For many children, especially for those who have not been engaged often in “real work” but have spent time alone, in fantasy play, attached to a screen, not having an attachment to the reality of their life, continue to use some of the Montessori materials in fantasy play. Practical Life activities become “playhouse”, with tea parties, etc.

What has been discovered is that the more a child is allowed to engage in real work, e.g., watering the garden, polishing the pink tower, arranging flowers, doing laundry, cooking, etc. (basically practical life), the more time they spend with real activities, and the imaginary activities diminish.

We acknowledge that all children have vivid imaginations which is often expressed in their artistic endeavours, in their music making, in their story telling. We don’t discredit imaginary play, we would never make negative comments about a child’s imaginary play but, especially for the child under 5.5–6 years, we want the child to come to love the real world in which they live. The information about the real world they garner before the age of six will significantly serve their imagination at the elementary level when their imaginative power enables them to imagine the past and the future. The use of the imagination is a critical characteristic of children over 5.5–6 years of age— but they do need a foundation with which to engage their imagination.