Child's Play: Montessori Games and Activities

Title: Child’s Play: Montessori Games and Activities for Your Baby and Toddler
Author: Maja Pitamic
Publication Year: 2009
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Review: If someone were at a complete loss with what to do with their baby or toddler, I might possibly say this is a decent resource. However, anyone who was ever a kid at some point could probably pass this book up. It spends multiple pages discussing ideas that could be said as simply as “Have a picnic”, “Bang on pots and pans”, “Build a sand castle”, or “Sing ‘If You’re Happy and You Know It.’” I don’t think anyone really needs such explicit instructions.

Other ideas which I found oddly detailed described make-believe play. For example, the author chose to write out step by step instructions for pretending to go on a treasure hunt that include steps such as “Remind them that as they are going to the beach, they will need to put on a sun hat and sunscreen. Get them to pretend to do these things.” It just really seems to take all the spontaneity out of what should be a fun, natural, unplanned activity for a child.

On top of all this, I don’t find the ideas to be particularly, “Montessori”, not that that’s necessarily a bad thing, but it is in the title which I feel is pretty misleading. (Personal Rating: 5/10)