In this Montessori Minute, I’m in my toddler classroom sharing a practical life activity that isn’t a “work on a shelf,” but something we do in real life at school—and I encourage you to do it at home too: laundry. I love laundry with toddlers because so many of them genuinely enjoy it. It’s rich sensorial work: different textures and weights of fabric, that warm-from-the-dryer feeling, and even the clean scent (depending on your detergent). All of that supports the absorbent mind and nurtures both the artistic sense and the scientific sense through hands-on exploration. Laundry also meets toddlers right where they are socially and emotionally. They want to do what the adults they love are doing, and they know laundry matters—things get dirty and need to be clean. When they help, they’re contributing to the classroom community or home life, and with the right attitude it becomes a really enjoyable, chatty, connected experience. My biggest tip is to start young (I do this around 18 months) and start with linens: placemats, napkins, hand towels, aprons—many don’t even need folding. As attention span and fine motor skills grow, you can move into folding towels, then eventually their own shirts and pants. Let go of the “efficiency” expectation, and you may find you love it as much as I do.