"What is Montessori?" 2.0 - Practical Living

If you have heard of Montessori, you probably know some terminology.  One of the more frequent terms is "practical life," referring to a set of materials and exercises in the primary and toddler classrooms.  It is one of the more difficult areas for a parent to grasp,  and one of the more important areas for a child to master.  So, why is it there?

Dr. Montessori observed that the daily activities- ones that we as adults see as a chore, are the most beneficial, crucial, and most interesting activities for a child.  The fundamentals of taking care of oneself, the immediate environment and the greater one, cooking, cleaning, moving, not moving, the basic "how to's" are what a child craved.  These activities not only mimicked adult movements but they also had a deep history that was part of the human culture as we evolved to becoming independent.  What was once in a home, became obsolete as people moved into cities.  Over the past century it has only become worse as more and more "conveniences" in the form of electronics and technology have become part of our everyday living.  It helps an adult become more efficient, but it denies the child the opportunity to learn the fundamentals.  Practical Life, therefore, is one of the most important areas and is one of the first areas introduced to a child in the classroom.

What about the home?  In a home, until recently, all that was available to a child was practical life exercises.  If we allow our children to participate in the daily tasks of maintaining and assisting in the home and family life, we give them the opportunity to master these skills.  From eating by themselves, changing their own clothes, helping with dishes or laundry, folding clothes, making the bed, etc, a child masters his own body and is able to function in a mini-society.

As these things are fully available to every child, and for the most part free, somehow, this is still denied, belittled, or seen as a hindrance to the adult's pace of living, or as a potential hazard.  Instead, cognitive activities, flash cards, electronics, and other such "task oriented" things are placed before the child believing it will aid the child's development far greater than simple home chores.  As challenging as it is to incorporate the pace of the child, if we see it as a benefit to them rather than a hindrance to us, we can approach this with a better view and attitude.  All research new and 100 years ago points to the benefits of working with the hand.  So, before we give them something for their minds, let's give it to their hands, as this is the only and most important way it will embed in their minds.


I had meant for this to be a post of images, but alas I got carried away with text.  So, instead of going on, here are some of our daily activities which are not given as lessons, but as part of everyday living.

For more check out kids in the kitchen, and Road to Independence. 
Also, check out The Full Montessori's post on how to LIVE Montessori.  She does an excellent job explaining the developmental planes a child is going through at the 0-6 stage. 

 gardening

 cooking

 saving seeds

 hanging up laundry- cleaning rags. 

 washing their muddy shoes

 washing dishes

 Lots and lots of gardening

 choosing, and packing their clothes and toys before a trip

  concentration

 helping put clothes in the washer

 loading the dishwasher

multi-tasking.  Cleaning and caring for friends.

Shared on: More the Merrier Mondays, Eco-Kids Tuesday, Tuesdays with a Twist,  wildcrafting wednesday, Wildlife Wednesday, simple lives thursdays, HomeAcre Hop,  small footprint family, Friday Nature Table, fresh eggs daily, Transformation Thursday, Thrifty Home,  Fresh Bites Friday, Wednesday Fresh Food,  Sunday Parenting Party, hip homeschool moms,  No Time for Flash Cards, Living Green Tuesday, Montessori Monday, Farm Girl Blog Fest,  Food Renegade, Eat Make Grow, Saturday Show and Tell, Kids in the Kitchen, Learning for Life, Mums Make Lists, It's Playtime,  All Year Round Blog Carnival, Outdoor Play Party,

Cultural Exchange, Stamp Collecting, Letter Writing, and More...

Hello There,

Have you ever wanted to receive a package or letter filled with goodies, or something just fun.  Well, think of how fun it would be for your kids at home, or for you classroom. After looking into many (MANY) sites and exchange groups, I've decide to go ahead and set one up myself.  I'm not quite sure what I'm getting into and from the activity level on the Facebook posts, it's likely not much.  I'm hoping it's mostly due to lack of clarification on my part.  So, let's get into the details.

How will it work: 
Each month or quarter, we can come up with themes.  Based on this, individuals will exchange their home or school mailing address (get permission) and send appropriate items keeping a budget in mind.  We do not want anyone to feel burdened or feel that this is costing them an expense in participating.  The wider the reach the better- think global.

We can start with something basic like post cards or a simple letter with a unique stamp.  This will encourage children to write, keep a small journal of stamps, and track where the letters are coming from and going to.  This is a wonderful geography and culture lesson.  I'm really hoping to enhance my geography folders in the classroom through this.  Teachers, this is an ideal way to ask for something specific like photographs of monuments, or other cultural landmarks, costumes, food, native plants and animal, etc.  The sky is the limit.

As we grow and have a group we can figure it out better.  You will not be sending letters and packages to everyone.  Instead it would be one or two, and you would receive the same.

For international packages, you will need to check what is allowed as certain items are not allowed to be mailed (seeds, meats, cheeses, and such). But, we have time to get there.

If you are interested, please comment here, but be sure to join us on Facebook as that may be our fastest way of communicating for now. In your comment let us know where you're from, and if you hope to join as a family or as a school.  This way, it will help with whom to partner or exchange with.

Once a "session" or exchange is open, comment on there saying you're interested.  You will then contact the person before you and get their contact details.  You will send them the item of the session.  When the session ends, I will send the last person on the list an item. This way, everyone is covered and relatively in the order that you signed up.  Please ask questions if this is all unclear.  This is new to me as well, so we're working it out as we go.

As I said, for now, I'm going slow, so if you think you'd like a post card leave a comment here with your location.  Hopefully, we can get everyone mixed up and get a variety of postcards sent out.  Ideally, a PC from your city showcasing it's beauty would be best.  If your children can write, have them do it, if not, have them narrate it.

For stamp collecting:
Have a small blank or ruled notebook and divide it into continents.  This way you can put the stamps on the appropriate section.  If you want to be more organized, you can sub-divide, or for the US or your own country, you can divide into States.

Theme ideas:
Local Post Cards
Unique stamps, with a simple letter and photo of your city, school, local building, etc
Pressed leaves or flowers unique to your region (photo if not)
Flag of your country - and anything else you'd like to add
Buttons or pins
Songs sung at home or in classroom
handmade craft
yarn, felt, fabric, or something to create
Favorite recipe
Local Sweets, or Chocolates (keep in mind allergies)

So, I open this up for your comments, suggestions, feedback, finger-wagging, nods of approval or disapproval (negativity shall remain in your own domain).

I hope to have at least 1 successful and fun run with this.  If it doesn't work then at least we tried.  No one says you need to do such a thing for life, even if a child recalls the 1 time he/she received a postcard or package from someone, it will remain with them forever.  Even if it's a notebook of 10 stamps, well then it's 10 more than he will ever collect again.  Trying is half the fun. 

Thank you,
Sincerely,
Home Grown Crew

P.S. No weirdos allowed.  Nothing graphic or inappropriate for children.

Note:  See above page tab for "details".  The first exchange has begun and runs through Sept 30th.  Join us on Facebook to sign up.  If you are a teacher and would like to participate as a class do let it be known. 

Shared on: More the Merrier Mondays, Eco-Kids Tuesday, Tuesdays with a Twist,  wildcrafting wednesday, Wildlife Wednesday, simple lives thursdays, HomeAcre Hop,  small footprint family, Friday Nature Table, fresh eggs daily, Transformation Thursday, Thrifty Home,  Fresh Bites Friday, Wednesday Fresh Food,  Sunday Parenting Party, hip homeschool moms,  No Time for Flash Cards, Living Green Tuesday, Montessori Monday, Farm Girl Blog Fest,  Food Renegade, Eat Make Grow, Saturday Show and Tell, Kids in the Kitchen, Learning for Life, Mums Make Lists, It's Playtime,  All Year Round Blog Carnival