Flower arranging with children is a great kids activity for a lot of reasons. The activity is simple, inexpensive and uses real objects. Benefits include fine motor development, concentration and self regulation. Plus the materials are easy to gather: a vase and flowers.
If you can, gather the flowers together outside or at a farmer’s market. Having the child cut the flowers himself will truly make him see the whole picture of completing the cycle of work. What a lesson to learn that flowers don’t magically appear beautifully arranged displayed in our homes. By involving children in the whole process, which for some of you means planting seeds too, they truly develop their whole selves.
Within the Practical Life piece of Montessori curriculum “Care of the Environment” is a big deal.
One of the greatest parts of Montessori education are the direct and indirect aims of an exercise. For example, when a child arranges flowers, it is the self regulation and fine motor development that rule the activity.
The fact that children will produce something aesthetically pleasing to the environment is secondary, albeit an important result for the child to see.
Tips for Flower Arranging with Kids:
- While using real flowers is wonderful, not all of us are so lucky. Don’t be shy about using fake flowers for this exercise!
- When first introducing the activity, describe each object used with one word: “Flower. Vase.”
- Show the child how to hold a stem and gently and slowly move it into the vase. Exaggerate this movement.
Children learn how to care for their environment and grace & courtesy as most children look forward to sharing flowers with those around them.
Thank you for reading this post today. I hope that we inspired you.
Marnie
For some fun flower activities for your child, check out these ideas from some of the other Quirky Mommas:
Wow, what a beautiful flower arrangement. I love it so much. I had an experience too on making a flower bouquet. It is difficult at first but once you try it would be easy for you on making the second time. You must pick the best flower to your bouquet to make it more beautiful and special.
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I never thought of having my kids do that — what a simple and lovely way to work on coordination skills!
My daughter loves flower arranging! Here’s a simple Ikebana inspired arrangement I did with her using cardboard and and a teacup. http://thecardboardcollective.com/2012/06/03/ikebana-inspired-teacup-arrangements/ She is always eager to arrange the flowers we pick outside on walks or from our garden and she always produces beautiful results!
One of our most favorite things to do is pretend with our flowers at home and even in my Kindergarten class. Here’s a link to one of my daughters favorite field trips… to the florist. http://theeducatorsspinonit.blogspot.com/2012/06/lets-go-to-florist.html