Practical Life activities at home!
Ideas for at home
It’s quite easy to incorporate practical life activities at home with a little preparation. Think about which items the child will need and have them at the ready, only put out a small amount (eg just a small amount of butter for spreading in a small dish), and be there to step in to help out when needed.
Some ideas for at home:
Helping with the laundry – bringing things to the laundry basket, putting clothes in and out of the washing machine, adding soap, sorting washing
Getting dressed and undressed – provide just as much help as necessary and provide clothing that is easy for the child to learn to master
Help with breakfast – have a container with a scoop in it for them to serve their own cereal; add a small jug of milk on the breakfast table; setting the table
Help with lunch – have a small amount of items where the child can serve themselves, for example, some slices of bread or rice crackers with various toppings or spread; the child may wish to help wash up
Help with dinner – preparing vegetables (look for implements suitable for small hands) and salad; setting the table; washing up
Cleaning up – making the beds, getting a towel, tidying away toys
Tips for at home
Most of all remember it is meant to be fun!
Only put out as much as you want to clean up – be it water, dish soap, a travel size bottle of shampooHave cleaning supplies at the ready – a hand mitt on the table to wipe up spills, a child sized broom and mop for larger mess. When they are under 2 years old, activities will have one or two steps. As they gain mastery, add more steps, eg, put on an apron, wipe up at the end, take wet cloths to the laundry etc.
Focus on the process not the result – when your child helps it will take longer, it may not look perfect at the end, but your child is learning to master these skills and you will have a life-long helper at home. Look for ways your child can help – when younger keep it simple (an 18 month old can help carry the t-shirt while you carry the trousers to the laundry basket and can rinse some salad leaves for dinner); as they get to 2+ years, they can help out with even more. Look for baskets, trays and simple caddies to arrange items for them to help
Does it look attractive? Sometimes it’s fun to add items that are the same color, keep items looking fresh, and don’t overcrowd the tray or basket so they look appealing. Keep it budget friendly – I’m sure you can create these activities with things you have around the home. And look out for a few nice things to add to your collection for birthdays, well-meaning grandparents and special occasions.
Benefits
Not only do young kids take pleasure from these Montessori activities, these activities are also great for calming busy kids.
Your child learns to take responsibility in the home. Collaboration creates connection. These skills require repetition to gain mastery which is great for building concentration. Your child likes to feel a part of the family and able to contribute. These activities involve sequences and you can build up the number of steps in the activity as their concentration growsInvolve a lot of movement – great for refining fine motor and gross motor skills, eg, pouring water without spilling, using a sponge. There are many language opportunities around these activitiesLearning news skills, building independence and feeling of self-reliance.
