The Ultimate Guide to Incorporating Practical Life at Home

There is something magical about witnessing the wonder and amazement that children experience during ordinary tasks. Everyday activities like getting dressed, brushing their teeth, sweeping the floor, setting the table, and preparing meals become sources of engagement and excitement. These tasks not only introduce new challenges but also enable children to explore and understand the world around them.

What are Practical Life Activities?

Practical Life activities refer to the everyday tasks that are a part of daily living. These activities are relevant for children of all ages and evolve as the child grows and develops. For a toddler, this might involve learning to pull up their pants or wash their hands, while an elementary-aged child or adolescent might engage in activities like managing money, planning and preparing family meals, or creating a business plan.

Though these tasks may appear simple to adults, they hold significant potential for children to cultivate a sense of pride and self-identity as they learn to care for themselves, others, and their environment independently. Furthermore, these activities provide a foundation for later academic learning by helping children develop concentration, coordination, and a sense of order. These seemingly mundane tasks are, in fact, essential aids to life.

In the classroom, common Practical Life activities include:

• Washing hands

• Arranging flowers

• Washing dishes

• Sweeping floors

• Watering plants

• Squeezing oranges for fresh juice

• Peeling and slicing bananas

• Spreading crackers

• Blowing the nose

• Coughing and sneezing politely

Incorporating Practical Life Activities at Home

Because Practical Life skills are part of everyday tasks, integrating them into home routines is relatively easy. Often, no special materials are necessary, and minimal preparation is required.

Here are some simple ideas for Practical Life activities at home:

• Assisting with laundry—bringing clothes to the basket, loading the washing machine, transferring to the dryer, adding detergent, sorting, and folding clean laundry

• Getting dressed and undressed

• Brushing hair

• Brushing teeth

• Washing hands

• Washing dishes

• Setting the table

• Helping with meal preparation—scooping, mixing, pouring, measuring, washing vegetables, slicing

  
  

Here are 8 Tips for Bringing Practical Life Activities into the Home:

• Prepare the environment:

  Keep cleaning supplies within the child's reach and eye level. Having items like a hand towel, a child-sized broom, and a mop nearby makes it easier to clean up small spills and larger messes.

  
  

• Model the process:

  When introducing new activities, demonstrate the task first. Use slow, deliberate movements to let the child focus on each action. Limit verbal instructions while modeling, so the child can concentrate on the movements.

  
  

• Give the child time to practice:

  As an adult, it can be tempting to step in and offer advice or help, but try to resist this urge. Give the child time to figure out the task on their own. Even if they make mistakes or create a mess, this is part of the learning process and will build their confidence and capability.

  
  

• Follow the child:

  Pay attention to the child's interests and developmental level, and tailor activities to suit their needs. Provide tasks that challenge them but are still within their abilities. Avoid introducing activities that are too advanced, as this may lead to frustration. Remember that activities can be adapted or made more complex as the child grows. For example, add extra steps to a basic task to increase its difficulty, such as asking the child to put on an apron, wash dishes, wipe the cooking area, and take wet cloths to the laundry as part of meal preparation.

• Live in the moment:

  Involving a child in everyday tasks may take more time, but these moments are valuable. Slow down and allow the child to practice and engage in the activity.
  

• Focus on the process, not the product:

  The child's work may not meet adult standards or expectations. There may be sugar left on the counter after wiping or dirt still on the floor after sweeping, and shirts may not be folded perfectly. What's important is that the child is learning and developing skills. If you need to correct something, do it discreetly to avoid discouraging them.

• Look for opportunities for the child to help:

  Small tasks that may not seem significant to adults can be meaningful to a child. Taking a moment to identify ways the child can assist with everyday activities, like carrying a shirt to the laundry hamper, can reveal many opportunities for them to contribute.

  
  

• Make it fun:

  Perhaps most importantly, remember that these experiences are meant to be fun. Keep practicing in small steps and the learning will happen in a fun, natural way.