The Cottage Montessori School

Dear Caregivers,

We would like to share two newly developed resources from Flourish Autism Consultancy & Training that may be of practical value in supporting conversations about Autism with families and colleagues, particularly within early years contexts.

The first resource is an Autism Early Years Information Guide, designed to support professionals in having clear, neuroaffirmative conversations with parents and caregivers about Autism. The guide provides accessible, strengths-based information that can be shared directly with families, while also serving as a reference point for staff teams. It is intended to support consistency of understanding across settings and to promote respectful, informed dialogue grounded in contemporary Autism understanding.

https://www.flourishautismconsultancyandtraining.com/early-years

The second resource is an early year's visual story; Noah’s Brain Is Autistic. This child-friendly social visual guide introduces Autism through the story of Noah, an Autistic child, using simple language and carefully considered visual design that is developmentally appropriate for early years settings. The story has been created to support inclusion, belonging, and positive identity development. It may be used within the setting or shared with families to support continuity of language and understanding between home and early learning environments.

https://www.flourishautismconsultancyandtraining.com/early-years

Both resources have been intentionally designed to be flexible in use and may support staff discussions, parent communication, and inclusive practice across early years settings.
You can find further information and additional resources on websites:
Flourish Autism Consultancy & Training: https://www.flourishautismconsultancyandtraining.com

Little Puddins Autism Specialist Resources: https://www.littlepuddins.ie

We had such a busy 1st week back after the long Christmas break.

We have 2 ECCE places available for September 2023. Please get in touch if you’re interested!

This little guy was found outside the school( Howth Presbyterian Church)this morning. It must have fallen out of a child’s buggy while walking by. He is safe and well but is missing hugs from his human!! Please help to reunite him with his owner who I’m sure is missing him very much! Carrots and water will be provided until he is reunited 🙂

I got some cancellations for September 2021. If you’re looking for a place please contact ASAP...they won’t be free for long!!

I know so many 3&4 year olds who would adore this!!

Thank you so much to Sabina Christensen from the Two Smart Cookies for making these delicious Welcome Back to School cookies and a personalised cookie pencil for all the wonderful children who returned to school with great big beaming smiles. It was so lovely to see them all again!

Did you know that a 3-year old (top left image) and a 6-year old (top right image) have significantly different skeletal structure in their hands?! Notice the bones in the wrist of the 3-year old -- many of them are still mostly cartilage! Look at all the spaces in between the bones where muscles and tendons will change through the years. Even the difference between a 6-year old and a 14-year old (lower right) is huge!

Preschoolers have SO much development to do before they can write the way school-aged children or adults can!

Please do NOT stress if your preschooler does not want to write or draw. Some love it and some don't.

While they are growing, strengthen those little bones and muscles! Here are some great pre-writing, muscle-strengthening activities:

* painting, drawing, coloring
* playdough
* tearing and cutting
* gluing
* poking holes in things (try toothpicks and paper!)
* digging in dirt
* building with LEGOS, marble runs, or other blocks
* beading (try beads, cut straws, or even bobbins!)
* puzzles
* squeezing (try stress balls, squeezing water in a sponge, or using a pipette)
* picking up and throwing balls (use different sizes!)
* playing with toys (watch what their little fingers do when they pick up and move little cars, marbles, action figures, etc!)

These all strengthen and help develop little hands, muscles, and bones. When they are physically ready to write, it will be so much easier than if they were pushed when they didn't want to and weren't ready!

Add another dimension to puzzle time!!

THE BEST GO-TO FOR YOUR MONDAY!

You know I love a "mash-up" activity (taking two activities you love and bringing them together!), and this puzzle bin is perfect! It's easy to setup, keeps little hands occupied for a while 😉, and covers so many early learning skills.

GRAB YOUR PUZZLES AND GET GOING -> https://busytoddler.com/2020/01/puzzle-sorting-station-toddler-activity/