So,

if

real

life

can

be

practiced

in

the

classroom,

can

Practical

Life

also

be

practiced

at

home?

Most

definitely.

With

a

little

bit

of

time,

patience,

and

appropriate

child-friendly

tools,

there

are many ways your little one can play a role around the home.

Practical Life Activities develop skills like:

· motor control and coordination · independence · concentration · self-confidence ·

· a sense of responsibility ·

Children

are

naturally

interested

in

learning

activities

they

have

witnessed

before.

Some

examples

are

washing

their

hands,

sweeping

the

floor,

or

wiping

the

table.

They

also

like

to

learn

about

everyday

routines

like

food

preparation

or

dressing.

It

is

empowering

for

little

ones

to

master

´practical

life´

activities.

Everything

you

teach

your

toddler

now

will

help

them

to

grow

into

a

self-sufficient

and

confident

adult.

Plus,

it

makes

your

everyday

lives

run

more

smoothly.

Keep it real

:

Wash

dirty

dishes

with

real

soapy

water

and

cut

fruit

with

a

real

knife.

Teach

about

knife

safety

and hygiene. Example: place the knife flat on the surface, tip pointing away.

Safety:

While

materials

need

to

be

functional

(a

knife

that

is

sharp

enough

to

cut),

the

priority

is

safety. Sharp objects need to have rounded ends and corners that are sharp should be covered.

Self-Contained:

The

adult

in

the

environment

is

responsible

to

make

sure

the

activity

is

prepared

with

everything

the

child

will

need

for

successful

completion

of

the

activity.

By

seeing

the

order,

the

child internalizes it.

Location of Materials:

Materials

should

be

easily

accessible

to

the

child.

For

example,

all

plates,

bowls

and

cups

should

be

stored

in

an

area

that

the

child

can

easily

access.

Places

like

a

bottom

drawer,

small

cupboard or low shelf are great.

Child-Sized:

Materials

must

be

proportional

to

the

child.

There

are

many

child-sized

brooms

and

dustpans

and stainless-steel cutlery on the market.

Sequential and orderly:

Each activity has a beginning, middle and end. Lay materials out in order, from left to right.

Natural Materials:

Natural

materials

offer

more

opportunities

for

multi-sensorial

experiences.

For

example,

using

a

wooden chopping board and cooking utensils.

Be a part of the process:

This

helps

the

child

to

learn

that

they

must

wait,

and

life

is

not

always

about

immediate

gratification. Things require preparation.