Benefits of Food Prep in the Montessori Classroom…and at Home!
October, 2025 | Angie Molina
Food preparation is one of the most popular activities in our Montessori classrooms, and with good reason! Young children are building their independence, gaining self-confidence, and let’s face it….food is fun!
The ideal place for food prep activities to be placed is in the Practical Life area of the classroom. This is where children are:
- Enhancing concentration and focus
- Developing fine motor skills
- Practicing daily living and self-help skills
- Growing a sense of responsibility
The act and art of food preparation gives children opportunities to engage with the world around them in a purposeful way that makes sense! From the patience of peeling a carrot to the focus of spreading jam on a cracker, here are some other reasons food prep is so valuable:
- Builds awareness of proper nutrition
- Gives children ample opportunities to explore different flavors, textures, and scents
- Freedom to be creative
- Opportunities for skill-building
- Practice Grace and Courtesy
Incorporating food preparation activities at home can be both fun and easy! Can you think of a more wonderful way to bond, deepen relationships, find teachable moments, and have a delicious snack at the end?!
Here are a few tips to get you started:
- Washing hands comes first!
- Use child-safe utensils and proper supervision.
- Start simple! Choose an activity that requires very little, such as pickle cutting, banana peeling, or orange juicing, all of which use a single ingredient and one tool.
- Have discussions about healthy food.
- Incorporate math skills by measuring ingredients
- Smile, laugh, and have fun as you clean up.
- Enjoy the memories you are making!
