The Aussie brand bringing back old-school values with style

Many of us remember, with nostalgia, the days of our youth – when we’d do our share of work around the house and help set the dinner table without complaint.

Today’s kids are a different bunch, and getting them to help out can be quite a chore!

But what if we told you there was a simple solution to the mealtime mess?

Members, today we have news that you’ll want to pass on to your own children or anyone raising young children. You might even be interested when your grandchildren come to visit!



Now, we all know that mealtimes can get messy quickly* when young children are involved. As toddlers explore their independence, they're still learning skills like using utensils and staying seated. That's where Montessori Mates come in.*

Table manners* are important building blocks for toddlers. They begin to learn how to properly hold and use utensils. Developing these fine motor skills also boosts hand-eye coordination. Just as significantly, mealtimes offer a consistent routine to help toddlers feel secure.

The Montessori philosophy of education* places a strong emphasis on practical life skills that help children develop independence, order, and focus. Mealtimes are the perfect opportunity for kids to practise these valuable abilities, and Montessori Mates placemats* make it fun and engaging for them to participate.

These unique silicone placemats* feature raised outlines of each piece of dinnerware – plates, cups, bowls, cutlery – giving kids a tactile guide for properly setting their place at the table.



Plus, the non-slip backing keeps everything secure as little hands practice holding utensils*, and spills and messes stay contained on the easy-to-clean mat.


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Make table manners a breeze! Image Credit: Montessori Mates



‘I bought this mat three years ago when my first child started solids. He still uses it every day and loves it! The plate doesn’t slide, which makes it easier for him to eat. And he loves putting his spoon, fork and cup in the right spot. His little sister has one too now.’ said one happy customer*.

They continued*, saying, 'They also saved my table, as he sometimes would hit the table with the fork, but the mat prevents damage. The mat still looks brand new after three years!'

‘I was hesitant to get this as I didn’t think it was necessary. I’m glad I did, as my two years old loves it. She will get it every mealtime and place her cutlery on the allocated spots.’ praised another customer*.



Founder Maria Montessori started with a mission*: to help children be respectfully raised with independence, confidence, and autonomy.

With this mission, Montessori* saw the value in letting children use glass cups and real dinnerware* to ‘learn the natural consequence of dropping something fragile’. Children will also ‘feel more included at the table* because their tableware is not that much different to the rest of the family's.’

‘... give children china, plates, glass drinking-vessels and fragile ornaments, for these objects become the denouncers of rough, disorderly and undisciplined movements. Thus the child is led to correct himself, and he accordingly trains himself not to knock against, overturn, and break things.’
- Maria Montessori*

Montessori Mates also offers cooking kits* and toys to spark early learning*. Beyond placemats*, their products encourage developing life skills through play*.



Key Takeaways



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Their best-selling placemat. Image Credit: Montessori Mates



You can buy the Original+ Montessori Mates® Silicone Placemat for $39.99*, now with knife and napkin outlines!

With Montessori Mates placemats*, the whole family can relax and enjoy mealtimes together – thanks to one simple tool making table manners teaching fun and easy*! So how about we bring back some old-school manners?

After all, many of us grew up with glass cups and the responsibility of setting the table and we turned out alright. ;)

What do you think of this idea, members? Will you be recommending this to your friends and family? Or is this going on your Christmas gift list? I’m planning on purchasing The Starter Set* for my nephew!

*Please note, members, that this is a sponsored article. All content of ours that has an asterisk next to it means we may get a commission when you click on a link – at no cost to you! We do this to assist with the costs of running the SDC. Thank you!
 
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Love the principle behind Montessori and their approach to teaching kids to be respectful adults- my children only used glass tumblers and china plates - they didn’t walk around to eat so we didn’t have many breakages. Plastic was for picnics or eating out of doors.
My parents taught us manners ,no mat required.
 
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I could never understand the logic behind the "keep your elbows off the table" rubbish. The huge majority of people have two arms, and those arms have elbows and hands as components of the arms. Don't know of anyone who can remove their elbows and put them aside while they partake in the evening meal at the dining table. "Love, just put your elbows on the sideboard over there...out of the way".

Ahh...the ever disappearing dining table, now a purposeless showcase that is sometimes used as a receptacle for a bowl of fruit and little else. It astounds me that people spend 1000s of dollars on a dining setting with chairs - just to look at it! Most people eat in the living room, watching the idiot box these days.

I could go on....
Some of us live to a higher standard.
 
My children had special bowls and plates which had a curved lip on them which taught them how to lift up a spoon without dropping the food. Did anyone have these for their kids? They were red in colour and also had a rubber rim on the bottom to stop the plate/bowl slipping around.
 
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As a kid, I used to feign running to the toilet at dinner time to deposit a mouthful of mashed pumpkin into the bowl.

Couldn't stand the crap!
I used to do that when served liver for dinner. Unfortunately I didn’t get away with it for long. My mum would check to be sure my mouth was empty before I could leave the table.
 
I can remember having ceramic cup, bowl etc with a pattern on with animals & other characters. I also had a ceramic mug with a rabbit moulded on the side & a whistle on top, possibly similar to those on the mugs of old.

[In the days of old in the Taverns, Tankards had a whistle on top of them which patrons would blow to indicate to the Barman that they wanted a refill].
 
I can remember having ceramic cup, bowl etc with a pattern on with animals & other characters. I also had a ceramic mug with a rabbit moulded on the side & a whistle on top, possibly similar to those on the mugs of old.

[In the days of old in the Taverns, Tankards had a whistle on top of them which patrons would blow to indicate to the Barman that they wanted a refill].
🤩🤩
 

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