Care Of Self

The Practical Life area in a Montessori classroom is made up of care of self, care of the environment and grace and courtesy. Montessori believed that we should never do anything for a child that they can do themselves. We should create a prepared environment that caters to our child's needs and more importantly their independence. This post will be dedicated to ideas on how to help your child with practical life activities and gaining their independence. I'd like to give you a glimpse of how I teach these practical life skills in our home. Let's begin with "care of self" lessons.

Since most counters whether in the kitchen or bathroom are made for adults a must have is a stepping stool or learning towers and fun pods which are a little more expensive. These are handy for when a child needs to wash their hands, brush their teeth or when they are helping you prepare their snack or lunch. Depending on how high your counters are you may have to find a stool with 2 steps rather than one. It's also important to make sure they have skid resistance to prevent any injuries. A few examples of these are:

Once your child is ready for potty training I'd invest in a small potty. This allows the child to get on and off by themselves. Most children find it easier to "go" when their feet are firmly planted on the ground. You also need to have a basket/bin nearby with clean underwear/panties and a hamper to place soiled clothing incase an accident occurs. If you have enough room for a small stool, please include this. This allows your child to have a place to sit to change soiled clothing and it's easier for a child to put on their under garments and get into a standing position once their legs are in the correct holes. 

Photo borrowed from breadandrosesparenting.com

Another setup you should put together is a toothbrushing and hair brush/combing station. Find a simple tray to place these items on and within reach of your child when he/she is standing on a stool. This way they have everything they need right together and makes for an easier morning or bedtime routine.

I have found that the best way to get your child interested in the getting dressed process is to get them involved as much as possible. For Ava, I will take out two or three outfits and hang them where she can see them and let her choose each evening what she wants to wear the next day. A child should have options but not so many that they are overwhelmed. You can put a few different baskets or bins with socks, underwear, colder weather (mittens, hats, scarves) and Ava has one with her umbrella and dance bag. I have her shoes downstairs on a shelf for easy access. Another great way for your child to find clothing items on their own are picture labels. I found these picture labels and they are on my to-do list. You can do whatever works for your family but keep "independence" in the back of your mind when creating these spaces for your little ones. I'm going to post a few ideas below:

Picture borrowed from vibrantwanderings.com

Getting dressed can be a bit tricky for a toddler. A few tips I picked up from my training is that when zipping a jacket or buttoning a shirt you should do it standing behind your child. This allows your child to see the placement of where there hands should be when they give it a go. Another tip I've found useful is sitting on a small stool or chair when getting dressed makes it easier especially while putting on socks and shoes or their bottoms. The last tip is "simplified clothing." We want our children to be successful and today's cute clothing seems to be the most difficult. Shirts without buttons that can easily slip over your child's head and "elastic" on their pants or shorts are much easier to start out with than buttons or snaps. Velcro straps on shoes or slip ons will allow your child to feel successful early on. In the event your child has already mastered elastic Montessori created dressing frames to allow your child ample practice with buttons, zippers, snaps, and bow tying etc. If your child feels a little overwhelmed I have found that sometimes I need to help Ava get started or give a lesson again and have her finish. (example: put one sock on and have your child put the other on) Encouragement is key! Here is a video from Montessori Moms of a little girl taking her shoes off to put on house shoes and hanging her jacket up on child sized coat hanger. Love this!