Housework Helper
This week you will focus on practical life activities. Practical life is part of the Montessori philosophy that pertains to everyday routine care of one’s self and one’s environment.
Involving your child in practical life activities is extremely beneficial for both you and them. You get to complete needed housework like cleaning, cooking, sewing, gardening, and shopping. Your child gets to have fun while developing independence and learning about practical skills and responsibility.
If you follow this week’s tips, you should have an easier time engaging, entertaining, and teaching your child. Furthermore, you will gain a life-long housework helper!
Mission
Encourage child participation during houseworkGoals
DUE Friday, July 16th
4 Tips to Keep in Mind
Look for ways your child can help
Provide them with a simple version of your current task
Children learn through repetition so have them help again another day
Expect that they can and watch them learn
Resist doing what they are capable of
It may be quicker/easier to do it yourself, but let them learn
They acquire independence, confidence, and pride in their work
Don't redo their work, resist the urge to refold, fix, straighten
Focus on the process rather than the result
Perfection is not the goal, learning is
Allow your child the chance to master these skills
You will gain an established routine helper
Praise them and give attention to positive behavior
Make housework fun
Provide multiple tasks to choose from
Invite them - Do you want me to help you or can you do it yourself?
Turn responsibilities into a game
Speak in a silly accent, put on a timer, pretend play clothing store
Activities
1. Bean Transfer
Materials:
2+ small containers (i.e. dishes, bowls and trays)
2+ types of beans (i.e. pinto beans, peas, kernels)
1+ utensils to carry the beans (i.e. spoons, tongs)
Have your child sort through different types of the beans by color, size, or type
Make it more challenging:
Try switching to containers with multiple openings such as ice cube trays or egg cartons. Then have your child put a certain amount or combination of beans in each opening (i.e. 2 white beans per opening, or 2 black, 3 white beans per opening).
Substitute your beans with other objects -- What is something my child likes?
Integrate numbers -- try counting with them as you sort the beans
Sorting allows for observation and analyzation to compare different bean attributes (visual discrimination: color and pattern recognition)
Scooping and pinching the beans with utensils or fingers practices fine motor skills related to writing and drawing
2. True or False
A fun verbal game perfect for car rides, idle time, or at home. Ask true or false questions to your child and have them answer accordingly. Make sure the answer is something they can figure out or observe on their own.
Examples:
“The sky is yellow” true or false?
“It is very cold out today” true or false?
“We are on our way to grandma’s house right now” true or false?
This game is great for practicing critical thinking and observational skills by having your child exercise breaking down and analyzing information.
3. What Do They All Have in Common?
A fun verbal game perfect for car rides, idle time, or at home. The rules are simple. List some objects that share one or more traits and have your child guess what they all have in common.
Examples:
“Socks, shirt, pants, sweater” Answer: “Clothes”
“Banana, corn, mac n’ cheese, scrambled eggs” Answer: “Yellow” or “Food”
This game is great for practicing critical thinking and observational skills by having your child exercise breaking down information and finding patterns.
4. Lovely Laundry
Search the pockets for treasure!
Make a game out of scavenging all the pockets for treasure.
Using a hamper:
Have your child put their dirty clothes in a hamper that is easily reachable for them.
Sorting (pre-wash):
Let your child help sort different categories of clothes. Practice naming colors and categories.
Starting the wash:
Allow your child to do some of the steps of starting up the laundry.
Sorting (post-wash):
Let your child help with sorting and folding different clothes. Remember it doesn’t have to be perfect - accept slower, sloppier work. Let them take pride in their work and don’t redo it.
More ideas:
Have them show a sibling, family member how to fold an item
Pretend play doing laundry for their dolls/toys
Sing, play music and make it fun!
Race to put clothes away
Sense of accomplishment and ownership
Visual and sensory discrimination practice
Gross motor skills and bilateral coordination
Teaches responsibility & independence
Care & respect for one’s belongings
Improves critical thinking/problem solving