Child's Play: Montessori Games and Activities for Your Baby and Toddler

For children, playing is learning, and this appealing book is filled with more than 60 Montessori-inspired play-and-learn ideas that parents and kids can enjoy together. The games are arranged progressively, starting with simple games for infants and advancing to games and activities suitable for active toddlers. Each game description includes instructions for play, items and materials needed, and suggested related play activities for parents and their toddlers. The games and activities described includeA-

Variations on hide and seek

Mirror fun

Guessing various sounds

Touch and texture games

Aiming a ball at a target

Dancing to music

Role-playing games

Developing language skill through stories

The alphabet game

Outdoor activities, including nature walks. . . and more. Parents are also encouraged to make up new games on their own with their children, always being clear in their own minds about the aim of each activity. The Montessori approach to learning emphasizes the idea that game-playing details need not always go according to original plan, but might lead children along new, unexpected paths of discovery. Features include color illustrations on most pages, and timelines to guide parents through typical childrenA's learning stages.