Ruth Barker - The Parenting 5: Sensory Motor Play for Little People

THE PARENTING 5

The Parenting 5: Sensory Motor Play for Little People

Toddler Education Services Pty Ltd

Copyright Ruth Barker 2014
The moral right of the author has been asserted.
All rights reserved.
Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of the publication may be reproduced, stored in or transmitted, in any form or by means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the publisher of this book.

Text/cover design Georgina Collis, Inspiration Please
Images from Toddler Education Services Pty Ltd / Montessori 1:1
Montessori Child
From Little Things
Cleverstuff

Edition: 1st ISBN Print 978-0-9923103-0-1

ISBN E book: 978-0-9923103-1-8

National Library of Australia

These books are dedicated to all
the beautiful children that I have worked with
in the past 28 years. You have taught me all
that there is to be found in life.

In memory of my own mother
Olive Florence Sally Barker, who nurtured
me for the first ten years of my life.

Also, dedicated to my father Jack Barker,
his wife and my stepmother Eileen and my Uncle
Tom Barker. Growing up on our property meant
I had the best sensory motor experience a
child could ever want. I thank them for
this early opportunity.

And with love to my husband, Kevin Grover,
who encourages me to share all that I am.

Ruth Barker was raised on a remote wheat and sheep property in Western Australia. She knew she would work with children from a very early age, as she would teach her toys in the shearing shed.

Ruth went to Swanleigh Boarding Hostel in Perth where she was a Sunday school teacher, before going on to Edith Cowan University to study a Degree in Social Science, majoring in Child Development and Family Studies with a minor study in Applied Science (Consumer).

She spent a number of years working with children in the United Kingdom where she fell in love with the ideas of Dr. Maria Montessori. Ruth returned to Australia to study a Diploma of Montessori Education (Preschool).

From 2001 to 2011 Ruth was the Directress of a small preschool program in Adelaide, South Australia. Then in 2012 it closed and Ruth began Montessori 1:1, a successful business working with toddlers and young children making the transition to school. She specialised in the one to one mode of engaging children and showing parents and carers how to prepare early childhood environments.

In 2013 Ruth commenced Toddler Education Services Pty Ltd as an Education Consultant. She wrote the first of The Parenting 5 series and began speaking with groups of parents and carers about preschool development and the Montessori method.

In 2014 Montessori 1:1 and Toddler Education Services Pty Ltd merged together. Ruth consults in the home, presents seminars and writes as a columnist for websites and magazines. She educates little people in her private practice where her passions include early literacy development, helping children with special needs and writing childrens books.

The first book in the Parenting 5 series, Practical and Independent Little People was showcased at The Montessori Australia Early Childhood Education and Care Conference on the Gold Coast in March 2014, to a pleasing reception. It is available in both print and e book and acts as the precursor for this book and the remaining to come.

Ruths work can be accessed at:

www.toddlereducationservices.com.au

This website includes links to her books, articles and blog, recently described by one American University in the top 100 for education.

Find Ruth on Instagram or Facebook:

www.instagram.com/ruthbarker1970

www.facebook.com/Montessori11

Ruth has worked with hundreds of children in many applications over the past twenty-eight years.

Here are some of the recent testimonial statements:

Fantastic book, so easy to read and understand! Thank you! I cannot wait for Book Two and really looking forward to meeting you soon Ruth!

Cherie.

I am just writing to say a HUGE thank you to you! I cannot believe the turn around in our home in the past week. I have been implementing the techniques we have spoken about and that are contained in your book and I am truly amazed at the changes I have seen in J. He is so much happier and I feel like I am finally doing something right! I took him out and about today to do some jobs (the sort of thing that I usually avoid at all cost) and he was an absolute angel! We had such a great time that Im a bit sad that he has (childcare) tomorrow!

I have been truly blessed to have the opportunity to meet you and cannot thank you enough for the care and patience you have shown with J. I look forward to continuing to work with you as I know that I certainly have a long way to go but I at least know that I have found the right path.

Bianca.

Im currently reading your book and calculating how many copies Id need to ensure that I can give one to every new parent who starts in our Nido Montessori Playgroup at Jescott! We definitely have some collaborating to do Ruth Barker!

Jessica, Head of Jescott Montessori School and Montessori Child Shop, Adelaide, Australia.

Welcome to The Parenting 5. Over many years parents and carers have asked for practical guidance in the home or childcare setting, preferably without the jargon that comes with early childhood philosophies and behaviour management theories. The Parenting 5 comprises of five books to support parents and carers in developing environments that will assist preschool children to reach potential. Each book offers the application of advice through simple words and photography.

The books consist of:

1. Practical and Independent Little People

2. Sensory Motor Play for Little People

3. Developing Language and Literacy

4. Developing the Mathematical Mind

5. The World Around Them

The Parenting 5 series is best read in chronological order.

Experience throughout the early years lays the foundation for both neurological and physical wellbeing. An excellent early environment delivers readiness for life. Never again is there a period that is so influential on the make up of the human being.

The first 6 yrs of life are when the majority of our brain architecture is formed. The exceptionally strong influence early experience on brain architecture makes the early years of life a period of great opportunity and great vulnerability. Critical aspects of brain architecture begin to be shaped before and after birth and many fundamental aspects of architecture are established well before a child enters school.

Centre on the Developing Child at Harvard University.

Children come into the world with unlimited potential for delight and immediately commence the awe inspiring task of self-construction. The prime matter for this great work they find in their environment.

Renilde Montessori, The Common Sense of Montessori Pedagogy.

Young children have innate traits that allow development to occur without much influence from the parent or carer. Children draw information incessantly from their environment to build neural pathways through a need to be independent, to show attention and concentration, a desire for self motivated exploration and to be creative, amongst other tendencies. All the adult need do is provide a prepared environment that allows this natural process to manifest.

Preschoolers require pursuits they can actively engage with their hands. The Parenting 5 books emphasise life skills and sensory and motor (movement) activities as the most important modes for early development.