If children are allowed to do what they see done in the environment, they will perform a series of exercises that have no external purpose but which are a preparation for the activity, which is to follow~Maria Montessori.
The importance of Practical Life Activities helps the child develop coordination of movement, concentration, independence, and willpower. The skills of the work are only a by-product.
One of the best things to prepare our kids for adulthood is teaching them how to take care of a home. Chores also teach kids valuable skills they can use when they are all grown and live independently.
Honestly, it would just be easier and faster for mom or dad to vacuum on our own. Does it ourselves, right?
YES…
It really would be easier. And faster.
BUT…
If we did it ourselves, our kids wouldn’t learn. They wouldn’t realise the value of work. They wouldn’t know how to vacuum. We want better for our kids.
So, we drudge through the burden of teaching our kids to clean. And that includes teaching our kids how to vacuum. Awesome!
Kids need the proper nutrition to grow, and it’s sometimes a challenge to get them to eat the right foods. When food is fun, it goes down much more quickly as kids first tend to eat with their eyes.
Benefits of Letting Kids Make Their Own breakfast/lunches:
1. Gives them a sense of control
2. Boosts their self-confidence
3. Teaches them valuable life skills
4. Makes mornings easier for all parents!
Learning to cook helps children to learn about nutrition and healthy eating. They are growing up with fast food and junk food at their fingertips, which is part of the reason why child obesity is on the rise! Teaching kids to cook will help instil skills to last them a lifetime.
If our child needs a boost of self-confidence (and who doesn’t!), cooking in the kitchen will do just that. They are accomplishing a task, learning something important, and contributing to the family.
Cooking also creates family time and bonding. Take time to cook with our children, and they will have memories that they can pass on to their families. It may take a longer time to get the meal or snack made, but the moments with our children will be priceless. (Remember to have patience and don’t worry about flour on the floor or spilt milk).
Kids will be more apt to eat what they make. Perhaps, it is the enthusiasm of creating something themselves, but children will be more likely to eat whatever they had a hand in making.
Cooking is a great way to learn life skills. This activity can be beneficial when kids are on their own and won’t rely on fast food and junk food to sustain themselves.
Often parents believe their children are unable to perform basic chores on their own, so they automatically jump in and do everything for them. But this is a big mistake! They should let the kids organize toys themselves and eliminate clutter they made on their own. Although seemingly a little thing, this contributes to forming a child’s personality. It also provides the child with work habits that will facilitate their life in the future!
When children participate in household chores, they learn how to organize their belongings in life. If our children organize toys and put those in the appropriate storage boxes, after play, without our help, it will positively contribute to their personality formation.
The side effect of teaching this well is a tidier house and fewer foot injuries when you step on those little plastic pieces that didn’t make it back in the bin!
