The “dressing frame activities” are a staple of the Montessori approach to education. Let’s find out why. Not only are these activities enticing tools for children, so neatly and carefully displayed, they’re also extremely useful in the development of their practical life skills. And, as we’ll see, so much more, like the careful and steady build up of their confidence. The various dressing frame activities, ranging from zippers to safety pins and tying a bow, seem to call out, “Try Me. Work with me. You can do it!”. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at these activities, and see, more precisely, what is at work.
First, you’ll notice that these activities are meant to be used on a table. We don’t we try to teach a child how to fasten a zipper, for instance, on their body. Why? Because it’s much more challenging to try to learn such an activity upside down, and on oneself. The fine motor skills required to complete a task are difficult enough. So, in Montessori, we isolate the difficulty (learning how to operate a zipper) and present it in a maneageble way. Additionally, and this is the second point, you’ll notice that we focus on repetition. Repetition is a vital component to the development of the child, as it allows them the opportunity to practice and improve their skills, growing their confidence. Oh does their confidence grow…
Baan Dek
An incredible Montessori foundation for children and an inspirational resource for teachers and parents.