Practical Life

“The hands are the instruments of man’s intelligence.”

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The activities of Practical Life mimic daily living and are divided into four categories-care of self, care of the environment, grace and courtesy, and control of movement. Many of these activities are ones the child sees done at home, such as sweeping, washing, ironing, arranging flowers, etc. Grace and courtesy support the child’s social development. Children develop fine and gross motor coordination and control. They learn to work at a task from beginning to end (a full work cycle) and to assume responsibility for themselves and for their classroom environment.