Getting your kids ready to go outside can feel like a daunting task sometimes, especially if they’re still learning how to tie their shoes and put on their clothes. But Montessori teachings remind us that everything can be a great learning opportunity for both you and your child! Let’s discuss some practical life tips for preparing your child to go outside.
Why practical life?
Before we begin, a word on practical life.
Montessori practical life activities are designed to promote independence, coordination, and concentration in young children, and they pair well with habit-based activities like getting ready to go outside. Engaging your child in practical life tasks empowers them with a sense of capability and boosts their self-esteem, which can help them become a more independent person earlier in their life. By encouraging them to practice these skills, you can create a learning environment that nurtures self-sufficiency and confidence. Practical life activities also enhance fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and cognitive abilities, all of which lay a strong foundation for future learning.
Shoe on, shoe off
Putting on their shoes is a big undertaking for young children, but with your help, this can become an important practical life learning opportunity. Demonstrate the process step-by-step, starting with simple shoes that are easy to manage like Velcro shoes.
You can start by sitting your child down and showing them how to bring one foot onto their knee. Then, you can demonstrate bringing the shoe to their foot and sliding their toes in as far as they’ll go without causing discomfort. You could ask them to stand up so their weight can shift their toes farther into the shoe.
Finally, slipping the heel into the shoe tends to be the most difficult part, so it might take some practice. If your child starts getting fussy, this may be a sign that the shoes are too small. Remember, we want to give our children every opportunity to feel independent, so be sure to let them take charge when they want to. Prompt them to tighten the Velcro on their shoes themselves and test how the tightness feels. In the long-term, this can help them learn to respond to their body’s signals of comfort and discomfort.
Mastering the jacket
For your child, putting on a jacket is as important as it is tricky. There are a lot of moving parts to get right when they can’t even see the jacket while they put it on: pulling the sleeves on, making sure the jacket is facing the right way, and making sure their shirt doesn’t get bunched up underneath the jacket.
Many Montessori teachers swear by “the magic coat flip.” The process involves laying the jacket on the ground with the hood facing them and the inside of the coat facing up. Your child can then slip their arms into the jacket sleeves and flip the jacket over their head while they continue to work their arms into the sleeves. It’s quick, fun, and it allows your child to see what they’re doing while they put the jacket on. Don’t forget to celebrate when they get it right to encourage their sense of progress!
Handwashing
Whether you’re headed out to eat or you’re just getting back from playing, handwashing is an important hygiene habit – and a great practical life opportunity to boost your child’s independence!
Emphasize the five steps of handwashing at an early age to make sure your children are ready to independently clean themselves up as soon as possible: wet, soap, scrub, rinse, and dry. You can solidify the routine by turning it into a game that your child can look forward to. Come up with a handwashing song that lasts as long as your child should wash their hands (about 20 seconds). Give them a “clean score” out of 100 so they can feel encouraged to “win” the handwashing game. It’ll make the process more fun for both of you!
Conclusion
Going outside doesn’t have to be a pain – but it requires a bit of work. Using Montessori practical life methods, you can help your child become more independent faster than you could imagine.
Ready to give your child the leg up they need to succeed? Enroll them in one of Inspire Kids Montessori’s beautiful campuses! We emphasize the individuality of every child that passes through our doors, ensuring that your child receives the education that’s right for them. We’ll help reinforce at-home practical life activities like the ones mentioned above, and so much more. Contact us today to schedule a tour of our facilities!
