The Practical Life Curriculum in Early Childhood

The Practical Life curriculum is designed to give children the skills they need to function independently in the world. The activities within practical life are guided by the following general principles:

• Children should be active participants in family and community life.  Children want to feel purposeful and included.

• Children crave independence. Autonomy breeds self-confidence.

• The skills of concentration and self-regulation are best attained by activities that ground children in reality. These skills are prerequisites for academic success.

Individual lessons in practical life also target foundational academic skills. Many practical life activities include an emphasis on:

• Refinement of hand movements in preparation for writing

• Exposure to early mathematical concepts

• Experience with sequencing

Parents frequently ask what they can do to support the work that is taking place in the classroom. For your child to be truly successful in a Montessori learning environment, they need to learn to be autonomous and self-regulated. There are many steps that you can take to foster the development of these skills, but the most important steps are to:

1.     Prepare your home to increase your child’s independence.

 

Your child should have an accessible place to store belongings in each living area. You should set developmentally appropriate expectations that your child will participate in daily living tasks.

 

2.     Bring order to your child's environment. 

Avoid overstimulation. Simplicity enables children to make productive choices and develop focus. Look at your homes objectively. If your child wanted to pursue a particular activity, would he or she know where to find it?

 3.     Provide ample time to practice daily living skills.

 

Avoid over-helping your child. Build enough time into your routines that you can coach your child toward independence. Eat together at the table instead of on the go. Avoid convenience foods that rob children of important sensory, social, and fine motor experience. 

 4.     Avoid promoting dependence on instant gratification.

 

Electronic devices teach children to expect things to happen quickly. This profoundly interferes with the development of concentration and perseverance.