Practical Life
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Practical Life exercises introduce your child to the habits needed for being successful in any environment: independence, organization, perseverance, and a love of learning. Work in this area involves developing fine motor skills, gross motor skills, self-control, social etiquette, and concentration. The aim of all tasks is not only to achieve an end – that is, not to pour without spilling or to perfectly wash dishes- but it is for the benefits of the process over the product. The results are a growing ability to concentrate through the child's immersion into purposeful activity. From this comes an inner organization and personal fulfillment that leads to true autonomy and self-confidence.
There are different ways that Practical Life approaches this act of preparation. For one thing, all activities are purposefully designed to move from right to left. This begins to train the eye and the brain for reading. For another, as the activities grow increasingly complex (from Bean Pouring to Chair Washing, for example), so will your child’s attention span and ability to perform longer and longer chains of sequential activity. As young children engage in Practical Life exercises joy and satisfaction are very evident by-products. This area of brilliantly conceived activities is fundamental both to the child's overall development and the later work in all areas of the Montessori classroom. |
"When children experience pleasure not only from an activity leading towards a special goal but also in carrying it out exactly in all its details, they open up a whole new area of education for themselves." |
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