Quiet Work

I love my Stay At Home Mom gig.

I feel like I am exactly where God wants me to be. And while I'm still working on slowing myself down enough to actually enjoy the little moments, I feel like I am getting the hang of it.

And as much as I love spending every second with Josie Kat, she's a talker.

I remember talking to Andrew around her first birthday wondering if she was ever going to talk. Oh, we couldn't wait to hear what her little voice was going to sound like.

Well, we get lots of practice listening to her little munchkin voice and as sweet as it is, around my 10th hour of talking with her, I start to crave a few minutes of quiet.

So I came up with Quiet Work.

It's a spin on the Montessori Shelves that has not only been nice for me, but something Josie looks forward to.

Quiet Work is just what it sounds like. Work that she has to sit and do quietly. They are things that are interesting and challanging for her.

I only put out 6 options at a time. I rotate an old thing out and a new thing in every week. It's all at her level on a shelf in our bookcase.

She gets so excited when I tell her it's time to do some quiet work!

She knows to pick her work, sit at the table, and then to put that work away before she picks anything else.

And did I mention it's cheap?!?!

Here's what is in her Quiet Work area this week:

A shape puzzle from the Dollar Spot at Target.

A sewing kit from Aunt Suzy!

A Magnetic Storyboard from Aunt Suzy!

The Ragtag Alphabet that I made her.

Melissa and Doug Beading.

2 Jars.

Seriously guys, I've started saving jars and toilet paper rolls and all kinds of trash and finding way to make them into toys!

This quiet work was meant to just work on her hand eye coordination, but she uses it for a ton of other things!

Yesterday we rotated in a simple strip of metal and some colorful magnets to work on colors.

She was quiet for a loonngg time! That's successful Quiet Work!

And I love working with her.

Now that we are starting Little School I'll be adding more things that can help her learn.