Washing leaves is a cherished activity in the Montessori classroom. It’s one way that students “care for the environment.” You can bring this activity in to your home with very little preparation!

Materials:
– Bowl with cotton balls
– Small bowl or dish with a little bit of water
– House plant

Presentation:

First, invite your child to “care for their environment” by washing the leaves of your house plant. Look at the leaves together, commenting, “Hmm, do they seem a bit dirty? Let’s clean them.”
Have a small dish of water prepared or let your child get water at the sink. Demonstrate how to dip one cotton ball in the water then squeeze it out so it’s wet but not dripping.
Use one hand to brace the underside of a leaf on the plant. With the other hand, very carefully swipe the top of the leaf with the wet cotton ball in a smooth motion. Let your child try!

Have this activity available to your child whenever they would like to wash the leaves of your houseplant. Remember, your child might do this activity again and again, irregardless of whether or not the leaves are actually dirty. And that’s ok! Observe your child’s actions, and if they really enjoy this type of work, consider introducing other “care of the environment” activities like sweeping or washing windows. Here’s a list of ideas!

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