Montessori Activities In The Classroom Prepare Kids For Life

Activities based on Montessori’s theory of “Practical Life” constitute a significant portion of personal, social and emotional development and knowledge and understanding of the world. Find out what Practical Life Activities are when you should start introducing them to your child, and get some examples of different Practical Life Activities you can do with your child by reading this article.

What is a Practical Life activity?

When Maria Montessori opened her first school, she noticed that the children were less interested in playing with toys and more interested in performing tasks that were normally reserved for adults. This led her to develop the Montessori method. Montessori activities in the classroom became very popular because of their efficiency in preparing kids for practical life.

She made the observation that the children appeared to feel a great deal of satisfaction after completing these tasks. These are activities that are done in real life that make children feel more at ease and teach them how to interact with their surroundings in a way that is appropriate and productive.

Schools started adopting Montessori activities in the classroom in light of their efficiency in preparing kids for practical life.

The four main groups of Practical Life

• Preliminary Activities
• Self Care
• Care of Environment
• Grace and Courtesy

However, when it comes to their Practical Life areas, Montessori teachers and parents like to take creative liberties. This is due to the fact that the real-life lessons that children require can differ from one classroom to another and from one home to another. This adaptability is absolutely necessary in order to meet the needs of a child. This could mean teaching your child how to set up a plate of nachos or setting up an activity where they unwrap cheese to eat. If you are implementing Montessori in your home, this could mean either of these things.

The following is a list of activities that pertain to practical life. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but by the time you get to the end of it, you should have a good idea of the goals and advantages of each of these pursuits, as well as when it is appropriate to begin engaging in them.

Initial Activities of Daily Life That Are Useful

When a child starts doing Montessori activities in the classroom for the first time, the very first activities of the Practical Life curriculum that they participate in are the Preliminary Practical Life activities.

Work Mats

• 2.5-3 years old
• Children’s work areas can be clearly defined with the help of work mats. Children learn not only how to roll and unroll work mats but also how to navigate carefully around the workspaces of others through the activities that use work mats.

Walking a Line

• 2.5-3 years old
• Walking in a line teaches children Grace and Courtesy how to better control their movements and become more aware of how their bodies are positioned in relation to those around them.

Wiping a Spill

• 2.5-3 years old
• Learning how to clean up messes after meals and snacks and for many other activities is an important life skill. This could extend to tidying up and putting the toys away after playtime.

Carrying a Tray

• 2.5-3 years old
• In the house and classroom, many activities involve moving around trays containing various materials.

Adjusting the Lids and Closures of Containers

• 2.5-3 years old
• Children develop a skill and practice their fine motor skills by participating in this activity.

Whole-Hand Grasp Transferring

• 2.5-3 years old
• This is an activity that helps build fine motor skills and involves transferring. Children who have not yet mastered the pincer grasp (for a spoon, tongs, tweezers, or other similar implements) will still be able to successfully transfer small items from one bowl to another using this activity.

Activities using Spoons

• 2.5-3 years old
• Activities involving spooning in the Montessori method are enjoyable and beneficial to developing coordination and fine motor skills.

Pouring Activities

• three years old
• A child must have experience in pouring in order to develop motor skills. The early practice of pouring is both an enjoyable and necessary activity.

Self-Care

Children get a healthy dose of self-assurance and independence when they can complete tasks related to their self-care. Self-care-related activities are broken down into more manageable steps, increasing a child’s chances of success.

Hand Washing

• 2.5-3 years old
• Children develop a sense of independence while gaining a skill in self-care when they participate in this activity.

Cleaning Under Fingernails

• 2.5-3 years old
• Through participation in this activity, children develop a sense of independence, a skill related to self-care, and their fine motor skills. 

In this context, check out our fun health and hygiene activities for children.

Putting on a Coat

• 2.5-3 years old
• Children take pleasure in the sense of autonomy that comes with being able to put on their own jackets and sweaters.

Matching Keys to Locks

• 3-4 years old
• This is a task requiring fine motor skills that also improves concentration.

Care of Environment

Activities that teach children to care for and respect their home environment, classroom environment, and the outdoors teach children to care for and respect their environments.

Cleaning a Spill

• 3-4 years old
• To maintain a sanitary and risk-free learning environment, it is essential to acquire the skills necessary to properly clean up any accidents that may occur.

Enjoying these ideas so far? here are more Montessori activities in the classroom that you might want to try out at home.

Brush and Dustpan

• 3-4 years old
• Because children are allowed to experience the natural and logical consequences of spills and breaks in a house, it is necessary for them to learn how to use a brush and dustpan. This is because children learn best when they can apply what they learn.

Flower Arranging

• 3-4 years old
• Flower arranging is a relaxing activity that fosters an appreciation for nature, visual discrimination, and the development of fine motor skills.

Animal Care

• 4 years old
• Children who participate in activities that involve taking care of animals are better able to empathize with others and develop their gross and fine motor skills.

Sorting Silverware

• 3 years old
• A child will gain knowledge of classifications while developing this important life skill.

Setting a Table

• 3 years old
• The activity of “learning how to set the table,” which is part of the Practical Life learning, not only teaches a child the skill of setting the table but also encourages the development of fine motor skills and visual discrimination.

Making Juice

• 4 years old
• Children will learn how to make juice with a hand juicer, which is a great activity for developing their fine motor skills through this activity.

Washing Fruits and Vegetables

• 3 years old
• In the early stages of learning how to prepare food, washing fruits and vegetables is a great activity that helps develop fine motor skills and concentration.

Peeling and Chopping Fruits and Vegetables

• 4 years old
• This activity seeks to develop a variety of skills in its participants, including fine motor control, coordination, and the ability to cook. The person providing care needs to pay extra attention to the topic of knife safety and instruct the child. We recommend using child-friendly knife with blunt edge.

Sifting Flour

• 3.5 years old
• An activity that teaches a child how to use a sifter while also helping them learn estimation and measurement skills.

Recycling Sorting

• 3 years old

• An educational and environmental focus will be borne on a sorting activity.

All of these activities and more fun ideas can be included during playdates to help improve your child’s social skills that go hand-in-hand with practical life skills.

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