Friday

This class includes: a warm-up, steal the bacon game, inspiration story "The Tale of Pale Male" by Jeanette Winter, head and shoulders song, "Talking with Your Body" photo project, Cinderella dressed in yellow jump rope game, and teeny tiny rest and music.

In most Montessori classrooms, you'll find a standing rack or shelf with a number of curious frames hanging on it. One frame includes panels of cloth to close together with a zipper. Another frame is closed by snaps. Another by large buttons. Another by small. Sometimes you'll find Velcro frames, or toggles, or laces, or ribbons to tie. These are called Dressing Frames and they help your child to develop independence, concentration, coordination and order.

The Dressing Frames are exemplary of each of these purposes demonstrated together in a single work. Learning to master these common closures allows the child to build his or her ability to dress independently and to help others with less proficiency. They are learning to do things that they see grown-ups doing and crave to do it themselves.

At home, look for simple ways for your child to practice the closures he or she will find most frequently in the closet. Allow time for practice with ribbon tying or buckling a belt around a favorite animal. Gather clothing with large buttons, small buttons, velcro, snaps and even laces. Don't pressure it... but let these activities be available for your child just as helping in the kitchen might be. And when your child is practicing on his or her own clothing, allow ample time for the trial and error it might take to snap those snaps or pull the zipper. It's a great joy to teachers when a child arrives at school, misbuttoned and wearing their shoes on the wrong feet, because it means the child has done it independently.