Mommy Monday: top 5 household items to foster independence in preschoolers

Today I'm sharing my 5 favorite household items for fostering independence in preschoolers. Some of these are obvious, some are more specific products that I just really love. All of them are items that make it easier for my 3-year-old girls to take care of things for themselves (which makes all of us happy!). 

1. IKEA Kalas dishes

I've raved about these already in my post about how I store the girls' dishes, but it bears repeating that these things are awesome! They are so easy to use, easy to wash, and easy to store. The colors are fantastic and the girls love picking out their dishes for each meal. They even make great toys- the girls pull them out to sort things, or lay them out on the floor to "make a rainbow". My life is so much easier having these, because the girls can take care of their dishes themselves and they get to pick their color.

2. Storage bins

Storage bins are a great way to give preschoolers more independence by making it easier for them to find, get out, and put away their things on their own. I use bins in the girls' closet (right picture) and their toy storage (left picture). The canvas ones especially are easy to move and see into. It's also easy to label the bins with a picture of what should be inside, so the kids can see what goes where when they are cleaning up.

3. OK to Wake! Toddler alarm

My girls went through a phase a few months ago where they started waking up anywhere between 4:00 and 5:00am and insisting that they needed to get out of bed, even though they were obviously still tired. I tried everything I could think of to convince them to stop getting out of bed before I told them, but nothing worked... until I got this alarm. I have all the sounds turned off, but when it is the time I have set, the owl's face turns green. It's gentle enough that they have slept through it if they are really tired, but if they are awake they see it right away. I was afraid it would just be one more rule for them to fight, but they love coming out and telling me that the owl has turned green! 

4. Step stools

Obviously being able to reach stuff is important for short people who want to be more independent, What wasn't so obvious to me at first is that being able to carry the step stool around wherever they want by themselves is equally important for my girls! I have a fancy wooden 2-step one with storage that I got first, but the cheap plastic one I got later gets used 10 times as much because they take it everywhere (the wooden one stays in the bathroom and serves its own purpose, but the plastic one probably would have done almost the same thing while being more versatile)! The rubber feet on the bottom are also great for the bathroom and other tile floors.



5. Rags

They may not be glamorous but they definitely are a necessity for life with preschoolers! Having a stash in an easily accessible area has made a huge difference in encouraging my girls to clean up their own messes. Whether they have an accident, spill their milk, or get marker on the table, my girls can grab a towel and wipe up the wet or get it wet to clean up a mess, then throw it in the laundry basket.


Well, that's my list! What are your must-have items around the house with preschoolers? How do you foster independence in your young children? Share your thoughts below!

* I am not being compensated for this post nor am I affiliated with any of the companies that make these items- I just like them :)

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Teacher Tuesday: tips for drumming circles

I love doing drum circles with my students in the spring. The students are so motivated by the instruments, and having a different formation (sitting in a circle) is a great way to break out of the normal routine and keep things interesting as the end of the year approaches. I am planning to share some of my favorite drum circle activities in a future post (update: see that post, with all of my favorite lesson ideas and activities for drum circles, here), but today I wanted to talk about the logistics and organizational side of things for those who would like to try a drum circle in your own elementary music classes.

1. Set up enough chairs for each student, you, and one extra in one big circle.

Part of the point of a drum circle is that everyone is looking at everyone else and there is no one person leading. Having an extra chair next to you will serve 3 important purposes: it gives you a place to set down the things you might normally keep on your music stand or nearby desk (like your clipboard, keys, clock etc), it gives a little space between you and the students so they are facing you a bit more without taking you out of the circle, and it gives a nice spot for any troublesome students to move to if they need some extra reminders.

2. Have the drums already set up (bigger ones in front of the chairs, smaller instruments under the chairs) before the students come in.

One of the most magical moments is when the class comes in and gasps at the sight of a drum circle set up and waiting for them. Don't waste a chance for magic like that (not to mention all the headaches you will save yourself). If you have students assigned to smaller groups in your normal setup (like the color teams I use), you may want to think about finding a way to assign spots by those smaller groups. In my case, I have djembes in each of the 6 colors I have for the groups of students in my classes, so I have students go to a chair that has their team color's djembe. That way I can plan for any assigned seats I need for specific students but also give students a sense of choice.

3. You don't have to have a class set of drums to have a drum circle!

If you don't have enough drums, add small percussion to the mix. Shakers, scrapers, cowbells, and whistles are all great and still fit with the genre. Make sure you alternate instruments when you set them up around the circle, and then have students rotate through the instruments by switching chairs throughout the class period.

4. Always establish ground rules before you start

Before they even go sit down in the circle, I always have the class sit off to the side while I give them the first rule: don't touch the instruments, even by mistake, until I give you permission. After we are all seated quietly, I go over the rest of my rules:

• Because we are in a circle, it is very important that we not only think about what we say and do but also about what we show on our faces. Your facial expressions need to communicate appreciation and respect for each other when others are playing. When you are playing yourself, your facial expressions need to communicate confidence.
• Knowing that every person in the circle is being held to a high standard of respect, it is important for each participant to be creative and take risks. Don't just play what you already know you can do. Try something new.
• If you play your instrument when it is not your turn, even if it is by mistake, you will be asked to put your instrument down for a few minutes. If it happens repeatedly, you will be asked to leave the circle. In order to be able to play together as a united group, we need to be able to listen to each other even more keenly than we usually do.

5. Don't talk too much

Demonstrate and have them copy back (just point to them and they'll get it). You'll have to explain some things but most cultures that incorporate drum circles regularly practice a master-apprentice style of learning anyway. The less time they have to sit and listen to you talk without playing their instruments, the better :)

I think that's it from me! I'd love to hear other tips you may have to share as well- leave a comment!

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Mommy Monday: Dear Newly-Single Mom

Dear Newly-Single Mom,

Hi there. First, here's a hug. I'm so sorry that you're going through this. This stinks.

It has been almost 3 years since I first became suddenly single with 2 little babies. Let me tell you, it was rough. I cried. A lot. Questioned everything I ever believed. A lot. I'm writing this letter to you because when I felt really alone, one of the places to which I turned for solidarity was the internet. If you've found me, I hope you find some comfort from this.

Here's what I want to tell you:

• You're not alone. I promise. My situation that landed me here was pretty "out there", but with a little online digging I found a lot of people who had been through very similar experiences. No matter what it is that you're going through, I'm betting that you can find someone who has been there and can help put words to what you're feeling and experiencing. You may not be ready for advice yet, but having someone else express what you can't even fathom yet can be life-changing.
• You need real-life groupies. The internet is a great way to find people who can relate to your specific situation, no matter how obscure, but it is not the place to find the practical help you need right now. If you can, make it a priority to get you and your family as close to close family and/or friends as possible. If that's not an option, reach out to local people any way you can. You could try local churches (whether you share their faith or not), charities and social work organizations, or any sort of social group you belong to- gyms, book clubs, mom groups, whatever. Tell them what's going on and tell them exactly the kind of emotional and practical support you want. If you are too overwhelmed to even know what kind of support you need (that was me!), just keep being honest about where you are. Allow yourself to lean on them, and allow them to support you.
• Use your single mom card. Now. This is not the time to try to prove that you can do it all. Three years in and I have no shame using my "single mom card" to get help or as an excuse. Someone wants to get together for drinks and all you want to do is see your kids after being gone at work? "That's so nice, but I've been away from my kids a lot this week- I want to have some family time tonight". Someone wants to get together for drinks and you want to go but you don't have child care? "That sounds so awesome but I don't have anyone to watch the kids... (insert meaningful glance here)". Feeling overwhelmed? "Hey, can you come help me with dinner and bedtime?". I have learned that people want to help but they also don't want to be constantly asking or seem condescending. They will be happy you spoke up.
• You can do this. You may not know where you're going to live, how you're going to support your family, or even how you're going to survive, but you will because you have to. Moms have this built-in drive and you'll find that when you think something is impossible, you will figure out a way to make it happen. 
• Start writing. You've got way too many feelings and to-do lists to keep them in your head without exploding. Find a place to journal, and a system to write down to-do's and calendars. It could be digital or paper, but you need to get it out of your head and store it somewhere else.

You are going to be stretched in ways you've never imagined, but you are going to make it and your kids are too. If you don't know where else to turn, I'm here and happy to listen and help any way I can. You can comment on the blog or message me on Facebook.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth


Note from the author: I have started writing this post at least 20 times and it has taken me this long to finally write something I feel comfortable posting. If you know someone who is in this situation, I hope you will share this with them and offer them your support. Single parenting is not easy and should never be attempted alone!

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Giveaway!

Guess what?!? I've gotten together with a bunch of music sellers on TeachersPayTeachers to give away TWO $50 gift cards!!

This is perfect timing to stock up on stuff to survive the end of the year, or start getting ready for next year! I'm linking up with Music With Mrs. Tanenblatt to share some of my picks to use all this free TpT money on :)

I bought the K-4 interactive notebooks from The Yellow Brick Road a long time ago and I love them. Now Jennifer has gone and made some seriously wonderful updates to them, and I now really want the rest of the set! I teach K-6 so it would be awesome to have these for my older students. These interactive notebook files have saved me so much time. I put some of the pages into a notebook format, but I use many of them for assessments and worksheets separate from the notebook as well.

I am thinking of updating the visuals I use for introducing my overview of world music, which I do each spring with every grade K-6. This set would certainly simplify the process! I love that the files are already labeled with the country name. It would make it so much easier to find the flag I'm looking for.

My students and I always love the lessons I've used from Cori Bloom. This set for Spring looks amazing as usual!

Last but not least: here's a product from my own store that I'm excited to share with you! This week I shared my own planner for the coming school year (if you missed those posts scroll down or click on the "planner" label in the side menu). I have worked so hard on these planners and mine really does make a huge difference in my ability to stay organized!

Ready to win some free money to buy out your own TpT wishlist?? Entering is simple- go to each TpT or Facebook page and follow for an entry. Ready? You have until midnight EST Friday night, May 1st, to enter!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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