Watering a Plant
A real responsibility, well within reach of an 18-month-old.
Watering a Plant is a Montessori activity for a child aged 18 to 24 months. Area: Practical Life. Time: 5 min.
What the activity builds
Care for something living, and discover that a repeated motion has an effect over time.
The materials
- A very small watering can or a half-cup pitcher
- A sturdy, nontoxic plant at their height
- A dish towel set nearby
How to do it, step by step
- Fill the watering can halfway together.
- Show how to pour slowly at the base of the plant, not on the leaves.
- Let them pour. When it overflows, point to the towel: wiping up is part of the activity.
- Put the watering can back in its spot together.
The parent's role
Show once, then step back, and turn it into a standing date: the same plant, the same day each week. Consistency does more for independence than a perfect pour.
Safety
Check that the plant is nontoxic. In particular, keep dieffenbachia, ficus, philodendron, and poinsettia out of reach. Wipe the floor right away: wet tile is slippery.
You remain the sole judge of what is right for your child. These activities are offered for educational and recreational purposes: they do not replace medical advice or the guidance of an early childhood professional.
Ways to adapt the activity
- Easier: a spray bottle, simpler to control.
- Harder: two plants, watered in a set order.
- Extension: plant three dried beans on a damp paper towel and water them daily.
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