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The perfect City Stroller

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Navigating the urban jungle can be a tricky business, especially when you’re equipped with a little one in tow. The challenges of crowded sidewalks, tight corners, public transport, and compact living spaces call for a stroller that’s versatile, durable, and compact. But what are the specific attributes a stroller needs to make it the best city stroller for urban families? Let’s break it down.

Compact and Easy to Fold

The first attribute to look for in a city stroller is compactness. Space is a premium in most cities – whether that’s apartment living, navigating crowded pavements, or using public transportation. Look for a stroller that’s compact when unfolded, but also easy to fold and compact when folded. This feature will allow for seamless storage in smaller spaces and make hopping on and off buses or trains a breeze.

Light and Easy to Maneuver

Weight and maneuverability are critical when you’re zipping around the city. An ideal city stroller should be lightweight yet robust enough to withstand daily use. An agile stroller with a tight turn radius and swivel wheels can significantly ease your way through narrow store aisles, crowded streets, and tight corners.

Robust and Durable

A stroller used in the city needs to be robust and durable. It should be able to withstand the rigors of frequent use, the uneven terrain of city streets, and the occasional bump into curbs or doors. Look for strollers with sturdy frames and high-quality fabric that can resist wear and tear.

Versatile and Adaptable

The fast-paced city life often calls for flexibility. Therefore, a city stroller should be versatile and adaptable to various situations. This could mean having a reversible seat (so your child can face you or the world), being travel-system compatible (able to accommodate a car seat), or having an adjustable handlebar to suit parents of different heights.

Safety Features of a City Stroller

Just because you’re in the city doesn’t mean you should compromise on safety. The stroller should have a reliable brake system, preferably linked brakes that can be activated with one step. A 5-point safety harness to keep your child secure is another must-have feature. And, if you plan on using the stroller in the evening, reflective accents can enhance visibility.

Comfort Elements

Last but certainly not least, comfort should be a top consideration. Look for strollers that offer a smooth ride. This usually means a good suspension system and air-filled or foam-filled tires. Adjustable recline positions and a generous canopy for sun and rain protection are also essential for your little one’s comfort.

Sustainability

In today’s environment-conscious world, the sustainability factor is gaining importance. Brands that take an eco-friendly approach in their manufacturing process, use recyclable materials, and avoid harsh chemicals are a better choice for those who want to minimize their environmental impact.

Our Choice for the best City Stroller: The Doona

Doona Stroller

The Doona fulfills the most criteria and is our choice as the best stroller for city families.

Tight corners, crowded streets, public transportation, small living spaces – all demand a flexible, compact, and yet comfortable solution. Here’s where the Doona stroller steals the spotlight. Lauded by parents across the globe, we celebrate the Doona stroller as the best stroller for city families. But why is it so? 

Versatility at Its Best

Unlike traditional strollers, the Doona stroller doubles as a car seat, shifting between modes seamlessly. This 2-in-1 functionality makes it perfect for city living, where frequent shifts between walking, driving, or even hailing a taxi are commonplace. The Doona’s latch system facilitates a swift, secure, and straightforward installation in a vehicle – eliminating the need for a separate car seat base. This means no more juggling multiple pieces of equipment during your city adventures.

Compact and Space-Savvy Design

Space is often a luxury in the city. The Doona stroller shines with its compact design, capable of fitting in tight spaces that are often found in urban environments, such as small elevators, narrow shop aisles, and compact apartments. The stroller also easily folds up to become even more compact, perfect for storing in small city apartments or carrying onto public transportation.

Simple and Speedy Transformation

One of the biggest selling points of the Doona stroller is its simple and fast transformation from car seat to stroller. With a single, smooth motion, it converts, no assembly required. This feature is a godsend for parents navigating busy city streets or running quick errands. Less time fiddling with your stroller means more time enjoying the city with your little one.

Exceptional Safety Features

Safety is of paramount importance when it comes to children’s gear, and the Doona stroller does not compromise in this area. As a car seat, it meets (and often surpasses) all relevant safety standards. It features a 5-point harness, adjustable handlebar that acts as an anti-rebound bar inside the car, and side-impact protection. This comprehensive safety package gives city families the peace of mind they need when strolling or driving.

User-Friendly and Comfort-Driven

Finally, the Doona stroller scores high on the comfort scale. With its fully integrated wheels, the Doona stroller ensures a smooth ride on various city terrains. The stroller also features a fully ergonomic design, providing optimal comfort and posture for your baby, while the extendable canopy offers additional protection against the sun, rain, or city pollution.

Going Green

In a time where environmental consciousness is of utmost importance, Doona is not left behind. The Doona stroller is made with baby-safe materials and is free from harsh chemicals. The brand is committed to upholding high environmental standards throughout their production process, making it an excellent choice for eco-conscious city dwellers.

Where to buy the best City Stroller

You can buy the Doona in a lot of online shops and also your local retailer. We definitely recommend to try it our in your local baby shop and order it online at Amazon for the good return policy.

BuyThe best City Stroller "The Doona"

Find more must have products for your baby in our baby registry. 

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Maintaining the Montessori Approach in Pre-School

Transitioning your child from a Montessori toddler program to a Montessori pre-school can be an exciting yet challenging time. As your child continues to grow and develop, their learning needs and interests will evolve. Maintaining the Montessori approach during these critical pre-school years will be vital to ensuring your child’s love for learning continues to flourish. Here are some strategies that can assist you in implementing the Montessori approach at home during your child’s pre-school years.

Encourage Exploration

The pre-school years are a time of profound curiosity. At this age, your child is beginning to ask more complex questions about the world around them. Encourage this exploratory behavior by creating opportunities for learning and discovery. Take them on visits to museums, libraries, or local parks. Engage in experiments, crafts, or cooking activities together at home. Ask open-ended questions to stimulate their thinking and problem-solving skills.

Embracing Practical Experiences

As your child dives deeper into their pre-school years, their capacity to understand and engage with the world around them dramatically increases. You can turn everyday activities into exploratory adventures. For instance, a trip to the grocery store can be an opportunity to learn about different types of fruits and vegetables, their origins, or how they grow. At home, you could involve your child in meal preparation, explaining how ingredients come together to form a dish.

Experiential Outings

Pre-schoolers are budding explorers, eager to understand their surroundings. Take advantage of local resources to foster this curiosity. You might take your child to the zoo and discuss different animals and their habitats, or to a science museum where they can learn about the planets, the human body, or dinosaurs. A walk in a botanical garden can be a great opportunity to learn about different plant species, colors, and the importance of nature in our lives.

Interactive Projects

Involve your child in hands-on, interactive projects at home. You might start a simple gardening project where your child can plant seeds, water them, and watch them grow, learning about the lifecycle of plants. If your child is interested in space, you could make a model solar system. For craft-oriented children, creating a scrapbook of family pictures or a nature-themed collage can be a fun and educational activity.

Fostering Questioning Skills

Your child’s growing ability to ask questions is a critical step in their cognitive development. Foster this by asking them open-ended questions that encourage critical thinking. For instance, instead of asking, “Did you like the story?”, you could ask, “What do you think the story was trying to tell us?” or “How would you feel if you were in the protagonist’s place?”

By adopting these strategies, you can turn your child’s pre-school years into a period of profound exploration and discovery, effectively extending the Montessori philosophy into this crucial stage of their life.

Maintain the Prepared Environment

Just like in the toddler years, the prepared environment remains key in the pre-school years. Continue to create a child-friendly space at home that mirrors their Montessori pre-school environment. Make materials and resources easily accessible and organize them in a way that encourages independence and self-guided learning.

Creating Child-Sized Spaces

Consider designing areas in your home where everything is within your child’s reach. A low shelf in the kitchen stocked with their plates, cups, and utensils can promote self-reliance during meal times. Similarly, setting up a small table and chairs where they can do crafts or homework can encourage self-directed activity.

Organizing Learning Materials

Divide resources and materials into various categories and place them on accessible shelves or baskets. For example, you can have separate areas for books, puzzles, art supplies, and nature materials. This encourages your child to return the materials to their designated spots after use, promoting order and responsibility.

Integrating Nature

An important aspect of a prepared environment is the integration of nature. Provide indoor plants that your child can help take care of, or a pet they can learn to feed and nurture. You could also have a ‘nature tray’ filled with found objects like pine cones, shells, or leaves that they can explore.

Allowing for Movement

Make sure the space allows for ample movement. Include open areas for activities like dancing, yoga or pretend play. An outdoor space, if available, can be equipped with tools for digging, planting, or simply observing nature.

Designing Quiet Spaces

It’s equally essential to have quiet spaces for more focused activities like reading or puzzle solving. A cozy corner with pillows and a bookshelf can become an inviting reading nook.

By maintaining a prepared environment, you support your child’s growing need for independence, exploration, and self-guided learning during the crucial pre-school years. The environment should be dynamic, changing as your child grows and their interests evolve, always supporting their journey of discovery and learning.

Respect the Child

Montessori education emphasizes respect for the child. This means recognizing your pre-schooler as a unique individual with their own feelings, ideas, and pace of development. Listen to them, involve them in decisions where appropriate, and show them that their opinions matter. This respect fosters their self-confidence and sense of worth.

Including them in Decision-Making

Involving your child in age-appropriate decisions fosters a sense of importance and teaches them about decision-making. For example, you could ask your child what they would like to wear for the day or what they prefer for a snack. Remember, the goal isn’t to burden them with choices beyond their capacity, but to let them practice making decisions within safe and reasonable parameters.

Validating their Feelings

Your child’s feelings are real and important, and they should feel safe to express them. If your child is upset, don’t dismiss their feelings as trivial. Instead, acknowledge them by saying, “I can see that you’re really upset because you can’t find your favorite toy.” This validates their emotions and lets them know it’s okay to express their feelings.

Showing Interest in their Activities

Show genuine interest in what your child is doing. If they’re building a tower with blocks, sit down with them, and engage in their play. Ask them about their creation, listen attentively, and respond with enthusiasm. This shows that you value their activities and boosts their self-confidence.

Respecting their Pace of Development

Every child develops at their own pace, and it’s important to respect this. Don’t rush your child to achieve milestones; instead, provide them with the resources and support they need to grow at their own pace. For instance, if your child is not yet ready to write, offer them plenty of opportunities for fine motor skills development, like threading beads or manipulating playdough, until they are ready.

By treating your pre-schooler with respect, you are not only reinforcing their self-worth and confidence but also modeling how to treat others with respect and consideration. This is an invaluable life lesson that goes well beyond the pre-school years.

Implementing Montessori Work Cycle

The Montessori work cycle is designed to allow the child to choose an activity, concentrate on it, complete it, and clean up afterward. Encourage this routine at home to foster self-discipline, concentration, and a sense of achievement. The work cycle can be adapted to various activities such as meal preparation, cleaning up toys, or self-care routines.

Choosing the Activity

Encourage your child to choose what they want to do. This could be as simple as selecting a book to read, a toy to play with, or choosing between two activities. Involving them in the decision-making process reinforces their sense of independence and autonomy.

Concentrating on the Activity

Once your child has chosen an activity, allow them to focus on it without interruption. You may need to ensure a quiet, distraction-free environment for them to do this. For instance, if your child has chosen to build with blocks, turn off the TV and allow them to focus completely on their task. Encouraging deep concentration helps foster their cognitive development.

Completing the Activity

Allow your child to complete their chosen activity at their own pace, resisting the urge to intervene unless necessary. If they’re struggling, offer gentle guidance but avoid doing it for them. This encourages perseverance and problem-solving skills. For example, if they’re trying to complete a puzzle, give them time to figure it out rather than stepping in and solving it for them.

Cleaning Up Afterwards

Once the activity is finished, encourage your child to clean up. This instills a sense of responsibility and respect for their environment. Make sure cleaning supplies, like small brooms or toy bins, are accessible for your child. Use this as an opportunity to teach them about organizing and categorizing – for instance, books go on the shelf, blocks go in the bin, and so on.

By implementing the Montessori work cycle at home, you’re helping your pre-schooler build key life skills such as concentration, responsibility, and independence, all while reinforcing their sense of autonomy and accomplishment. This will serve them well not just in their preschool years, but also in their future learning journeys.

Foster Social Skills

Montessori pre-schools emphasize the development of social skills and conflict resolution. Playdates, group activities, or family gatherings can serve as opportunities for your child to practice these skills. Guide them on how to navigate social situations, share, take turns, and solve disagreements peacefully.

Playdates

Montessori pre-schools emphasize the development of social skills and conflict resolution. Playdates, group activities, or family gatherings can serve as opportunities for your child to practice these skills. Guide them on how to navigate social situations, share, take turns, and solve disagreements peacefully.

Promote Practical Life Skills

Continue to promote practical life skills. Whether it’s dressing themselves, setting the table, or gardening, these activities foster independence, coordination, and a sense of responsibility. They are also a great way to help your child feel capable and competent.

Dressing Themselves

Continue to promote practical life skills. Whether it’s dressing themselves, setting the table, or gardening, these activities foster independence, coordination, and a sense of responsibility. They are also a great way to help your child feel capable and competent.

The Montessori Approach in Pre-School

Remember, transitioning to pre-school doesn’t mean leaving the Montessori philosophy behind. On the contrary, the pre-school years are an opportune time to reinforce the Montessori principles of independent learning, respect, and exploration. As you guide your child through this transition, always remember to “follow the child,” and the rest will fall into place.