Preschool
children are wonderfully imaginative. If you give them an old box and tell them
to pretend it's a car, they will enjoy hours of fun in their Maserati. Kids
don't need expensive playhouse to have fun. You can make a recycled cardboard
playhouse easily. In fact, teachers and parents, you can create entire
Montessori preschool practical life learning
centers for home or school, with just a
refrigerator box, available in dumpsters behind appliance stores.
First
a word on the refrigerator box--it's a wonderful tool for Montessori preschool
play. It's green, versatile, sturdy enough for children to play in and
recyclable when you're finished with it. My father made me an entire cardboard
playhouse full of furniture, with recycled cardboard boxes. Here's how to make
a cardboard playhouse for Montessori preschool practical life learning centers.
First, cut the refrigerator box along one of the long edges. Now open the box
and flaps of both ends. Place refrigerator box upright around one corner of the
room, flaps toward the floor. Alternate flaps, one in, then the next facing
outward (to form a base). Arrange the cardboard playhouse so that it encloses
the corner. Invert refrigerator box so printing faces inward. Duct tape edges
of cardboard to the walls and tape flaps to floor. This is not meant to be a
permanent structure; but the tape will prevent the cardboard box wall from
collapsing. There is no need for a roof or ceiling. Children understand the
concept and will be able to imagine a ceiling.
Cut
a window or two in the sides of the box. Cut window panes and curtains and
color them in. Or staple scrap fabric to make curtains. Draw a flower box on
the outside or make a little rack to place real plants. Cut a door that opens
and closes or cut a doorway and hang a piece of cloth like a curtain. Place
green and brown towels along the bottom of the cardboard playhouse to look like
earth and grass and to mask the edges. Inside your Montessori preschool
practical life learning centers, place a doll cradle with assorted dolls,
child-sized table and chairs, with play kitchen furniture, play food and dishes
and house area costumes. Make recycled cardboard appliances.
Set up artificial trees and flowers to lend verisimilitude. Inside the house,
put a basket of books that pertains to the subject you're studying. Add comfy
throw pillows. This makes your Montessori preschool practical life learning
centers into a quiet reading or library learning centers.
