Why Do Montessori Students Wash Tables?

It really is one of the strangest sights in the Montessori classroom to see a student wash a table.  Why are they wasting precious studying time doing chores?  Why is the school forcing my child to do menial work?  Who washes a table anyway?

I must admit even I pooh-poohed this activity all the way until Ladybug graduated preschool.  I get the logic fine: practical life is the first important curriculum because it lets children become independent and empowered when they see they can do things by themselves. 

But washing tables?  I was skeptical.  We have helpers as part of our homes - would children ever really contribute consistently in that way?  Would it ever really matter in the grand scheme of priorities?  Eventually everyone learns practical life at some stage in their life anyway (um, in my case when I got married).  

Washing tables seemed like a filler; unlike the more useful things like learning to button and ribbon.

A typical preparation to wash tables: jug of water, bar soap, sponge, bowl and towel
-- all ready for students to choose freely in the classroom everyday

True, when I watched the practical life side of the classroom at parent observation day I saw that students did it with either peaceful energy or intense concentration.  In that moment they were in the groove.  Watch this adorable video from itsapracticallife:  https://instagram.com/p/5XDC5VCB9p/.

I faithfully copied this at home for the heck of it, just to model consistent values.  I have a squeeze bottle of water, sponges and tissue as part of her regular art shelves. 

"Cleaning" her table and floor two years ago, at four years old

When we did this liquid watercolour work last year, I pointed out that her work table got paint on it.

She squeezed water and wiped it off

For the remaining stains, she got her hand wash in the bathroom and used the sponges

You can see how intent she is in this work

So okay, it was a nice thing to do at home but more for pretending that she's independent.  

No harm, but no real value either.

A year later.

She now has a taller and sturdier table in her room.  She loves it.  She's a big girl now.

After a playdate activity with crayons left marks on the table, I shrugged it off as part of the deal.

But not her.  She loves her table.  Her face lights up.  I know what to do, she yells and disappears.

I come back to this and took this picture from her doorway:

When she was done she mopped the floor.
(I also have these cleaning supplies in her room)

I was completely impressed.  She showed she could care for her own things if she was empowered enough to really take charge of her own things.  Look at that first photo!  She was confident.  She was proud of herself for solving the problem.

I thought about all things we would do for her because we thought she couldn't do it, or because it was faster to do it for her : packing away, charging her iPad, picking up her shoes, feeding her.  

I had undermined this washing of tables for three years!  

It meant so much more to her than it did to my grown-up eyes. 

It's not too late, I am happily looking for other 'tables' for her to wash with confidence and pride.

This is going in our gallery of "Montessori Inspiration for the Working Mom" here.