What is one of the first things you think about when you hear the word “Montessori”? For me- it’s the learning area known as “practical life.” Maybe it is because my daughter and I focus most of our Montessori time on this subject. Or maybe because it is the most,..well…, practical!
I created a list of different practical-life Montessori activities you can do with your child during this fun time of year.
- Teach your child how to wrap presents. Provide them with several small boxes, wrapping paper, scissors, tape, and technical skill to get the job done.
- Using a small set of Christmas lights (found at Dollar Tree!) and a mini tree, teach your child how to wrap lights around a Christmas tree. (And if they bunch them all up and carefully smush them on the tree, praise them for trying 🙂 )
- I am not sure if this is considered practical life, but talk about the concept of charity and giving to others. Come up with a plan with your child to GIVE this holiday season.
- Write a polite letter to Santa and follow that up with a thank you card. Teaching manners is part of the Self Development category of Practical Life.
- Have your child help you hang the Christmas stockings on hooks.
- Use a holiday nutcracker to crack open nuts. My nutcrackers are strictly for decorative purposes, but it would be cute if you are brave enough to try!
- Prior to meeting Santa at the mall, be sure to teach your child how to introduce him/herself.
- And let’s hope this doesn’t happen, but if an ornament happens to fall and shatter, this would be a great time to carefully show your older child how to sweep up the fragments.
The list could go on and on- there are so many different practical life activities you could tweak for the holiday season!
Happy Teaching!
I love your ideas 🙂
I just found your blog, and I’m very thankful I did!
Mine is found at http://www.educationofours.blogspot.com
having been a montessori teacher for the last 15 years, i was really pleased to find your blog and see the creative ideas you have and how you are incorporating the montessori methode in your home.