Practical Life is an essential part of any Montessori Learning Space. It is also a necessary part of any child’s life! Let’s start by explaining what Practical Life is.
Every day your child sees you get ready for the day, clean dishes or do laundry, tidy the house, work, or a million other things. They see and think: this is important, and I want to be a part of it! Kids want to be able to do these things independently but along WITH you! Practical Life is just a term that supports this educational foundation. It gives them the skills to teach them how to care for their environment and themselves, control their movement, and treat all living and non-living things with compassion and respect.
Allowing your child to do these things shows your respect for them and your willingness to guide them without judgment.
They will determine their success in these tasks by seeing them completed, not by you telling them it’s done. They will feel empowered and confident to try new things, even though they may not be successful at first. They will be comfortable attempting the task and repeating it until they do. It is the most rewarding moment for me, and I know you will enjoy each moment too.
But wait! There’s more! Each activity in Practical Life is designed for practicing the SKILLS that set the foundation for their further learning experience. Let me explain.
When a job is set out on a tray or table, such as a transfer job- where the child uses a utensil to move objects from one bowl to another- you place the two bowls next to each other, with one on the left and one on the right. The objects are placed in the bowl on the left and transferred to the right. Why? To set them up for (eventually) reading- left to right. Yup. Furthermore, the utensil given to them for this job is one that they can hold properly with three fingers: thumb, index, and middle. This position builds the fine motor skills and muscles in these three fingers to later help them hold a pencil, tie a shoelace or feed themselves. These two reasons made me fall in love with Practical Life. It is almost sneaky but really just purposeful! And there is the added benefit of the child feeling accomplished and confident in their abilities to do things themselves. It’s a win for everyone.
How can you start this in your home? Make things accessible to them. You have control over what they have access to.
Only put something out that you feel comfortable with them having access to. Consider the pieces and if there are younger children in the house. Consider that they might get into these activities when you are not looking. It needs to be safe, but also push yourself a little. Allow them to try new things. If you feel they are not ready for something, but they ASK to try, talk to them about it. You can say, “this is dangerous, and I can’t let you do it alone. But if we can do it together, you can try.” This method can apply to using tools, an appliance in the kitchen, cleaning supplies- things that you wouldn’t necessarily hand over to your child but are comfortable letting them try with proper guidance- you! And, of course, anything you do with your child that allows their growth builds trust and a bond between the two of you.
Make sure the things you provide will enable them to accomplish tasks independently,
EVEN IF IT MAKES A MESS!
They can pour their snack but control it. Put the snack in a smaller container with the amount they can eat safely, then allow access to that container and a safe bowl. They can provide a snack for themselves! Watching them do this for the first time is like watching a portal in their brain open up “wait, I just did that! All by myself!” And then your heart will soar! These are my favorite moments!
Here is a short list of ways you can incorporate Practical Life in your home:
- vacuuming
- washing their hands
- washing their dishes
- washing their toys
- wiping/ cleaning surfaces
- egg slicing
- apple cutting
- orange peeling
- sweeping
- cleaning up their toys
- organizing bookshelf
- cooking assistance
- switching laundry
- feeding animals
There are some amazing Practical Life activities that you can purchase, as well. My Practical Life Jobs list on Amazon are some of my favorites to introduce essential skills. Remember to cycle some of these out. Activities that aren’t part of their daily lives can be changed or cycled out. Different utensils, bowls, containers, and objects can be changed out often, too. They can still do a similar transfer job, but changing these items will make it look and feel brand new. They don’t need to know they are practicing the same skills.
I have linked my Practical Life Must-Haves and Extensions to help you get started! Bowls, utensils, and various non-electric appliances that are kid-friendly. Cycle these items out.