Brenda Kipkemoi June 28, 2022 20:04 EAT
Practical life activities are a key feature of the Montessori curriculum for preschoolers and kindergarten children. This is because it gives the child an opportunity to work on self-care, social skills, and abstraction abilities.
The practical life curriculum in Montessori is a natural extension of the Montessori sequence and allows children to express themselves more freely in everyday contexts.
Parents often consider it a joy to watch their child perform these activities independently and with pleasure. Practical life movements introduce children to standards of behaviour and self-care, social norms, and the conventions of adult roles.
So, what does all this mean exactly?
Here’s what the practical learning in the Montessori method looks like.
Learning by Doing, Not Just Hearing
Children love to be busy, but they enjoy watching others accomplish difficult things. This is one of the reasons that they love watching sports or even just following a crowd to see where they’re going.
Children learn a lot by seeing and doing. In fact, elementary learning relies on practical experience and observation.
Montessori makes practical work fun and engaging for the child by providing the child with highly illustrated activities built around the concept (or abstract idea) being learned.
What Are Practical Life Activities?
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
The Montessori Method emphasizes practical learning in a developmentally appropriate environment.
Our experience and research into this method of education substantiate our beliefs that we should be engaging our kids in the practical application of knowledge and skills whenever possible.
These activities, such as washing hands, dressing up, baking, clearing up the dinner table, and washing dishes, emphasize the development of a child’s abilities to get involved in tasks around the home, school, and community.
These practical activities are applicable for all ages, from infants to young adults, and change depending on what the child can do at each stage of development. They are supplements to academic learning.
What Type of Practical Activities Do We Teach?
Care of the Environment
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
“The child,” says Dr Montessori, “responds to the environment in which he finds himself and uses his potentialities in the way most suitable for him … everything serves to develop this independence.
The practical life activities are designed around the idea that children learn best through hands-on experience. The emphasis on physical activity helps develop a child’s body and senses and his awareness of others around them.
Children pretend that they are doctors, chefs, and more in this classroom area. The teacher will provide the right amount of materials and props for the child as he or she engages in a developing activity.
This area also includes student-directed learning, where the child is given an open-ended activity to do independently. For example, after watching a baking video, a child may arrange the provided flour, sugar, salt, and cups on the table to imitate what was shown. And children also help with the cleaning up to complete the lesson.
Care of Self
Photo by Vitolda Klein on Unsplash
The Montessori Method emphasizes the children’s independence and practical life skills.
It can be as simple as washing one’s hands or putting on clothing. It might be packing a lunch. For an 18-month-old, it can be getting pants off, but for a kindergarten and elementary school student, it could be making snacks and getting dressed in the morning.
Want to Learn More About the Montessori Method for Your Child? Contact Kericho Montessori School Today!
Education is as much about the school as it is everything else. Learning to learn and independent learning are essential parts of the Montessori program.
Hopefully, we have inspired you to consider a Montessori school for your family. As always, we welcome your questions and comments below. Feel free to call us at 0719-102-497 to schedule an appointment with our School Directors today.