Practical Life
This area of the curriculum is designed to invite the young learner to act and work on real-life tasks that foster independence, coordination, order and concentration. It is, in a sense, the doorway to the Montessori curriculum. This is the area where the child may first choose independent work. The practical life area contains many attractively displayed objects familiar to the child, including a variety of items commonly used in the tasks of daily living, such eating, dressing and cleaning.
These familiar items offer the child meaningful, non-threatening modes of activity. The materials are also carefully designed and demonstrated to help teach skills involved with caring for the environment and themselves, to encourage responsibility, autonomy and to promote high self-esteem.
