The Practical Life

 

Practical life activities resemble the most basic everyday tasks found all over the world, such as pouring water from a jug to a glass, sweeping up a spill, caring for plants and sewing on a button. The activities of this area are child size and are made up of a variety of materials including glass, ceramics, wood and metal.

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The Practical Life Area assists in the development of gross and fine motor movement and the overall control and coordination of self. Practical Life activities foster concentration and awareness by providing real and accurate feedback based on the child’s own actions. For example, if they pour water from a jug too fast they will over flow the receiving glass and spill the water.

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"Practical life also affords children the opportunity to become stewards of their classroom and

functioning members of a community."  

 

They develop the skills needed to manage their workspace, tidy up, serve a friend something to eat, welcome a guest into the classroom, wash a table that is dirty or embellish the environment by painting a picture or making a floral arrangement.

 

Exercises in Practical Life promote logical thinking by having very clear and successive steps to a

process. They help to prepare the child both physically and mentally for later academic works

where concentration, logic, and fine motor control are needed.