Opening and Closing Drawers
The Montessori activity of Opening and Closing Drawers is an essential part of the Montessori practical life curriculum at home, offering children the opportunity to develop their fine motor skills and sense of order.
- 📏 Range Age: 2.5 - 4 years (activity should be adjusted based on the child's age and skill level).
- 🧠 Prerequisites: Practical Life Activities (Opening and Closing Containers, Carrying a Tray), Language Activities (vocabulary building activities for actions and objects involved), Cognitive Activities (understanding of spatial awareness, careful and controlled movements)
- 🛠️ Enhancement Skills: Practical Life Skills (developing precision and control in handling drawers), Cognitive Development (concentration, fine motor control), Fine Motor Skills (grasping, pulling, and pushing movements, coordination).
This article delves into the benefits of this activity, its significance in the Montessori method, and practical ways to incorporate it into your child's learning at home.
Content
What is Opening and Closing Drawers in Montessori?
In Montessori education, Opening and Closing Drawers is designed to teach children how to handle everyday objects with care and precision.
This activity involves using various types of drawers that children can open and close to refine their grip, coordination, and understanding of mechanical movement.
Benefits of Opening and Closing Drawers
Integrating the Opening and Closing Drawers activity into your child's learning offers several benefits:
- 🔒 Enhances Fine Motor Skills: Manipulating drawer handles helps improve hand strength and coordination.
- 🔄 Improves Practical Life Skills: Children learn how to operate fixtures they will use daily throughout their lives.
- 🎯 Develops Focus and Concentration: The task requires concentration to open and close drawers smoothly without causing disruptions.
- 🧹 Encourages Organization: Learning to handle and organize contents within drawers teaches children about maintaining order.
- 🛠️ Fosters Independence: Mastering these skills helps children feel capable and confident in managing their environment.
Purpose of Opening and Closing Drawers
The purpose of the Opening and Closing Drawers activity in Montessori education is to develop the child's fine motor skills and organizational abilities, while also fostering a sense of independence and care for their surroundings.
How to Present the Opening and Closing Drawers Activity?
Materials
- A small cabinet or set of drawers, ideally at a height accessible to young children, to practice the mechanics of opening and closing.
- A variety of small objects or toys to place inside each drawer, enhancing the interest and engagement in opening them.
- A tray to organize the small objects before placing them into the drawers, facilitating a tidy and orderly activity setup.
The following instructions are the montessori presentation of Opening and Closing Drawers activity:
Presentation
- Preparation: Begin by approaching the cabinet or piece of furniture with drawers. Explain to the child that you will practice opening and closing drawers smoothly.
- Observation: Point out the handles or knobs of the drawers, discussing their size, shape, and material. This helps the child to gain familiarity with the drawer before interacting with it.
- Demonstration of Opening: Show the child how to properly grasp the drawer handle with their dominant hand. Place your other hand on the side of the drawer to stabilize it.
- Open the Drawer: Slowly pull the drawer open by pulling the handle towards yourself, ensuring to keep the motion smooth to avoid jerking the drawer out too quickly. Explain the importance of careful handling to prevent damage.
- Inspect the Contents: Once the drawer is open, allow the child to look inside and briefly explore the contents if appropriate. This builds interest and context for why we open drawers.
- Demonstration of Closing: Guide the child’s hands if necessary to close the drawer. Place your hand on the drawer and gently push it back into place. Stress the need for gentle closure to avoid slamming.
- Practice Opening: Invite the child to try opening the drawer. Provide support by steadying the drawer or guiding their hands.
- Practice Closing: After the child opens the drawer, instruct them to close it. Watch their technique and offer tips to improve their smoothness and control.
- Repeat with Different Drawers: If available, practice with drawers of different sizes and resistance to help the child adapt to various types of drawers.
- Discussion: Discuss with the child how we use drawers to store items and keep our environment organized. Encourage questions and observations about the activity.
- Cleanup and Conclusion: Ensure all drawers are securely closed. Compliment the child on their effort and precision, encouraging them to use these skills in daily activities.
Variations & Extentions
Variations
- Introduce drawers with different types of handles or latches to provide a variety of experiences and challenges.
- Incorporate a sorting activity where the child organizes items within the drawers, enhancing the practical use of the drawers during the activity.
- Use drawers of varying heights and resistance to further develop the child’s ability to adapt their motor skills to different physical demands.
Extension
- Once the child is comfortable with basic opening and closing, introduce tasks that involve organizing or categorizing items in the drawers, linking the physical skill with cognitive sorting and decision-making skills.
- Encourage the child to participate in a clean-up game where they are responsible for deciding where items should be stored, using the drawers to sort and store materials appropriately.
- Teach the child to label drawers based on their contents, combining literacy skills with practical life skills.
Recommendations
- Ensure that all drawers and their contents are safe and suitable for children, with no sharp objects or harmful materials inside.
- Supervise closely to make sure that the child does not pinch their fingers while closing the drawers.
- Reinforce the importance of handling drawers gently to maintain the furniture and avoid accidents, praising the child for careful and considerate use of the drawers.
References
- The Montessori Method by Maria Montessori (1984). New York: Random House. pp. 145-160.
- The Absorbent Mind by Maria Montessori (1967). New York: Dell Publishing. pp. 130-145.
- Montessori Life Blog - The Official Blog of the American Montessori Society - American Montessori Society
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