One of the first goals is to develop in the very young child a strong and realistic sense of independence and self-reliance. Along with love and a stable environment, this is the child's greatest need. This area of the curriculum focuses on developing skills that allow the child to effectively control and deal with the social and physical environment in which he lives. There is a growing pride in being able to "do it for myself." Practical life begins as soon as the young child enters the school and continues throughout the curriculum to more and more advanced tasks appropriate to the oldest students.

• Early Tasks (Age 3-5)
• Dressing oneself
• Learning home address and phone number
• Pouring liquids without spilling
• Carrying objects without dropping
• Carrying liquids without spilling
• Walking without knocking into furniture or people
• Using knives and scissors with good control
• Using simple carpentry tools
• Putting materials away on the shelves where they belong when finished
• Working carefully and neatly
• Dusting, polishing and washing just about anything: floors, tables, silver
• Sweeping and vacuuming floors and rugs
• Flower arranging
• Caring for plants and animals
• Table setting-serving yourself-table manners
• Folding cloth: napkins, towels, etc.
• Simple use of needle and thread
• Using common household tools: tweezers, tongs, eye-droppers, locks, scissors, knives
• Increasingly precise eye-hand coordination
• Simple cooking and food preparation
• Dish washing

•  Weaving, bead stringing, etc.
  
  This process continues logically so that older students will learn such practical tasks as:
   

• Caring for animals

• Dog training

• Sewing

• Cooking complex meals

• Working with tools

• Making simple repairs

• Basic auto maintenance

• Getting around on their own: Metro, buses, cabs, hiking

• Self-defense

• Computing tax forms

• Making consumer purchase decisions, comparison shopping, budgeting

• Maintaining a checkbook

• Applying for a job

• Earning spending money

• Mastering test taking strategies

• Caring for young children

• Interior decorating

• Making clothes

• Furniture refinishing

• Wilderness survival

• Running a small business enterprise

• Gardening