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I wanted to touch a little bit on the practical life area since it is such an important foundation of your child’s development.  There is nothing as rewarding or sometimes just as frustrating as the “I can do it myself!” attitude that I imagine you hear from your children on a regular basis.  What is practical life?  It’s your solution to the “I can do it myself!” attitude.  Basically, it is any physical activity that helps a child grow in motor skills, cognitive development, self confidence and development of his or her own personality, and most of all independence. Any controlled movement of hands, arms, legs, feet, eyes, etc. helps your child achieve independence and mastery of his or her environment.   Dressing, brushing his or her teeth, washing face and hands, eating properly, not slamming the door, manners, and so on are all practical life skills that prepare your child for life. Being able to take care of oneself not only gives your child self-confidence and freedom, but helps with concentration in the mastery of concrete learning that eventually leads to abstract learning, such as reading and math.

Here are some practical life ideas that you can implement at home that help with developing motor skills, eye hand coordination, order, sequence, concentration, and independence. Most importantly, a child who can control his or her environment is a happy well-adjusted child. Use these ideas when cleaning, cooking, getting ready for the day,  or any situation that lets your child help become a real part of the family routine.

Dressing oneself

Putting on jacket and zipping it

Hanging jacket on low hook

Putting clean clothes in drawer

Washing hands & drying hands with a paper towel and throwing the towel away in the trash

Blowing nose and throwing away tissue properly

Table manners

Setting the dinner table

Cleaning up spills with a sponge

Fastening clothes on a line with clothes pins or pegs

Using scissors with skill

Pouring beans, rice, sugar, etc. without spilling

Pouring liquids without spilling – milk, orange juice, or water during mealtimes

Carrying objects without dropping them

Carrying liquids without spilling

Walking without knocking into furniture or people

Putting materials, books, and toys away on the shelves

Working carefully and neatly

Dusting and polishing exercises

Sweeping with small broom and dust pan

Flower arranging

Caring for plants

Caring for animals

Folding napkins, towels and own clothing

Use of tweezers, tongs, eyedroppers, and locks

Simple cooking and food preparation and baking with mom or dad

Kitchen activities:

Sifting flour

Scooping flour, sugar, salt, etc. with large and small scoopers

Washing vegetables and fruit, peeling with a vegetable peeler

Spreading (like peanut butter on a cracker)

Stirring mixture

Using a ladle

Opening and closing lids

Dishwashing and washing table with a sponge

As you can see the list can be endless. Anything your child wants to learn to do, encourage him or her by breaking everything down into small steps and slowly and patiently teaching your child by actions.

-Miss Heather, Grasshopper Teacher