"A
young child wants passionately
to learn to do all the work he sees the adult doing."
- Dr Maria Montessori-
Children love working with their hands, especially on exercises
of practical life which benefits the child is many ways.
Practical life activities allow the child to understand
his environment and how it works. In addition, through working
on the exercises, the child builds his self- esteem; he
develops a sense of being valued. Further, the exercises
help develop the child's manual dexterity. Thus by working
well, the child builds up his confidence and self-esteem.
He is a happy child.
The young child who is allowed to perform practical life
activities grows in intelligence, is deeply satisfied, and
develops confidence and a good self-image knowing that he
is doing something useful work and it is valued.
Nature allows a certain time- "sensitive periods"
- to learn each thing. If this time of special sensitivity
is not used, it is lost and does not come again.
We must nurture the child to enjoy all forms of work. But
first, we ourselves must enjoy the activities for the child
must feel our joy.
EPL5
[ A series of photos]
Every
exercise of practical life must have a useful purpose. The
purpose must be understood by the child. or the exercises
become boring and burdensome. Therefore make sure the child
knows the reason for doing each activity.