Let´s pack for a trip with your Toddler

Summer is the perfect time for trips and outings. A backpack of their very own is a great gift for an older toddler or a pre-schooler: It builds their independence and confidence as they actively participate in preparing for each trip, and then carry their necessities by themselves.

1. Help your child select their items

Would they like to take crackers or biscuits for snack? A pack of tissues? The red water bottle or the blue one?

packing with toddler

2. Help your child pack it by themselves

Packing the bag helps your child remember exactly what is inside - and feel much more enthusiastic about carrying it!

packing with toddler

3. Be careful about weight

Use only a small water bottle (you can always refill it) and light-weight items. The purpose is your child's empowerment, not tiring them out, and excessive weight can be harmful to their back and posture.

packing with toddler

4. Look for a backpack with a front clip

Speaking of back and posture, front-clipping backpacks are helpful as they keep straps from sliding down and the backpack from shifting onto your child's elbows and lower back.

5. Don't forget your sunscreen and hat!

Want to learn more? Read our next article:

COMMUNICATING WITH THE TODDLER CHILD

Gallery
Comments

Další články

Benefits of Practical Life for Toddler Development

“The first thing to realize about these exercises of practical life is that their aim is not a practical one. Emphasis should be laid not on the word “practical” but on the word life. Their aim is to assist development.” E. M. Standing, Maria Montessori: Her Life and Work

Staff Interview: Greg McCracken

What is a motto that you live by? When I was young, my dad often reminded me: “Always do your best.” In the same way, what I often try to keep in mind is "Do what you can, where you are, with what you have."

Top 3 Winter Activities for Toddlers

We know that when schools are closed and children are at home for the holidays, it can sometimes be a challenge to come up with new, interesting ideas of things to do with your toddler. Here we have compiled a list of our three favorite winter-themed activities that consist of simple steps and only require materials that you probably already have around the house.

Magic mat

There are a few things typical to Montessori classrooms worldwide that might give the casual observer a pause. Picture it: you walk into a beautiful Casa environment, full of children working, many of them on mats rolled out on the floor. The students moving through the room know to step between mats, never on them. Of course, in the beginning of the school year it took many presentations, repetitions and reminders to instill this routine in the students.

Forest Exploration with Toddlers

At IMSP we are fortunate enough to have access to a forest right on our doorstep. This offers invaluable opportunities for our toddlers to explore the natural world with the support of their guides. Interaction with the natural environment provides mental and physical health benefits for children and adults alike and allows children to be inspired by the world around them, away from their usual home or classroom environments.