The Montessori Materials
Practical Life
The ordinary tasks of home culture — meaningful, easily understood, and filled with intricate movement.
The exercises of everyday life are the ordinary tasks of home culture. The child is attracted to these activities because they are the ways of the people around him. They are meaningful, easily understood, creative, and filled with intricate movements. They appeal to his will, and lead to greater physical skill, perfection of movement and concentration.
They are purposeful and they engage his intellect, and he is increasingly attracted to the order and precision required to perform them. Above all, they help him function independently.
Four groups of activity
- Care of self — dressing activities such as buttoning, bow-tying and lacing.
- Development of social relations — greeting, serving, accepting and thanking.
- Care of the environment — cleaning, gardening, sweeping and polishing.
- Movement — balancing, and walking on a line.
Come and see the school
Visits are by prior appointment, on days set aside so the children’s work is never interrupted. Send an enquiry and we will arrange a time.