Week 3, Term 1 2026 Newsletter
Curiosity
March 3rd 2026
It honestly gives me such joy each week to meet up with you and your little ones. The sharing and learning seems to flow naturally and there is a genuine feeling that you all support each other. It's lovely to see you all linger at the end and it's such an important time that I hate having to send you on your way but those embroidery ladies want their space! You could all bring some snacks, fill up your water bottles and walk down the road to the grassy patch and sit under the trees to finish your sharing?
THIS WEEK: Lets Find Out!
That's sort of why you come each week I think, to find out. In this sense though we are sowing the seed of life long learning for you and your little one. It's about being mindful of your little ones' discoveries and giving them the space to discover in whatever way they can.
We had lots of opportunities to see that in action this week with two of our group venturing away from Mum and exploring their world. Even those that weren't quite so mobile were taking in the setting and a “strange new moving object” in the form of one of our little movers.
The child under six is a sensorial learner but the child under three is an unconscious sensorial learner. That means everything is coming to them through feel, taste, sight, sound, smell, body position, balance and internal sensations, not through conscious thought. Allow them the freedom to find out by giving them time to move, the opportunity to experience new flavours, textures and colour once food is available to them and being outside to feel the breeze, light rain or warm sun on them.
By finding all this out you will be finding out about you too. Finding a new appreciation for the small things, noticing your change in priorities, your body's needs for sleep, nutrition and care just like your child.
There is always time to find out more and learn with fresh eyes. Remember most of this learning is right there in front of you if you want it so don’t rush to the screen for an answer when you can find out for yourself.
Recipe: Coconut Chai Cookies
Courtesy of Cook Republic
Ingredients;
220g cashew nuts, 45g desiccated coconut, 45g or brown or coconut sugar, 60ml olive oil, ½ teaspoon baking soda, 1 egg or flax seed egg.
½ tsp ground cardamom, ½ tsp ground ginger, ½ tsp ground cinnamon, 1/4tsp ground nutmeg, ¼ tsp allspice, ½ tsp fennel seeds, 6 cloves, 10 peppercorns.
Method:
Preheat the oven to 180c and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Process cashew nuts, sugar and coconut in a food processor until fine crumbs.
Place all the spices in a mortar and grind to a powder before adding to cashew mixture
In a separate bowl mix together oil, egg (flax egg) and baking soda.
Add wet mixture with dry and use your hands to mix well.
Scoop 1 tablespoon of the dough into your hand and roll into a ball, Place on the baking sheet and give it a slight flattening with a finger.
Bake for 12 mins until cooked, cool on a rack and store in an airtight container.
*If nut allergies substitute the cashews with sunflower seeds
** They can be vegan if the egg is substituted with the flax egg
RESOURCES:
Floor beds
I had a one on one conversation about mattress choice for a floor bed and so I thought I would share the links below with you all. No mattress other than a cot or bassinet will say it's safe for an under 6 month old because they don't consider it will be used by a baby.
Safety should always be the priority when transitioning to a floor bed. Preparing the room carefully helps create a secure environment that supports independence without unnecessary risk.
Ensure the room is fully baby-proofed, with furniture secured and hazards removed.
Use a firm, supportive mattress that sits flat on the floor. With our climate and if the bed isn't on slats it's a good idea to air it regularly .
Avoid loose bedding, pillows, and soft toys during sleep.
Always place babies on their back to sleep, following recommended safe sleep guidance.
Supervise early exploration, especially during the initial transition period. I often suggest starting with daytime naps so you can see how they move on the bed.
https://kitsmart.com.au/products/toddlers-bed-with-varaity-of-legs?variant=44060401959223
https://bedbuyer.com.au/best-kids-mattresses/
https://www.thenaturalbeddingcompany.com.au/collections/popular-childrens-mattresses
https://organature.com.au/collections/mattresses-futons
Go to the bottom of the page to review Ikea mattress
Weaning
The other topic we touched on lightly was weaning and we can definitely look at this more closely in coming weeks but these are my go to sites;
https://solidstarts.com/ this is an excellent resource but don’t feel you have to buy the app as there is plenty available for free via their Instagram.
https://boobtofood.com/ this is an Australian version and started on the Central Coast, Another incredible resource.
This week’s circle was guided by:
Sarah Breckenridge, Montessori 0–3 Guide
