The Practical Life area is a cornerstone that not only defines a Montessori classroom,

it fulfills the child’s inner plea of

“Help me to do it myself!”

This section of the classroom is almost like a mini museum that exhibits the many aspects of real life to a child.

Dr.

Maria

Montessori’s

keen

observations

of

children

led

to

a

discovery

of

this

profound

philosophy:

That

education

must

be

an

aid

to

life.

And

if

education

is

an

aid

to

life,

then

the

curriculum

should

also

satisfy

the

developmental needs of children.

Practical

Life

exercises

are

essential

because

they

solve

a

developmental

need

of

the

child:

Promoting

functional

independence

from

a

young

age.

This

area

of

the

classroom

adapts

to

the

actual

life

of

a

child

by

simulating

a

comforting

home

environment

that

bridges

the

child

from

the

house

to

the

classroom.

They

feature

engaging

activities

that

help

children

learn

to

be

independent

and

care

for

both

themselves

and

their

environment.

Children

discover

how

to

use

a

mop

or

a

broom

to

clean

the

floors

of

the

classroom

they

live

in.

They

acquire

the

art

of

setting

up

for

snack

or

lunch,

plating

their

meals

on

actual,

child-sized,

breakable

tableware

and

drinking

water

from

a

glass

cup.

They

take

pride

and

interest

in

learning

how

to

dress

themselves

as

they

become

experts

of

the

button

and

zipper

frames.

Practical

Life

is

not

only

fun

to

a

child,

it

is

also

useful

from

a

physical

development

perspective

—

refining

both

gross

and

fine

motor

skills

through

movements

that

are

vital

for

any

growing

child.

Each

activity

enhances

physical

coordination

and

promotes

muscle

development.

In

our

Children’s

House

classrooms,

Practical

Life

exercises

enable

our

children

to

interact

with

real-world

objects.

They

learn

to

master

the

use

of

spoons,

tongs,

juicers,

mops,

brooms

and

other

objects

they

will

encounter

for

the

rest

of

their

lives.

The

sense

of

accomplishment

in

completing

these

exercises

also

boost

any

child’s

confidence

tremendously

as

they slowly realize,

“I did it all by myself! I can actually do it!”