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For pre-primary teachers in our NTT program, understanding the importance of Exercises of Practical Life is crucial for creating a well-rounded curriculum that meets the needs of young children
In the Nursery classroom, young children are normally drawn first to the Practical Life area because these materials are most familiar to them. The exercises of Practical Life have objects and materials normally encountered in everyday living experiences such as cleaning, sweeping, pouring, dressing, plant and animal care. The exercises of Practical Life fall into four major categories: Care of the Self, Care of the Environment, Grace and Courtesy, and Control of Movement. Many are fundamental exercises that the child needs to master to be able to live comfortably in the real world.
Practical Life activities help the child develop coordination, concentration, a sense of personal independence, and a sense of order. Through the exercises of Practical Life, the child develops the self-confidence and attention essential for mastery of the other more advanced areas of the Montessori classroom. The creativity and imagination of the teacher will determine many of the activities in this area of the program. The teacher keeps in mind that the main purpose of this work is the coordination of the senses, brain, and muscles. The basic Practical Life exercises include, but are not limited to the following:
Dressing frames to learn how to button, buckle, snap, tie bows, and lace shoes and many more. All the presentations are covered with full explanation in the modules.