I love this letter.
“The second development is a sudden desire to insert yourself into all conversations in your vicinity.“
This sentence is basically the story of my life right now.Are her shoes on backwards in that last shot? That’s awesome. My son puts his galoshes on that way too.
I love the “why” phase. I thought I would find it annoying but I don’t for the most part. I found that when they ask why to a question I have already answered multiple times, I just ask, “what do you think the answer is?“. They almost always give the correct answer and are proud that they know it.
And yes, inserting themselves into any and all conversations is tiring and frustrating. Mine are now good at saying “excuse me” but it’s that phrase over and over and over till we are finished. Usually louder too.
One thing my kids learned in Montessori was that if they needed to talk to the teacher who was already having a conversation with someone, they were to gently place a hand on the teachers arm. The teacher smiled at them and nodded without stopping her conversation. The child waited until the teacher looked at them again and said, “thank you for waiting”. That was their cue to speak. Sometimes another child came up and laid their hand on the arm of the first student and waited their turn. Holding still and being silent are required. It’s like a non verbal game of mother may I?
Annie - ALWAYS! The constant battle lol.
Jeneva - That’s brilliant, I’m going to try using “What do you think?“ and see how it goes. I don’t mind most of the why phase, it just drives me batty when the same why question is asked over and over and over even after the answer has been given lol.
Mitzie - I am in awe at that. How did they teach them this skill?! I MUST LEARN!!
The teacher will introduce the concept and the kids see their peers practicing it. Sometimes the teacher will ask a non-compliant student, “How do we wait?“ Sometimes they are corrected by the other students. Montessori kids teach each other. Primary has kids ages two to six so some are well versed role models.

By on September 25, 2012
LOVE the beach shot! Such a sweet letter!