Doing the dishes and laundry

Today we got Adelaide some play dishes and cooking utensils (from IKEA). We found them and decided to buy, back when we thought we are going to get her the IKEA play kitchen (but decided to make our own). I liked these dishes, because they are from metal and look totally real. Of course, these cannot be used for actual cooking (at least not with heat), but for some pretend play.

Adelaide immediately started washing them, as we got home. :)

We might make her some play stove for cooking, we'll see. For now she was happy with them as they are.

From IKEA we also got her an easel-blackboard (white board on the other side), as well as the paper roll for drawing. We probably will cut the legs shorter for this one, to make it more comfortable for her.

Another recent purchase for Adelaide is this cloth drying rack. She has always assisted me with the wet cloth hanging process, usually passing me the clothes.. For some time she wasn't that interested, but then the wish to help came back even stronger. She really wanted to take clothes herself and hang them. However, our cloth drying rack is too high for her. So we bought her this one (it's real and I think works better than a pretend play one that's made specially for children, also it was cheaper), and today she helped me to hang the freshly washed cloth diapers.

(We use cloth diapers with both of our children - mostly Bambino Mio two-in-all's with the cotton inserts. Right now we have 2 sets in use - the size 1 for Jasmiina and size 2 for Adelaide (she is not yet using the potty). I have written about the cloth diapers before, when Adelaide was little - here, and I definitely suggest to use cloth, as it is easy and comfortable, a million times cheaper and better for the child and for the nature.)

The ones that I hung up and Adelaide's work. I helped to straighten them out a bit afterwards, but overall I think she did a great job. :)

Once the weather is a bit warmer and we start to dry clothes mostly outside, we'll put up a wire low enough for her to use.

Letting children to participate in everyday household work (practical life as it's called in Montessori) is extremely important and is one of the main things that children should master in the first 3 years of their life.. And also after that, of course.

And Jasmiina.. observing and being a part of everything. :) At least when she's not asleep.