B a r b a r a s h e r I l L u s t r a t I o n s b y r a L p h

M
A T E R I A L S
Clean empty bleach bottle
12-inch length of string
Sponge or Wiffle ball
D
I R E C T I O N S
Cut the bottom section, below the han-
dle, off the bleach bottle. Unscrew the lid of
the bottle, place one end of the string inside the
bottle, and screw the lid back on. The lid squashes
the string in place. The majority of the string hangs
down from the lid. Attach a Wiffle ball or sponge to the end of
this hanging string (see illustration).
Have the player hold the bleach bottle upside down by the handle, with
the open end facing up. She should then move the bottle so that the ball
swings out and up, and try to catch the ball in the open end of the bleach
bottle.
V
A R I A T I O N
If the bleach bottle game is too easy for your child, make it more of a chal-
lenge by using a detergent bottle for the cup and a scrunched-up piece of
aluminum foil for the ball.
W
H A T
’
S
B
E I N G
L
E A R N E D
To be successful in this game, children have to pay attention to their mus-
cles so that they can modify how wildly or softly they swing the ball to
accomplish the goal. It takes concentration to notice which movements
cause which result—a good lesson in focusing, and instant positive feed-
back if they get it right!
Games for 3- to 6-Year-Olds
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Mini-Montessori
One feature of the Montessori method of teaching young people is to have
learning projects available that children, once they have been given proper
instructions, are allowed to pursue in their own time. These projects are
kept on shelves and are continually available.
When my children were very young, I had fun making a mini-
Montessori area in their bedroom. I placed a variety of homemade projects
on shelves and would change the projects from time to time to capture and
keep their interest.
It doesn’t take any skill to do this, just an enjoyment of making things
with your hands and a willingness to gather up the necessary materials.
Here are examples of seven projects to put on the shelves of a preschool
child. I put each one on a small tray to keep the material contained. If I don’t
have enough trays, I’ll clean and use those Styrofoam trays that are often used
to package meat in grocery stores. (Note that true Montessorians would never
use Styrofoam because they prefer something more esthetically pleasing. I truly
appreciate that, but sometimes have to make do with what I have.)