The reason Maria Montessori introduced this curriculum area in the education of young children was that her method aimed at preparing children for life. Thus she considered it very important to assist development in young children according to their respective stage (physiological and mental) as they come through what she referred to as sensitive periods. Within the Montessori Method the activities in the Practical Life Area are real activities which meet the needs of the child in the respective stage of their growth; and lead them to independence from the adult.
Practical life activities may well be the most important work in the Montessori class and the foundation of the Montessori environment. By means of these activities children learn to make intelligent choices, to become physically and then mentally independent and responsible. They learn to concentrate, to control muscles, to move and act with care, to focus, to analyse logical steps and complete a cycle of activity. This lays the foundation for all other areas of learning, not just in early childhood, but throughout life.
