I gave my older children a practical life lesson on securing broken glass in a taped box, so that people removing trash from the classroom or school grounds would not get cut. One safety note: if glass is broken when a pitcher or bowl is dropped, then obviously the adult should remove any dangerous shards, making sure they are not left exposed in a wastebasket. I’ve had luck finding small dustpans and hand brushes in discount stores. Note: Montessori Services sells lovely child–sized brooms and mops. Does she remember to return the items to storage?.Does she successfully sweep it into the wastebasket?.Does the child sweep all the material into the square?.Brush the material out into a wastebasket. Carry the dustpan with the brush across the front such that the material will not slide out. On your knees, sweep the material into the dustpan. Return the broom and retrieve the dustpan and hand brush.Ħ. Shake the broom over the square and ask, “Did I miss any?”ĥ. Sweep the loose material into the square with slow strokes, going all the way around the square. Sprinkle some loose material around the square. Say, “We’re going to sweep into this square.” (The taped–off square is large enough for the head of the broom).Ģ. Bring the jar of loose material to the taped–off area. removable tape to mark off an area on a hard floor (I used washi tape on my tile floor)ġ.jar of loose material to sweep such as confetti or sawdust (we used leftover coloured barley, like the kind we used in our spooning practical life lesson).Indirect: coordination, independence, and concentration.Direct: to learn the movements needed to manipulate a broom, managing one’s body, the broom, and the spilled material all at the same time.It’s a very handy skill to have in a Montessori classroom. If I only had a dollar for every time a pitcher of rice or bowl of beans hit the floor and went scattering to the four winds…and I forced myself to look away, knowing that I had prepared the children to take care of spills. Our natural tendency is to want to help, to jump right in and “make it all better.” There are times we should resist this urge. Each practical life lesson demonstrates the materials and actions needed for the child to develop an independent function.Īt first, this approach is harder than simply helping the child however, in the long run, it becomes easier for you and your child, if s/he can take care of a task independently. She also tells us to “give and do what is necessary for the child to act for himself.” This maxim inspires all the practical life lessons. She was famous for saying things like “Any unnecessary help given to a child is a hindrance to development.” She tells us that from birth, physical and intellectual independence is the child’s primary aim. Montessori viewed development as gaining successive levels of independence. This time we are exploring how to teach your child to sweep, the Montessori way.ĭr. Today, Beth Holley is back with another Montessori Practical Life Lesson. For more details, see our Full Disclosure. Welcome back to Sugar, Spice & Glitter! Please note, this post may contain affiliate links.
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