One of the hallmarks of a Montessori preschool program is that children are expected to do many things for themselves, such as cleaning, pouring, and serving food. Older or more proficient children help the younger children or those who are new to the program. To an outside observer, the classroom at clean-up time or lunch time might look like a community of tiny adults, all doing their part to achieve a common goal.
The
Benefits of Chores
Maria Montessori's philosophy
was that children learn and thrive when given age-appropriate responsibilities
and independence. Children can learn a sense of responsibility - to their
duties as well as to others - from an early age.You can bring her approach home by assigning age-appropriate chores, and helping your children learn to perform them independently. Assigning chores at home will allow you to:
- Make
your child feel like a functional part of the household.
Children love knowing they help the household run smoothly. It can make
them feel especially good to do chores such as helping to take care of
household pets.
- Help
your child develop self-confidence.
Accomplishing something makes you feel good, right? Children are no
different. Doing a job well and receiving recognition for it will help
your child develop self-esteem and a sense of pride in their work.
- Teach
your child life skills. Work is an important part of
life. We all have "chores" we do on a daily basis, from
necessary household tasks to our careers. Encouraging children to help out
around the house and to take pride in their accomplishments will help
instill a strong work ethic at an early age.
Age
Appropriate Chores for Preschoolers
Many preschoolers want to do
things themselves and assigning chores gives you an opportunity to take
advantage of that natural eagerness to help. If your child has never done
chores before, start with small chores, adding one at a time. Take the time to
teach your child how to do things that are difficult for them at first, as
it'll pay off in the long run.Here are a few responsibilities that are age-appropriate for preschoolers:
- Cleaning
up toys
- Feeding
pets
- Making
their bed
- Getting
dressed in the morning
- Getting
ready for bed at night
- Putting
away folded clothes
- Folding
easy-to-fold clothes
- Wiping up
spills
- Watering
plants
- Helping
with cooking
- Measuring
ingredients for baking
- Washing
produce
- Setting
the table
- Serving,
pouring, etc.
Teaching
Responsibility at Home and at School
Teaching your child to do
chores at home will help teach responsibility, but it's only half the story. As
much as we as parents like to think we control everything about our children's
upbringings, don't forget that they spend at least half their day at school.
The right school will reinforce the same values you emphasize at home.At Montessori Children's House, students are encouraged to work together throughout their day, thereby showing them that each person is equally responsible in their own learning. For more information on how our Montessori programs encourage responsibility, a love of learning, and other important life skills, contact us today to take a tour of our school.
