“The exercises of practical life are formative activities, a work of adaptation to the environment. Such adaptation to the environment and efficient functioning therein is the very essence of a useful education.”
DR. MARIA MONTESSORI
Although it is a seemingly simple material, Washing a Table, helps the child to develop and strengthen many essential qualities. The primary goal would be simply learning to scrub the table. The child works for the process unlike the adult who often works for the outcome. For the youngest child, this material requires sequencing multiple steps: putting on their apron, filling the pitcher with water, pouring the water into the basin, wetting a sponge to wet the table, gathering the scrub brush, putting soap on the scrub brush and the steps continue on to complete the task. Underneath this task, the child is building their concentration skills and sequencing skills. Well-developed concentration and sequencing skills will only be an aid later when the child progresses to more academic materials. Washing a able also lends to hand and arm strength key for work with holding and using a writing instrument. Further, the work of scrubbing the table in a circular motion is a precursor for the development of cursive writing. Dr. Montessori in her brilliance thought through and developed to such detail the fine points of each individual exercise of the Practical materials. Washing a Table is a beautiful representation of this.
In the toddler and primary environments, this is a material presented to a child that is ready to sequence many steps and can do so without constant redirection back to the work. A child doing table scrubbing is also a child that can stay with the work until completion. The materials in our environment are always put back on the shelf ready for the next friend to use. With this, the child is developing a work ethic that includes not leaving a task unfinished and also gives them a sense of responsibility for cleaning up after him or herself. The child develops the grace and courtesy that comes from preparing the material for someone else to use that also belongs and works in our community. The use of this material aids the child in so many crucial aspects, therefore, we encourage and welcome the repetition.
