Webinar Description:
Step into a world where tiny hands make big connections—join us for an inspiring and interactive event focused on Montessori Food Prep for Toddlers. Tanya Pollock will lead us in discovering how food prep can transform our classrooms into a vibrant space of independence, grace, and community. Through photos, videos, and stories from the classroom, you’ll explore how even the youngest children can engage in meaningful, purposeful work. You’ll reflect on your own sensory memories and leave with practical tools, videos, and a take-home guide to start small in your own environment. Come curious, leave inspired!
How to Register For This Event:
Please note: You may register at any time before the live event on August 13th, 2025.
Registration for the event will close at 6:45 PM, 15 minutes before the start time. Be sure to secure your spot early!
About Tanya Pollock
Hello, my name is Tanya Pollock (she, her, hers). I graduated from the Center for Guided Montessori Studies in 2021. I have taught at Montessori Tides School for 9 years. I did the self-guided program at CGMS. I have been the lead guide directress of the toddler house for 4 years.I am adventurous and spiritual. I crave traveling, photography, nature, & playing pool. I share a wonderfully blessed life with my partner. I have 2 incredible children; my daughter is 13 and my son is 10.
My favorite thing about CGMS is that I was part of Susan Kennedy’s first cohort and it all smacked right in the middle of COVID lockdown! We all reinvented ourselves together that written epically in the history books! Montessori has given me perspective in way’s I grew as a mom and a guide that forever has left a blueprint on my soul. When I learned of the great perseverance Maria Montessori endured but trailblazed like the pioneer she is, I felt a new purpose within me. She gave me strength as a woman in my power and value to stand up for what is right and keep her legacy alive!
I created a cooking program within my toddler classroom. I made recipes that were gluten-free sugar-free and dairy-free. The snacks that we were getting every day were either the same no variety and just plain boring for tasting. I wanted more for these children and they did too. I made a flyer for parents that described the importance of grocery shopping with your child, making the list, talking about how the grocery store is set up, and letting them push the little cart if the store has one. From start to finish, how important their support at home is by getting their child involved. I also created a board book online, “The Recipe for Family Dinner Created by Montessori Children,” with photos of the process from start to finish that sold for a great price at last year’s fundraiser!
The children are assigned at the beginning of the year items to stock our pantry. And on the child special snack day, they brought in the fresh ingredients to complete our snack for the day. I used blenders, food processors, flat griddles, toaster ovens, choppers, peelers, zesters, and spices. All the senses were engaged. Language, serve and return, visual representation, touch and smell were all represented and then tasted together. The children love wearing their chef hats and aprons and pressing the buttons on the machines, plus talking about food that they bought with their family in the grocery store to share with their friends at school. The families love the recipes that we made; they made them at home with their children. They shared them with friends and were ultimately thrilled and amazed that their children were making such delicious things that nurtured their bodies and minds. It’s my favorite thing every day that we do together.
