PRACTICAL LIFE SKILLS

Practical Life activities are everyday tasks that children learn in order to master the care of themselves and of their environment. Maria Montessori introduced this curriculum area in the education of young children because her method aimed at preparing children for life as well as for school. Our practical life activities are real activities which meet the needs of the child in his individual stage of development and then lead him to independence from the adult. The Montessori activities of practical life are generally thought of in the following three main categories:

1. Care of the Environment
2. Care of the Person
3. Grace and Courtesy

Care of the Environment

These activities include such things as, cleaning, sweeping, pouring, gardening, and simply things such as closing a zip lock bag.

Care of the Person

These activities include such things as, brushing their hair, putting on shoes and socks, washing their hands, buttoning and zipping, and applying a band aid.

Grace and Courtesy

These activities include walking carefully, carrying things, offering food, saying "please" and "thank you", and even how to politely interrupt a conversation.

In learning to do such seemingly mundane tasks as dressing, dusting, sweeping, combing ones hair etc., the child learns to use his body and mind to concentrate, to complete activities he has started, and to contribute to the community. The Practical Life activities are presented to the child in such a way that concentration, coordination, independence and order are developed. These are skills and work habits that can lead to success in later life.