Practical life is an important aspect of a Montessori program. At the toddler and 3-6 age groups, children spend a considerable amount of time in practical life. The time spent in practical life leads to work habits such as the ability to concentrate that will be in place as the child progresses through their academic career.

At the elementary level, practical life continues to be about learning skills to successfully navigate through life. The elementary aged child learns study skills as well as cooking, sewing, and more .The language used in a practical life lesson is limited to naming the lesson and asking the child if they would like to do the work. When a Directress gives a practical life lesson, the attention is focused on the action, not the talking. The lack of speaking while doing encourages the child to attend to the task.

You can easily set up practical life work in your home for your child using the suggestions listed below. This will complement your child's schoolwork. If possible, place materials on trays or in baskets and set the work up on low shelves so it is easily accessible to the child.

Suggestions for: Toddler: Set up simple pouring exercises using items from the kitchen. Two cups on a tray filled with rice or some other non-choking items. As your child becomes adept, increase the level of difficulty by changing the containers (add containers with handles or spouts) or the material used for pouring. When a spill occurs do not get upset or stressed. Show your child how to clean it up and let them do it the next time a spill occurs.

3-6 Year old: You can start with the same ideas suggested for toddler aged children. As your child becomes increasingly proficient at practical life work, they will naturally be challenged to do more complex and multi-step tasks. You can also set up spreading work where your child spreads butter or peanut butter on bread or crackers.

 

Q: What are some ways I can help my toddler improve his fine motor coordination? I've noticed he still grasps his utensils with an overhanded grasp.
A: Toddler aged children often hold utensils using an overhand grasp. You can encourage your toddler to hold their utensil correctly by modeling how to hold it and by placing it in their hand correctly. When they hold it correctly you may want to praise or tell them that is the correct way to hold the utensil, but avoid negative correcting. It is something most toddlers correct (some need assistance) by the time they are 2 years old.

Some other ways to help encourage fine motor coordination:

• Place small (non-chokable) items (cut up sponge pieces or large decorative eraser) in a small bowl.
• Show your child how to use their pointer finger and thumb to grasp one item at a time and move it to a small bowl to the right.
• Get a pegboard and have your child move pegs on and off the board. Encourage the progression of placing pegs on the board in the top left hole and move toward the right and then down the board - mimicking the process of reading or writing.
• Encourage holding a pencil, marker, and crayon correctly when they are creating masterpieces.
• Place two bowls and one spoon on a tray. Place items (mini-marshmallows, for example) in the bowl on the left. Using the pointer finger and thumb, show your child how to move the marshmallows one at a time using the spoon to the bowl on the right. Any item can be used for this activity, but try it out before asking your toddler to do it. Some items are harder to spoon than you think.

Montessori Matters, September 2005