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Montessori Practical Life Materials for Toddlers & Preschool

Montessori child using practical life cloth washing stand

The first learning materials that the child is likely to encounter in the Montessori classroom are those that make up the Montessori practical life curriculum. The young child enters the Children’s House which reflects an extension of home with some of the same kinds of activities which are typically human.
Practical Life Activities strengthen and develop a characteristically human foundation to the personality, of co-ordination of movement (unity of thought, will, action). They are most important to the whole development of the child.
These are activities that involve pouring different materials, using utensils such as scissors, tongs and tweezers, cleaning and polishing, preparing snacks, laying the table and washing dishes, arranging flowers, gardening, doing up and undoing clothes fastenings, and so on. 
Their aims, in addition to developing the child’s skills for independent living (“Help me to do it by myself”), are to build up the child’s gross and fine motor control and eye-hand co-ordination, to introduce them to the cycle of selecting, initiating, completing and tidying up an activity, and to introduce the rules for functioning in the social setting of the Montessori classroom.
 

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Wood Polishing Activity

This Practical Life activity invites the child to care for wooden objects while refining motor coordination, focus, and independence. Beautiful, purposeful, and ready to use in the classroom or at home! 

 

The whole set includes:

 

-Yellow tray – to carry and organize all the materials

-Child-sized apron – to protect the child’s clothing and support a sense of responsibility

-Clear plastic container – for storing all the items

-Small glass bowl – to hold a small portion of beeswax polish for easier application

-Beeswax polish jar (100 gram )– natural wood polish (child-safe) used to care for wooden objects

-Wooden polishing object – for children to practice polishing with real purpose

SKU
1.06.13
$44.10
In stock
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Quantity must be lower than or equal to 6
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Metal/Brass Polishing Activity

The whole set Includes:

 

  • Plastic tray with handles
  • Transparent container - to hold all materials
  • Small metal bucket – the object to polish
  • Small glass cup - for polishing liquid
  • Dropper bottle with polish (prepared by the teacher – a mix of vinegar, salt, and water)
  • Cotton balls, cotton swabs
  • Blue sponge (utility sponge)
  • Child-sized apron
  • Two blue cloths – one for buffing, one for cleaning

     

Presentation:

1. The tray is stored on the shelf with all materials inside the clear container.

2. The child carries the tray to the table and removes the container.

3. Items are taken out and arranged neatly on the tray.

SKU
1.06.13A
$44.10
In stock
-
+
Quantity must be lower than or equal to 6
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Silver Polishing Activity

The whole set Includes:

-  Plastic tray with handles

- Transparent container - to hold all materials

Small glass cup - for polishing liquid

- Dropper bottle with a mix of vinegar and water – polish liquid (prepared by the teacher)

- Plastic container for baking soda

- Small brush

- Cotton ball

- Utility sponge

- Two cloths – one for buffing, one for cleaning

-Child-sized apron

 

Presentation:

1. The tray is stored on the shelf with all materials inside the clear container.

2. The child carries the tray to the table and removes the container.

3. Items are taken out and arranged neatly on the tray.

SKU
1.06.13B
$44.10
In stock
-
+
Quantity must be lower than or equal to 6
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Sorting With Small Beads And Tongs

Help children refine their fine motor skills and develop their pincher grip by having them transfer items from one dish to another with tongs.

The whole set includes:

 2 ceramic bowls, one pair of small stainless steel tongs, medium size tray, and beads to transfer.

SKU
1.06.15
$18.90
In stock
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+
Quantity must be lower than or equal to 9
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Birds in a Nest Sorting Set

Momma and baby birds help young learners practice counting, sorting and colors in an interactive and engaging way.

The bowls stack, and the momma birds can be used as finger puppets.

Little learners will love matching birds and nests by color.

This deluxe set comes with 36 pieces! Set includes 24 baby birds in 6 colors, 6 momma birds, 6 color nests, and an Activity Guide.

Birds come in two sizes and six vibrant colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple), so they're easy to sort, match, and count.

Nests measure 4'L x 1'H; birds measure 1'H (baby) and 1 3/4 'H (momma).

SKU
1.06.16B
$35.10
In stock
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+
Quantity must be lower than or equal to 12
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Dropper Activities Set

This preliminary exercise is a chance to perfect an isolated skill.

Before children approach more complex activities, they must first master the basics.

Later, children will use droppers for polishing, color mixing, and science activities.

The whole set includes:

 2 glass bowls (2.75” in diameter), small size tray (10”x 7”), and a 3.5”glass dropper.

SKU
1.06.17
$18.90
In stock
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+
Quantity must be lower than or equal to 15
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Color Mixing Activity Set

This outstanding  activity set gives children hands-on experience using the three primary colors to create secondary colors.

Large white plastic tray, 3 clear glass bottles with eye droppers, 3 small glass bowls, and 1 large glass bowl.

Food coloring not included.
An enjoyable hands-on activity involves utilizing the three fundamental colors to produce secondary colors.

 

Pre-fill bottles with solutions of red, blue, and yellow food coloring mixed with water. Children can drop one dropperful of red and one dropperful of yellow into a small bowl, witnessing the magical creation of orange. Repeat the process with blue and yellow to form green, and with red and blue to yield violet.

SKU
1.06.17A
$23.40
In stock
-
+
Quantity must be lower than or equal to 9
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Sorting with Small Beads

This preliminary exercise, sorting by color, is a chance to perfect an isolated skill.

Before children approach more complex activities, they must first master the basics.

The whole set includes:

One square ceramic dish (2.75”x 2.75”), one 3-compartment dish (6”x 2.5”), six ceramic beads, and a small size tray (10”x 7”).

SKU
1.06.18
$15.30
In stock
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+
Quantity must be lower than or equal to 9
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Locks and Keys with Wooden Tray

It is a perfect way to refine motor skills. Practical Life Locks and Keys Activity allows children to be focused on a task, and learning how to lock will help them a lot in daily life.

Children will discover the Control of Error Montessori principle, which means that they'll be able to correct themselves if they don't match the right key to the right lock.

The set includes:

Beechwood tray (9.5 x 7.5 x 1.5 inches) and 4 different locks with keys.

SKU
1.06.19
$30.60
In stock
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+
Quantity must be lower than or equal to 11
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Key Matching Game

18 keys fit into 18 tiles! But you have to look closely because each pair only occurs once. Maybe the colored markings will help.

Age recommendation: 3+
Material: Wood, material.
Measurement: 2 x 2 inches.

Made in Europe.

SKU
1.06.19A
$26.10
In stock
-
+
Quantity must be lower than or equal to 14