Want to introduce practical life activities to your toddler?

Practical life work – like cooking, cleaning, and self-care – is the foundation of Montessori for little ones. So, it’s an awesome place to start if you’re a beginner! Luckily, practical life activities are also way less complicated than you might think. 

Keep reading to learn more about how to introduce Montessori practical life activities to your toddler. You’ll also find 90+ fun practical life activities to try at home!

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So, what is practical life?

At the end of the day, Montessori practical life is pretty simple! The goal is to teach children about everyday tasks and skills that will help them in their daily lives. This includes self-care skills, like hand-washing or putting a jacket on, as well as typical household chores, like cleaning up a spill, watering a plant, and more!

What is the purpose of practical life activities?

By giving little ones the time and space they need to work on practical life skills, we’re providing them with the opportunity to gain independence and mastery.

A simple task, like pouring water into a cup, might be second-nature for an adult. But toddlers are still pretty new to the world. They need opportunities to practice these basic skills!

When we take time to introduce practical life activities to children, we’re also respecting the way that little ones learn…

Through hands-on practice and plenty of repetition!

For example, we can set aside time when we’re not busy for little ones to practice washing their hands with soapy water and drying them with a towel. Toddlers might want to repeat this activity – as well as other practical life activities – over and over again.

That’s the goal of practical life activities: Mastery of simple life skills through meaningful repetition. 

What are practical life skills for toddlers?

There are a few different categories of practical life skills, including: 

  • Basic skills: Simple tasks, like opening a jar, pouring water from a pitcher, or using a spoon to scoop and transfer materials like beans or rice
  • Care of self: Everyday self-care tasks, like washing hands, spreading peanut butter on toast, or zipping a zipper
  • Care of environment: Household tasks and chores, like wiping up a spill, sweeping, watering a plant, or helping put the groceries away after a shopping trip
  • Grace and courtesy: Basic social skills and manners, like saying hello and goodbye, coughing and sneezing politely, or asking for help

 

Within each category, there are tons of practical life skills that are appropriate for toddlers to work on!

As per usual, you’ll want to start by assessing what your child is currently able to do, and go from there to make sure you’re setting reasonable expectations for your little one.

(But more on that in a second!)

How to get started with practical life activities at home

The best way to get started with practical life at home is simply to start involving your toddler in everyday household tasks and chores.

Some easy ideas to start with include loading laundry into the washing machine, feeding a pet, wiping the table down with a cloth, or scooping cereal into a bowl. 

Little ones love being helpers! Involving your child in daily activities will help them feel included in the family – instead of always being left out to “go play” whenever there’s work to be done.

Here are some tips to help you introduce practical life activities to your toddler at home…

1 | Invite your child to participate – don’t force them.

Practical life work should be fun! Offer your toddler opportunities to help often, but let them opt out or wander off, if they want to. They can always try again next time!

2 | Help your toddler be successful.

Offer your child not-too-difficult tasks they can be successful at. This will help you keep practical life work fun and build your little one’s confidence. When in doubt, start simple and gradually build up to more challenging tasks.

3 | Show, don’t tell.

When teaching your child a new skill, show them slowly using as few words as possible. Then, let them try it out for themself!

4 | Be prepared.

Before you get started, make sure your little one has everything they need to engage in the activity successfully. This might mean investing in a few child-sized tools (like a toddler-safe knife for cutting fruits or veggies) or designating a special space for your child’s practical life supplies.

5 | Set aside time for practical life work.

Practical life work is slow. Toddlers will want to take their time and may choose to repeat an activity over and over again. So, wait to introduce a practical life activity until you have enough free time to let your little one work, uninterrupted, for awhile.

6 | Lower your expectations.

Don’t expect your child to sweep up flawlessly, or pour a cup of water without spilling the first time they try it. Mastery takes time and practice – and your child will make plenty of mistakes on the way. Let them. 

7 | Give your child space.

It can be tempting to hover over your child and jump in to help them the second they start struggling with a tricky jar lid (or whatever). You can stay nearby, but give your toddler a little room to struggle and figure it out. It’s so rewarding for them when they manage to do it on their own!

 

8 | Keep it simple.

Try not to stress or overcomplicate things. Practical life activities are really just simple things you do every day, except now you’re getting your toddler involved. Have fun with it! 

Easy Montessori practical life activities for toddlers

Now that you know a lil bit more about practical life, here are some simple activity ideas to try out with your toddler at home!

Just remember to choose activities that your child is ready for. You can start by introducing your little one to simple practical life tasks and gradually build up to more challenging ones. (There’s no rush!)

Basic skills

  • Scoop and pour water
  • Pour water from cup to cup
  • Pour water from a pitcher
  • Scoop dry materials (beans, rice, oats, etc.)
  • Open and close jars
  • Match locks and keys
  • Work with a latch board/busy board
  • Match lids to pots and pans
  • Transfer water with a sponge
  • Drop coin through slot

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Get started with practical life activities with your toddler

 Basic skills (cont.)

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Food prep & cooking

  • Help wash/dry dishes
  • Put clean dishes away
  • Measure and pour ingredients (with help)
  • Mixing and stirring
  • Wash fruits and vegetables
  • Peel a banana or mandarin orange
  • Cut a banana with butter knife or wooden knife
  • Cut an apple with an apple cutter
  • Scoop cereal into bowl
  • Pour milk from small pitcher
  • Spread topping on bread or crackers
  • Squeezing & juicing
  • Grating
  • Grind spices using a mortar and pestle
  • Set the table
  • Help clear the table after meals
  • Prepare a snack independently

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Care of self

  • Feed self using a fork and spoon
  • Pour self a glass of water
  • Drink from a cup
  • Wash hands
  • Wipe face
  • Get a tissue and blow nose
  • Brush teeth
  • Work on toilet learning
  • Begin to dress and undress self
  • Put on a jacket
  • Zip a zipper
  • Button a button
  • Put on and take off socks and shoes

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Care of environment (cleaning & chores)

  • Sweeping
  • Wipe up a spill
  • Wipe the table with a cloth
  • Dusting
  • Clean a mirror or window
  • Put dirty laundry in hamper
  • Help load the washing machine
  • Matching socks
  • Put clean clothes away
  • Folding towels
  • Help put groceries away 
  • Help take trash or recycling outside

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Plant & pet care

  • Water plants
  • Dust plants
  • Help tend to the garden
  • Weeding
  • Raking leaves
  • Plant a seed
  • Arranging flowers
  • Feed the family pet
  • Practice being gentle to animals

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Grace & courtesy

  • Say hello and goodbye
  • Introduce self by name
  • Waiting
  • Taking turns
  • Asking for help
  • Interrupting politely
  • Say please and thank you
  • Speaking quietly inside
  • Cover face to cough or sneeze
  • Walk carefully around people and objects
  • Helping others
  • Push in chairs
  • Treat books, toys, and other belongings with respect

Practical life on the go

  • Help find items from shopping list at grocery store
  • Take walks around the neighborhood
  • Collect natural items from outdoors
  • Hold hands to cross the street
  • Carry own belongings in a backpack
  • Practice following rules while in public (e.g. using a quiet voice at the library)

Ready to get started?

What practical life activity will you try first with your little one? Share in the comments!

 

♥ Meg

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