Being that Wild Roots has blended two philosophies into one (Reggio Emilia and The Montessori Method), our teachers are encouraged to create materials outside the traditional learning styles of both philosophies. This invites emergent curriculum in the day-to-day routines of our classrooms. For instance, teachers are not expected to create a lesson play for the day and put it away to reintroduce it once again a year later. As a teacher, this is exciting! An area in our classroom environment where I’m able to introduce traditional Montessori lessons the “Wild Roots way” is through food preparation, which is found in the practical life skills area.

What exactly is food prep? Food prep is a Montessori style of nurturing a child’s desire for order, coordination, and independence. Developing independence and pursuing one’s own interests in the context of a caring community fosters a strong sense of self in each student and encourages pride in one’s own unique individuality. The children learn self care as they wash their hands and improve their fine motor skills as they prepare food. And, they practice grace and courtesy as they offer the food to share with their friends. Adding to that, these activities help children develop their large and small muscle coordination. A child may repeat a particular exercise over and over, perfecting their movements, developing concentration, and a sense of order. Here, children learn basic life skills as pouring, cutting, spooning, and folding.

You, too, can have your child complete these tasks in your home! Trust me, your child will say yes to this invitation and is eager to help. Children are naturally curious and want to participate in the activities of daily life they see all around them. Once your child becomes more verbal and independent, has more muscular control, and a greater ability to help, you can begin to introduce practical life activities at home. A few examples are allowing your child to set the table, clear the table, separate the silverware and dishes, slice fruits and vegetables, e.g., cucumbers, bananas, grapes, tomatoes, apples, or squeezing orange juice. Having this special time with your child will encourage conversation where you will discover even more of your child’s personality and traits. Here is where the art of conversation arises! Knowing how to have a conversation is a skill that children learn by observing and imitating. By conversing with adults at the table, children begin to understand to let others speak without interrupting (or how to interrupt politely) and how to answer questions with more than just one-worded answers. They can even learn seemingly simple habits, such as maintaining eye contact. Lastly, telling your child a story about your day and then asking them to tell their own story can be a wonderful way to help your child develop their communication skills. Something as simple as, “did anything make you laugh today?” invites your child to delve into a highlight of their day.

Not only does food prep encourage communication, it is also a gateway to introduce the importance of nutrition and the benefits of a well balanced diet. Each family knows which lifestyle is best for their needs, e.g., gluten free, diary free, vegetarian, paleo, organic only, etc.. Expanding your child’s mind by taking them to the grocery store with you and showing them all the different produce our earth provides, will capture their interest as they are contributing their thoughts in this decision making process of shopping for groceries. Learning new foods at the grocery store and having your child prep that food at home inspires the child to try something foreign (like a papaya). Furthermore, establishing good eating habits creates a lifetime of change, which will continue to grow into your child’s future. This is why I love food prep! It is much more than a child slicing a banana and placing it on a plate. They are learning so much about themselves through the mistakes, triumphs, and responsibility that comes with preparing food for themselves and others. We hope this is an exciting and positive experience in your home as it is for us in the classroom!