Raking Leaves

This practical life lesson is designed for 1 to 3-year-old children to teach them how to rake leaves. The activity helps the child to become independent and carry out the daily household chores. Montessori education promotes hands-on learning and raking is one of them. Children enjoy raking as it gives them the opportunity to go outside, enjoy the fresh air, and be active.

Material Required for Raking Activity

A child-size rake
A pair of child-size gloves
A bin/ bag to collect leaves

Note: A rake is a garden tool with a row of metal or wooden teeth attached to a handle for gathering leaves.

Benefits of Raking Leaves

It teaches cleanliness by keeping the environment clean.
It helps the children to learn daily household chores
It helps in strengthening the finger muscles
It improves concentration
It also enables the child to develop order and hand-eye coordination.
It also refines gross motor skills.

How to Introduce Raking Leaves to the Child?

Invite the child outside the house and tell them today they are going to rake leaves.
Bring the rake into the lawn.
Stand behind the leaves you would like to sweep.
To hold the rake, place the right hand around the rake’s handle with the thumb on the top and the four fingers wrapped around the handle.
Now, place your hand below the right hand.
Move the rake 2 foot far and apply pressure to the front of the rake’s bristle as shown in the video.
Now, move the rake towards you to gather leaves.
Repeat steps 6 and 7 to make a pile of leaves
Now pick the leaves and start putting them in the empty bin or bag.
Continue until all the leaves are collected in the bin.

Watch the video to see the correct way of raking the leaves. Ask the child to rake the leaves in your garden and instill in them a sense of confidence and independence.

For more practical life lessons, visit: https://theglobalmontessorinetwork.org/practical-lessons/.

Video Created by: James Bauckman