ideas for work for a 21/2 year old??

[kfillmore]

I am looking to make some work for my 21/2 year old. Anyone have some good ideas? 

[sbarr_NY]

That is such a fun age!

Whatever you are doing around the house, you can encourage your little one to help, model after what you do.

Maybe some basic activities like folding napkins, or wiping chairs, sweeping with a small broom (I specifically bought a waist high broom for her to use), vacuuming (I have a very lightweight vacuum).  Other activities include helping to put groceries away, putting dishes away (~ 2 yo, I put my daughter's dishes in a low cupboard and she put them away from the dishwasher), dusting, mopping.

Things related to cooking - grating cheese (with close assistance and supervision), stirring batter, washing veggies, tearing lettuce.

One thing you might look up - I bought when mine was about 20 months (the Learning Tower) which allows small children to safely be waist high at the counter - at 22 months mine was was helping make french toast and doing dishes.

[Peaceful Parent]

Totally agree with the previous poster about lots of Practical Life activities! That is so important at this age! I have a 25 mos old but some of his favorites are sorting, mini cylinders, Pink Tower, lacing, matching games/nomenclature cards and a bunch of other stuff I've made him.

Have you checked out any blogs? There are a bunch of Mama's doing this stuff who have brilliant ideas! I have a blog here http://jen-peacefulparenting.blogspot.com/ and from that you can see a ton of blogs that I love to grab ideas from listed it my side bar. It's a wonderful blogger community of at home Montessorians. Hope I don't come across as promoting my own stuff, it would just take forever to link all those blogs for you. 

Also, I would check out John Bowman's book "Montessori at Home" if you don't have it. It's an e-book with tons and activities and links and how to do all of this at home. I think he's coming out with an expanded edition really soon. It is like the bible to at home Montessori! My little guy is a bit advanced and already doing some of it and at 2.5 your kiddo would be ready to start some of it for sure. It's great to know exactly how and when to introduce certain things.

Hope this helps! I love talking Montessori!

[kfillmore]

peacefulparent-your blog is awesome!