Practical Life and the Importance of Movement 

For most children starting in Montessori school,
lessons in practical life will be among their first experiences.

We are thrilled to introduce practical life, the core of Montessori’s early childhood program. It seems very simple and it may be overlooked at some schools where there is pressure for academic achievement, even for the youngest of our school children. Other schools develop their practical life area to the fullest, to the benefit of their children.

Practical Life is one four major curriculum areas, that also include Sensorial, Language and Math. For most children starting in Montessori schools around the globe, lessons in practical life will be among their first experiences. These “humble tasks of daily living” can be done at home or school, from dusting and sweeping to metal polishing, washing dishes and gardening. 

The essential point to keep in mind is that there are underlying purposes to these lessons, far beyond the mastery of any specific skill: the sense of order, concentration, coordination of movement and independence. These lessons provide the child with opportunity to freely move about the classroom and develop what neuroscientists call “executive functions” of the brain. Executive functions include control of attention and actions, the ability to screen out unwanted distractions, working memory, and flexibility of thinking.

Watch Mary Ellen Maunz, M.Ed., Founder and Program Director, explain the importance of the Practical Life avenue in the Montessori classroom.

We are pleased to welcome you on this journey of practical life and the importance of movement for the young child. Maria Montessori’s profound understanding combined with the expertise of Mary Ellen Maunz provides us with a clear and sure path to follow. We know this information will prove of practical use to you.