Most Christmas crafts – and other crafts throughout the year – can be turned into Montessori-oriented activities. Your child will often want to repeat activities over and over when working to meet the needs of a sensitive period. By turning a craft into a Montessori activity, you will help your child meet his or her needs for a particular sensitive period at the same time.
I used Montessori principles to convert a glitter tree craft into the Montessori activity in the photo that is a craft and a practical life activity.
Here are some Montessori techniques you’ll find helpful in creating Montessori activities:
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Use a tray for the activity.
- Think about the practical-life skills of the activity. In the above activity, for instance, your child will use a stapler, a hole punch, and small adhesive-backed dots. Working with each material could be a practical-life activity in itself. It’s best if you child has had experience working with a skill previously.
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Place all the materials needed for the activity on the tray (unless certain materials, such as crayons for an activity, are always in a central place near the tray).
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Arrange the materials as attractively as possible and in left-to-right order wherever possible. Materials on trays and shelves in Montessori education are placed in left-to-right order as an indirect preparation for reading and writing.
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Show your child how to use the activity, focusing on points of interest (such as how to use a stapler).
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Store the tray on a low shelf, so your child can independently choose to work with the activity.
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Allow your child to use the activity as often as your child wants, making sure your child cleans up the activity and returns the tray to the shelf after finishing.
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In a Montessori classroom, one child uses an activity at a time unless he or she invites another child to do the activity at the same time. Although that sounds very unsocial, it allows children to develop concentration by working on an activity without interruption and teaches them to take turns. When I had a Montessori school, a new art activity often had a number of children working together, so it typically was a social experience as well.
There are so many wonderful Christmas crafts, and it’s great to be able to turn them into Montessori activities. Here are links to some other cute Christmas tree crafts that can easily be turned into Montessori-oriented activities:
Pompom Pine Cone Forest from Let’s Go Fly a Kite
Stacking Trees from Oopsey Daisy (The sugar-cone trees in the same post are adorable but are probably best saved for a one-time activity for obvious health reasons!)
Snow Cone Christmas Tree Craft from Blissfully Domestic
Scrap Christmas Tree from Play and Learn with Dana
Have fun creating Montessori activity trays from Christmas crafts!
Linked with Thrifty Thursday and December Holiday Blog Hop at PreK + K Sharing.
I'm Deb Chitwood. My header photo models are my children, Christina, at 1 1/2, my son, Will, at 3, and Christina again at 16. Christina is now 22, and Will is 27. Please see the 
Hi Deb,
I am adding a link to this great post of yours, as your idea for a Montessori work really looks like something that we will add to what we are doing here. Also, the links within your post look great, too. Thanks for sharing and hope that you are having a happy morning.
Colleen:)
Colleen – Sunrise Learning Lab recently posted..On Our Shelves- December Activities
Thanks for your kind comment, Colleen! And thanks for adding a link to my post! I hope you’re having a wonderful St. Nicholas Day!
Deb Chitwood recently posted..How to Use Godly Play at Home during Advent
I read this interesting post and I translate it in italian for my readers, I linked your post, thanks for tour great work! Sorry for my english…
Palmy recently posted..Share one song- Larcobaleno
Thanks for your comment! And thanks so much for linking to my post and translating it!
Deb Chitwood recently posted..How to Use Godly Play at Home during Advent
Oh, my two love to decorate stuff especially Christmas trees! Last year for Christmas cards I cut out some christmas tree shapes to put on blank cards and got simple round colored stickers and crayons out for them to decorate their ‘trees’ to send to the Grandparents. They loved it. My oldest loves using the hole punch too, so we will definitly be doing this craft soon! Can’t wait to check out the other links!
Michelle recently posted..December Classic – The Polar Express
Thanks, Michelle! And how great that your kids make homemade cards – those are always the best kind and true keepsakes!
Deb Chitwood recently posted..How to Use Godly Play at Home during Advent
Hi Deb!
Thanks so much for linking to my post!! You always share the best ideas, so I can’t wait to search the other links!! Enjoy your holiday season!
~Alison
Alison recently posted..Book Advent- Days 4 and 5
Thanks for your kind comment, Alison! I always love the ideas you share on your blog as well! And happy holiday season to you, too!
Deb Chitwood recently posted..How to Teach Your Child to Say Thank You for Holiday Presents
What a neat, but practical idea! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Carletta! I hope you’re having a great Christmas season!
Deb Chitwood recently posted..How to Teach Your Child to Say Thank You for Holiday Presents
I love seeing other holiday works from so many creative teachers! Thank you, Deb.
Carolyn Hadsell recently posted..Children Make Clay Angels and Trees for Christmas!
Thanks, Carolyn! This time of year is so much fun with all the great resources available! And I always love your wonderful ideas for clay projects!
Deb Chitwood recently posted..How to Teach Your Child to Say Thank You for Holiday Presents
Those cupcake liner trees are are wonderful activity. Thanks again, my family is really enjoying your site.
KJ recently posted..Nativity Parade
Thanks for your kind comment! I’ve had SO MUCH FUN finding all these great Christmas crafts online – and yours is awesome!
Deb Chitwood recently posted..How to Teach Your Child to Say Thank You for Holiday Presents
Wow, this really is a very thoughtful approach to crafting and definitely makes you think a little more about “what I am doing and why”. I will have to look at how I craft with my son – which at times can become a little chaotic (he is 2 and 3/4)…
Visiting you via Phyliss at Homeschooling Journal
I would LOVE for you to join us at Kids Get Crafty with this thoughtful approach. It is on every Wednesday on Red Ted Art – current link up http://www.redtedart.com/2010/12/08/kids-get-crafty-nikolaus-sterne-or-santa-stars/
Hope to see you there!
Maggy
Thanks so much, Maggy! I’ll plan to link up this post next Wednesday!
Deb Chitwood recently posted..10 Tips for Avoiding Holiday Burnout
I learned a lot about Montessori. Thanks!
JDaniel4′s Mom recently posted..Muffin Tin Monday- Twas the Night Before Christmas
You’re welcome! Glad it helped – and have a great holiday season!
Deb Chitwood recently posted..Activity of the Week – December Poetry Basket and Montessori-Inspired Christmas Activities
Awesome post! Love the explanation of how to create Montessori Activities! Thanks for linking up at Thrifty Thursday this week! hope to see you next week as well! Also, thanks again for featuring a couple of my posts on your Facebook and Pinterest!
Katie recently posted..Thrifty Thursday Linky Party #2
Thanks, Katie! I appreciate the activities and printables you share!
Deb recently posted..Free eBook – Mom Bloggers Talk Montessori: Favorite Ideas and Activities
i love the picture at the top of the cupcake liners. can you tell me how the kids make it? do you have the instructions and i missed it? would love to do it at our house.
Kristalyn (Learning is Messy) recently posted..The Great ADVENTure – Wise Men