Coughing
The Montessori activity "Coughing" is an essential component of the Practical Life curriculum, focusing on teaching young children the polite and healthy way to cough.
- 📏 Range Age: 2.5 - 3.5 years (activity should be adjusted based on the child's age and skill level).
- 🧠 Prerequisites: Personal Hygiene Lessons (handwashing, sneezing etiquette), Social Skills Activities (interacting respectfully, understanding personal space), Emotional Development Activities (expressing needs, recognizing discomfort).
- 🛠️ Enhancement Skills: Social Awareness (understanding the impact of actions on others), Health Awareness (recognizing symptoms, knowing when to seek help).
This activity not only promotes good hygiene but also integrates the Montessori principles of respect and consideration for others.
In this article, we explore how this simple yet vital lesson can be seamlessly incorporated into daily routines at home, ensuring children understand the importance of coughing courteously.
Content
What is the "Coughing" Activity?
The "Coughing - Graces and Courtesy" activity is designed to teach children how to cover their mouth with their elbow when they cough to prevent the spread of germs. It's a practical life skill that reinforces good manners and respect for others' health and well-being.
By practicing this behavior, children learn to become more aware of their actions and their impact on those around them.
Benefits of Teaching Coughing Etiquette
Teaching children the proper way to cough offers numerous benefits:
- 🛡️ Enhances Health and Hygiene: Understanding proper coughing etiquette helps minimize the spread of illnesses, protecting both the child and the community.
- 🤝 Encourages Respect for Others: It instills a sense of responsibility in children, teaching them to consider the well-being of others.
- 🧠 Boosts Self-awareness: Children become more conscious of their actions and how they can control their behaviors in social settings.
- 🌱 Promotes Early Habit Formation: Early introduction of this practice helps develop lifelong habits of health and hygiene.
- 👥 Fosters Social Acceptance: Proper manners are appreciated in every social scenario, enhancing children's social experiences and acceptance in groups.
Purpose of "Coughing" Lesson
The primary purpose of this Montessori activity is to cultivate a mindful awareness of personal and public health responsibilities. It serves as a foundational step towards nurturing considerate and socially responsible individuals.
How to Present the Montessori "Coughing" Lesson?
Materials
- A set of soft, child-sized handkerchiefs or tissues, to practice proper hygiene after coughing.
- A mirror, allowing children to observe their actions as they learn to cough into their elbow, thus understanding the alignment and positioning.
- Visual aids, such as posters or flashcards, that illustrate the step-by-step process of coughing into the elbow to reinforce the learning visually.
- Role-play scenarios or puppet shows that demonstrate the importance of coughing into the elbow to prevent the spread of germs, making the practice relatable and understandable.
The following instructions are montessori presentarion of Coughing - Practicing How to Cough into the Elbow:
Presentation
- Position Yourself Appropriately: Turn your head slightly to the right, away from the children, to demonstrate consideration for others when coughing.
- Demonstrate the Cough: Place your right forearm about an inch away from your mouth, rather than your hand, to avoid spreading germs via the hands.
- Exaggerate the Cough: Perform an exaggerated cough into your forearm to clearly show the technique to the children.
- Conclude the Cough: Once finished, close your mouth and lower your arm from in front of your mouth.
- Re-engage with the Group: Turn your head back to face the group, re-establishing eye contact and attention.
- Explain the Reason: Explain to the children, "We use our forearm instead of our hands because germs can spread more easily on our hands. This way, we keep our hands clean."
- Repeat for Emphasis: Ask the children if they would like to see the demonstration again for better understanding, saying, “Will I show you again?”
- Invite Participation: After the repeat demonstration, invite each child to practice coughing into their forearm. This allows individual practice and correction as needed.
- Close with Reinforcement: Conclude the activity by discussing the importance of this practice in keeping ourselves and others healthy, encouraging them to use this method whenever they cough.
Vocabulary
- Elbow - "This is your elbow."
- Cover - "Cover your mouth and nose with your elbow."
- Bend - "Bend your arm."
- Germs - "This helps stop germs from spreading."
- Practice - "Let's practice coughing into our elbow."
- Sneeze - "You can also sneeze into your elbow."
- Health - "This is healthy behavior."
- Respect - "We respect others by not spreading germs."
- Clean - "Keep your hands clean."
Progressive Extensions
- Understanding Why We Cover Our Mouths When Coughing: Children first learn the reason behind covering their mouths—to prevent spreading germs to others. This can be taught through simple discussions and demonstrations.
- Practicing How to Cough into the Elbow: Children are shown how to cough into their elbow instead of their hands. This method is more hygienic and is widely recommended in health practices.
- Using a Tissue Properly: Once the elbow method is understood, children can learn how to use a tissue to cover their mouth when they cough. They practice taking a tissue, coughing into it, disposing of it properly, and washing their hands afterward.
- Role-playing Different Scenarios: Children can engage in role-playing exercises where they practice what to do if they need to cough during different activities, such as while eating, in a group setting, or when they are alone.
- Discussing How to Excuse Oneself If Needed: Older or more advanced children learn how to politely excuse themselves from a group if they are coughing frequently, which involves using polite phrases and understanding the appropriate timing for excusing oneself.
- Learning About Preventative Health Practices: Further extensions can include discussions on general health practices that prevent illness, like proper nutrition, hydration, and rest, emphasizing a holistic approach to health and wellness.
- Cultural Considerations Around Health Practices: Children might also learn about different cultural practices related to health etiquette, broadening their understanding of how diverse cultures manage health and social interactions.
Variations & Extentions
Variations
- Introduce different body movements, such as coughing while sitting, standing, or during activities, to adapt to different situations.
- Use a mirror so children can see themselves while practicing, which might help them understand how to cover effectively.
- Incorporate a story or a puppet show that illustrates the importance of coughing into the elbow, making the lesson more engaging and memorable for younger children.
Extension
- Extend the lesson to include sneezing into the elbow, creating a more comprehensive approach to hygiene and public health manners.
- Invite a health professional to discuss germs and the importance of good hygiene practices, providing real-world context to the lesson.
- Create a classroom poster with the children that outlines steps for coughing and sneezing properly, which they can decorate and display.
Recommendations
- Regularly reinforce this practice through reminders and spontaneous practice sessions to help children internalize the behavior.
- Praise children when they remember to cough or sneeze into their elbow, reinforcing positive behavior with recognition.
- Consider integrating this lesson with broader health and wellness topics, such as handwashing and personal space, to build a comprehensive understanding of health etiquette.
References
- Montessori, M. (1956). The Discovery of the Child. New York: Ballantine Books. pp. 80-95.
- Lillard, A. S. (2005). Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 95-110.
- Classroom and school practice - National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector
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