Applied Exercises in Montessori
Montessori applied exercises are broken down into two separate groups:
Care of the environment
Care of the person
Montessori applied exercises: care of the environment
Care of the environment refers to teaching children to have a love and respect for nature and the world around them. Children learn to acquire many different skills in this area of Practical Life that they will take with them forever.
Montessori applied exercises: care of the person
Care of the person in the Montessori Practical Life classroom is a very important part of a child’s developmental process and will help them to become more independent and to have respect for themselves.
For example, children will learn to be patient when trying to tie their shoelaces or doing up their own buttons on their clothing, as well as feeling a sense of accomplishment once these skills have been mastered. Children also learn to realise how important hygiene is and keeping themselves clean when they learn how to wash their hands properly, etc.
The full list of Montessori applied exercises
Dusting
Dusting is one of the Montessori Practical Life activities that is very important, and our children seem to enjoy this task. They feel proud of themselves and gain a sense of accomplishment and responsibility from dusting items around the classroom.
Watering a plant
Watering plants is extremely important for children, as they learn to care about nature. In the Montessori Practical Life classroom, children learn a genuine love and respect for nature in applied exercises for Montessori.
Sweeping
By sweeping up in Montessori applied exercises, children learn that adults won’t always sweep up after them and that they must learn to do it themselves.
Care of the outdoor environment
It is very important for children to instill a love and respect for the outdoor environment. Children will learn this in Practical Life.
Table setting
Children will learn here how to set a table correctly with matching templates.
Brass polishing
Brass polishing is an activity where children will learn to polish different objects made from brass with brass polish.
Cutting and arranging flowers
Children will be responsible for taking care of flowers, cutting and trimming stems, and making sure the flowers and plants are well prepared and in good order for potential growth.
Table washing
Children will learn to become independent with this applied Practical Life activity. Children will learn how to wash a table correctly, giving it a good scrub and wipe.
Care of the person activities
Velcro frame
One of the care of the person activities is the Velcro Frame, where children learn how to use velcro and dress themselves with the help of the Practical Life dressing velcro frame. The Velcro frame teaches children to do up and undo velcro.
Button frame
Doing up buttons is fiddly and difficult for children to do. This makes it tricky to do up their coat, etc. In Montessori, children learn to do up and undo buttons on the button frame.
Press-stud frame
Children learn to do up and undo press-studs (sometimes called ‘poppers’ in the UK) on the press stud frame.
Zipper frame
Children will learn to zip up their own clothes. Usually, the hardest part of doing up a zip is putting the end in the top stop. Using the zipper frame in Montessori will help children to learn to use a zipper correctly.
Bow frame
Children will learn how to tie their shoelaces in this Montessori applied exercise using the bow frame. There is a lace on each side and children learn how to tie a bow.
Hook and eye frame
Children will learn how to use a hook and eye with this dressing frame. A hook is on one side and an eye is on the other side. The child learns how these connect on the Hook and Eye frame.
Safety pin frame
Safety pins are sharp and we’ve all pricked our finger on the pin. Children learn how to safely open and close a safety pin with this safety pin frame.