The Chandan Set is a Montessori-inspired material designed to engage children in Practical Life (EPL) activities through a culturally rich and meaningful task—making Chandan paste (sandalwood paste). In many traditional settings, sandalwood paste is used for religious ceremonies, beauty rituals, or as a soothing balm. Children are often fascinated by this process and enjoy the sensory experience of grinding and mixing ingredients.
This set typically includes the following materials:
- Chandan (Sandalwood Stick): A small, child-friendly sandalwood stick that can be used to create the paste. Sandalwood is known for its soothing aroma and fine texture, which provides an interesting sensory experience for children.
- Grinding Stone (Stone or Mortar): A small grinding stone or mortar and pestle designed for the child to use to grind the sandalwood stick into a fine paste. The stone provides a realistic texture that helps children understand the process of grinding, which is a common kitchen or cultural task in many households.
- Water or Other Ingredients: Water (or sometimes other safe materials like rose water) is used to help turn the sandalwood powder into a paste. Children can experiment with different amounts of water to achieve the desired consistency.
- Tray: A tray to organize and contain all the materials, ensuring the workspace remains clean and tidy. The tray also defines a specific workspace for the activity, helping children focus and stay organized.
The Chandan Set provides children with a safe, hands-on experience of making chandan paste, offering them an opportunity to engage in a culturally relevant, tactile, and meaningful task while developing important practical life skills.
Chandan Set
Objective:
The Chandan Paste Activity is designed to introduce children to Practical Life (EPL) concepts by allowing them to engage in a purposeful and culturally significant task—grinding and mixing ingredients to make a paste. The objectives of this activity include:
- Introduction to Practical Life Skills:
- This activity introduces children to a traditional kitchen or ritualistic task, connecting them with cultural practices. It gives them the opportunity to participate meaningfully in household or ceremonial activities, fostering a sense of belonging and responsibility.
- Development of Fine Motor Skills:
- Using the mortar and pestle to grind the Chandan stick requires precision, grip, and control. The activity helps develop fine motor skills, particularly strengthening the muscles in the hands, fingers, and wrists. This contributes to the child’s ability to perform other important tasks like writing, drawing, and self-care activities.
- Hand-Eye Coordination:
- Grinding the Chandan requires the child to coordinate their movements and control the force applied to the pestle. This enhances hand-eye coordination, as the child needs to observe the process and align their hand movements with the materials.
- Sensory Exploration:
- The sensory experience of grinding the sandalwood stick and smelling its aroma is an essential part of the activity. Children explore the texture, scent, and consistency of the materials, fostering sensory awareness and enhancing their understanding of how different substances feel and behave.
- Focus and Concentration:
- The grinding process requires sustained attention and concentration. Children will need to focus on applying the right amount of pressure while grinding and adjusting the consistency of the paste, which helps improve their ability to focus and concentrate on tasks.
- Independence and Confidence:
- Completing this task independently fosters a sense of independence and builds the child’s confidence. The child gains satisfaction from completing a meaningful, real-world task that they can connect with their family or cultural practices.
- Introduction to Practical Life Skills:
