SAFE TOYS AND OTHER GIFTS FOR CHILDREN

MICHAEL OLAF MONTESSORI: TOYS AND OTHER PRODUCTS FOR CHILDREN DURING THE HOLIDAYS, BABY SHOWERS, and OTHER GIFTING TIMES

For twenty-five years the Michael Olaf company has lead the field of providing safe, non-toxic, life-affirming toys and materials for children. Toys banned in Europe are still legal in the USA, but not from the Michael Olaf company. Here is an article of interest to all on this subject published by our friends at Sentient Times here in the Pacific Northwest: safe toys

Each year we have an alternative "fundraiser" one the provided guidance to parents as much as appropriate toys and books for their children. At the same time it provided credit toward Michael Olaf purchases in the new year.

Return to the Michael Olaf home page return

As always The Michael Olaf 2007 "fundraiser" was a unprecedented success and we thank everyone involved. This holiday season many lucky children will enjoyed toys that are made of natural materials and that engage them in the healing experience of concentration, materials that support the child's participation in the daily life of the family, and that plant the seeds of curiosity about our wonderful world. Schools, with their earned credit, will enjoy the same quality for their classrooms.

If you were not able to participate this year, it is not too early to contact us for next year. We would like to thank everyone, from the bottom of our hearts, for helping us to share this great work. And we wish the happiest of holiday seasons to you and your loved ones. Happy New Year.

FUNDRAISER CREDiT. Many new schools really need materials for their classrooms, but established ones know that "less is more" for the students, and several of these schools have contacted us for ideas on how to use their fundraiser credit to help others. For this purpose we recommend involving children with the Montessori-related project links at thie site: children's projects

The children can contact the organization of their choice, order the Michael Olaf products that would be most helpful, and ship them, often with donations of their own. One school even earned the money to ship the items by holding a car wash!

THE MICHAEL OLAF MONTESSORI COMPANY'S MAIN WORK: HELPING TO RAISE AND EDUCATE CHILDREN FOR A BETTER FUTURE

For twenty-five years the Michael Olaf Montessori Company has provided invaluable information, for parents and teachers, on providing a healthy, stimulating, inspiring educational environment for children from birth to age 12 and beyond. In general we strive to offer fewer products, and more information on how to raise children in the wonderful Montessori way.

As we become more involved with helping children in cultures different from our own (see: projects), we realize that many schools and certainly many homes in our country, have too much unnecessary stuff. This complicates life and scatters the child's precious energies.

Over the years thousands of parents, grandparents, teachers and others interested in the welfare of children have utilized the Michael Olaf publications (The Joyful Child, for Birth to Three and Child of the World, for Ages 3-12+) as guidance, and to give ideas of what to remove from the home and classroom, as much as for ideas for what to provide. It is these wise people, with thought to the future of mankind, who have helped Michael Olaf grow.

We may be able to help our children more by letting them expedience giving doing, helping, rather than receiving. Our customers are interested in the Michael Olaf catalogue as a way to share such gems of Montessori philosophy with others, and to help them choose wisely when purchasing things for their children.

This year The Michael Olaf publications have begun to be translated into other languages (see Joyful Child - look for the picture of the Great Wall of China), and to be used with Montessori adolescent students to prepare them for being wise parents and adults, schooled in the importance of the first years of life and true education.

NOTE: This Birth to Three information is highly appreciated by new parents-to-be and makes for wonderful baby shower information and gifts.

Other recommendations: quotes

MICHAEL OLAF MONTESSORI, DETAILS OF THE 2008 FUNDRAISER

You may sign up now to participate in the 2008 Michael Olaf Alternative Fundraiser, one that provides parenting information above all, a wise selection of gifts for children, and credit toward purchases for your school or parent group.

Contact the Michael Olaf Company to register:

The Michael Olaf Montessori Company
65 Ericson Court
Arcata, CA 95521
PHONE: 707-826-1557
E-MAIL: michaelola@aol.com

PARENT EDUCATION AND 2007 FUNDRAISER
FOR SCHOOLS AND PARENT GROUPS IN THE USA
September 1 — the Friday before Thanksgiving

ORDER FORM (a pdf file)

You will need your school customer number (SCN) to participate, then you may use the printed publication/catalogue that your school orders for you, or that you order for yourself, or you may use the pdf file prints of the catalogues on line:

The Joyful Child, Birth to Three: JC Contents
Child of the World, 3-12 Years: CW Contents

The Michael Olaf catalogues are considered by many the greatest tool available for helping bridge the gap between Montessori schools and their families, helping parents understand the Montessori philosophy and apply it in the home. The text is written by a teacher trained at all three levels (0-3, 3-6, 6-12) with 35 years of experience. By means of the Michael Olaf catalogues parents come to more fully appreciate the work of their children's Montessori teachers and Montessori school staff.

We offer the catalogues to you for the cost of shipping and handling, or $1.50 each. We urge you get them into the hands of school parents, expectant parents, anyone who comes to you for information on Montessori. Many schools have them available for families on their waiting list. Children who have this exposure at home are well on their way to being normalized when they enter the school, making the work easier for all.
If you purchase catalogues for your families and would like to participate in our no-work Fall Fund-raiser, September 1 - (different each year), follow these steps:

1. Contact Michael Olaf to get your SCN (school customer number) and order catalogues. Any catalogue order of more than 10 copies, of either The Joyful Child (birth-3) or Child of the World (3-12) qualifies for the $1.50 per copy price. This is a special USA fundraiser price and included shipping.

2. Go to www.michaelolaf.com, click "fundraiser", print out the pdf "2006 fundraiser order form", fill in your SCN, and make copies to pass out to school families with the catalogues when they arrive. You will also received a master personalized order form with your catalogue order.

3. Internet alternative: give the parents your SCN in a newsletter and tell them to go to www.michaelolaf.com, print out the "2006 fundraiser order form" and select items to order from the catalogue pdf's linked to this site. Although this is an alternative, most parents appreciate having the print copy to study at their leisure so we recommend ordering catalogues even if you make use of this alternative.

4. Parents place their order directly to Michael Olaf, no work for you. We keep track of the total amount ordered that has been identified by your SCN, and send you 10% credit for Michael Olaf materials after the holidays.

5. Important points to remember:

—Any order forms printed out to mail in must be on white paper.
—Anyone connected with your school can order.
—Schools who begin this process early often have parents ordering more than once.
—You can not market your school too often, bulletin boards, notes with children, etc.
—THE FUNDRAISER ENDS THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING.

If you have any questions please contact us. We enjoy working with you to make the world a better place for our children and we wish you the best for a successful school year.