The beauty of Montessori education is that it has structured age-specific, season-specific practical life activities.
I assume that you have landed here to seek the best Montessori December practical Life activities either for your toddler or for your preschooler; I assure you that you are in the right place. As a seasoned Montessori teacher, I have the privilege to deal with all sorts of Montessori activities at school.
Moreover, I am the loving father of two beautiful children and therefore, I have tried to introduce all kinds of Montessori activities to toddlers. Furthermore,I would like to suggest that December practical life activities is perfect for developing fine motor skills, and creativity during winter season.
Below I list down some December practical life activities ideas that you will find useful:
Polar Bear Growl Dice Game:
Polar Bear Growl Dice Game is a fun counting and gross motor activity. Teachers or parents give children dice to roll and instruct them to growl like a polar bear the number of times shown. I found it great for number recognition and winter-themed dramatic play.
Alphabet Flashcard Matching:
Matching wooden alphabet letters to realistic flashcards (e.g., “A” for apple) was a perfect Montessori practical life activity for December. Furthermore, it helps with letter recognition and hand-eye coordination.
Do-A-Dot Fine Motor Sheets:
I encouraged my children and my children to use Do-A-Dot markers to fill in themed sheets. In addition; I added paw print stamps or winter-colored dots for extra engagement. I also included tracing words for early writing practice.
Snow-Themed Cutting Strips:
I printed and cut images of kids playing in the snow. I let them practice scissor grip and cutting along lines. Then I advised them to glue the pieces into a seasonal scrapbook.
Winter Tree Scene with Snow:
I assisted my children to craft a tree using real twigs,cotton balls,Q-tips and white paint.I also told them to add sequins for sparkle.
Polar Bear Paper Plate Craft:
My children used small paper plates, glue, googly eyes, pom-poms, and markers to make a polar bear face. It was a simple and fun Montessori Christmas craft for my toddlers.
Cloud Dough Winter Sensory Play:
My children made snow-like cloud dough with 4 cups flour + ½ cup oil. They also added arctic animals like polar bears, penguins, seals, and moose for imaginative play.
Finally, I encouraged learning snow-themed sweeping, spooning cotton balls, and mitten-buttoning trays that were perfect for December to January practical life activities.
Sumanta De is an educator. He has been teaching students for more than 16 years following the principles of Dr.Maria Montessori. He has a 7-year-old son and a 5-year-old daughter.
He is nurturing his children abiding by the principles of Dr.Maria Montessori. His passion for Montessori methods goes beyond the classroom.
Hence, he shares his experiences and insights through a dedicated Montessori blog and a YouTube channel under the name “NewChild Montessori”. He aims to offer valuable guidance to both parents and educators.
Education: M.A. English, Masters in Child Psychology & Bachelor’s Degree in Montessori Teachers Training