Discipline: Practical life

Practical Life refers to the modification of our environment to suit our needs.  These activities differ from country to country helping the child to adapt to their own specific culture.  From the moment that a child is born they bear witness to the practical life activities of the adult, wanting nothing more then to repeat these activities.  Examples include pouring water from a jug into a glass, cleaning a table or the dishes, peeling and cutting vegetables, or painting.
 
Inside the Montessori environment the Practical life area revolves around four principle aspects:

1. The development of elementary movements (ex. opening/closing a bottle)

2. Care of the self (ex. the washing of one’s hands)

3. Care of the environment (ex. sweeping the floor)

4. Grace and courtesy (ex. greeting a visitor)

5.  

These activities enable a child to acquire four objectives:

• Coordination of movement.

• Concentration

• Independence

• The acquisition of the specific skill

The Practical Life activities are the necessary preliminary step before the child progresses to the abstract and academic materials.  These activities are the focal point for children entering a Primary environment as they represent both realistic and attainable goals for the younger child.