Tim Seldin & Paul Epstein Ph.D. An Education for Life

MONTESSORI PROGRAMS
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Eating together ...
(Above) Washing and Ironing
Children learn to wash small polishing cloths and napkins. Once the cloths are dry, they learn
to iron and fold them using a special low-temperature children’s iron. Think of the pride that
these young children take in doing real things, rather than pretending to help around the
house.
(Left) Food Preparation
When the children are hungry, they prepare their own snacks. They pour themselves a drink
from a little pitcher that is just right for their small hands. When finished they clean up and
wash their dishes. When something spills, they help each other carefully clean up. In Montessori
classrooms, you will find small children cutting raw fruit and vegetables.
Older Montessori students learn all sorts of everyday living skills, from cooking to balancing a
checkbook. They plan parties, learn how to decorate a room, arrange flowers, garden, and
do simple household repairs. Montessori builds many opportunities into the curriculum for
students to learn from hands-on experiences. They learn to cook, set tables, eat together in a
peaceful atmosphere, and steadily grow in their self-confidence and independence.