons or helping to sweep the floor. To me it just seems common sense to learn in such a way. Understanding has been a large part of learning for Louie, for instance, he would not say a word until he understood what it meant. This was frustrating for us when we were teaching him to count, as it took a while to get past three, and then four, only he didn't understand what the bigger numbers were. Once he understood, which took lots of demonstrating counting out beads/buttons etc, he got there! (We are now at 13 and on a roll!)

Learning as such has had so many benefits to Louie's lifestyle. He has a lot of understanding and responsibility.
Pouring activities from being small mean that he is totally competent to go to the fridge and pour himself a glass of juice. Understanding that he has made a mess (if he does!), he will get an appropriate cloth to mop it up. 

Noticing so many similarities between our lifestyle and the Montissori way, I will definitely be tracking down some more activities Louie may enjoy which will aide his learning further!