It is truly a joy to see the wonder and awe that fill young children during seemingly mundane tasks. Everyday activities including getting dressed, brushing one’s teeth, sweeping the floor, setting the table, and preparing a meal are engaging and exciting. They not only present the child with new challenges, but allow them to make discoveries about the world in which they live.

Practical Life activities are a hallmark of the Montessori Method that help children learn how to take care of themselves, others, and their environment. The introduction of these tasks take full advantage of the child’s innate motivation to learn these skills at a very young age. In fact, Maria Montessori (2017, 49) once stated when speaking to parents, “We do not teach the children these things to make little servants of them, but because we have observed that of their own accord children actually take the greatest interest in perfecting all the movements of daily life.”

What are Practical Life Activities?

Practical Life activities are the activities of everyday life. According to Montessori (1948, 65), they fulfill a child’s “most vital need of their development” which they reveal through the inner plea, “Help me to do it alone!” They are applicable to children of all ages and change as the child continues to grow and develop. For a toddler, these skills might include learning to pull up one’s pants or wash their hands. For an Elementary-aged child or adolescent, these activities might include managing money, planning and preparing family meals, or developing a business plan.

Although these activities might seem simple to adults, they harness the potential for children to develop a sense of pride and self-concept as they learn how to independently care for themselves, others, and their environment. They also lay the foundation for later academic learning as they allow the child to develop concentration, coordination, and a sense of order. These mundane tasks truly are an aid to life.

In the classroom, some common Practical Life activities include:

• Hand washing
• Flower arranging
• Dish washing
• Sweeping
• Watering plants
• Squeezing oranges to make fresh orange juice
• Peeling and slicing a banana
• Spreading crackers
• Blowing one’s nose
• Coughing and sneezing politely

Bringing Practical Life Activities into the Home

Since Practical Life skills are common everyday tasks, it is actually quite easy to incorporate these activities at home. In most cases, no special materials are needed and very little preparation is required.

Here are some simple ideas of Practical Life activities in the home:

• Helping with the laundry—bringing laundry to the basket, putting clothes in the washing machine, transferring clothes to the dryer, adding soap, sorting and folding the clean laundry
• Getting dressed and undressed
• Brushing one’s hair
• Brushing one’s teeth
• Hand washing
• Dish washing
• Table setting
• Helping prepare meals—scooping, mixing, pouring, measuring, washing vegetables, slicing

Here are 8 Tips for Bringing Practical Life Activities into the Home:

Prepare the environment.

Have cleaning supplies nearby and ready, within reach and eye level of the child. Keeping items like a hand towel, a child-sized broom and mop nearby helps to clean up small spills and larger messes easily.

Model the process.

As with all new activities, demonstrate how to do the task first. Use slow, deliberate movements, letting the child concentrate on each of the required actions. Try to limit the verbal instructions while modeling so the child can focus on the movements.

Allow the child the opportunity to practice.

As an adult, it can often be hard not to step in and offer advice or support, but try to resist this urge, providing the child with time to figure out this new task. Try not to intervene or correct unless asked. Even if the child makes mistakes or a mess, this is part of the learning process and allowing them to navigate it independently will foster a sense of confidence and capability.

Follow the child.

Be aware of the child’s interests and developmental level and tailor activities to meet their needs. Try to provide activities for the child that challenge them, but are within their grasp. Introducing activities that are far beyond a child’s current skill level may cause frustration and discouragement. With that in mind, remember that activities can be altered or enhanced as a child matures and develops. Add more steps to a basic activity to increase the challenge level. For instance, ask the child to put on an apron, wash the dishes, wipe up the cooking space, and take wet cloths to the laundry as part of the food preparation process.

Live in the moment.

It is likely that involving a child in everyday tasks will cause them to take more time. Enjoy these moments. Slow down and allow the child to practice and be involved.

Focus on the process, rather than the product.

Remember that the child may not complete a task as an adult would or even as expected. There may still be sugar on the counter after they wipe it; there may still be dirt on the floor after they sweep; the shirts may not be folded correctly. Things may not be perfect, but the child is learning to master these skills and it is important that their effort is not undermined. If something needs to be rectified, be careful to do it out of the child’s view so as not to deflate their spirit.

Look for ways children can help.

It may not seem obvious at first, but taking a moment to stop and consider small ways to involve the child will reveal many opportunities where they can help with everyday tasks. Something as simple as carrying a shirt to the laundry hamper can be incredibly meaningful to a young child.

Make it fun!

Perhaps most importantly, remember that these experiences are meant to be fun. Keep practicing in small steps and the learning will happen in a fun, natural way!

Though easily overlooked when planning Montessori activities in the home, the preparation of Practical Life experiences and the involvement of the young child in these seemingly mundane tasks holds such great purpose and value. These activities provide opportunities for children to experience joy and accomplishment as they become confident, capable members of their family community.

References

Montessori, Maria. 1948. From Childhood to Adolescence. Netherlands: Montessori-Pierson Publishing Company.

Montessori, Maria. 2017. Maria Montessori Speaks to Parents: A Selection of Articles. Netherlands: Montessori-Pierson Publishing Company.