Sensitive Periods
Sensitive Period for Weaning (5 to 6 months)
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- Category: Sensitive Periods
- Last Modified: 11 February 2012
Sensitive period for weaning - If the introduction of solids is done at this age the interest is captured and can later on prevent problems with feeding. Children are best breast fed until at least a year and supplemented with solids. At times by 10-12 months the child may not want breast milk, one must learn to follow the lead of the child. Prevention of feeding problems is essential when children get to the toddler phase and may often get picky with their food. There is ideally a good variety and positive experience with food for the child.
Sensitive Period for Understanding Manners and Courtesies (from 2-6 years)
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- Category: Sensitive Periods
- Last Modified: 11 February 2012
For children aged 3-6 there are grace and courtesy lessons in a Montessori classroom. For children aged 0-3 grace and courtesy is modeled by the adults. This entails the parents to be using their manners with the children and other adults that may be around.
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Sensitive Period for Refinement of the Senses (birth to 5 years)
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- Category: Sensitive Periods
- Last Modified: 17 July 2012
Sensitive period for refinement of the senses is characterized with the child’s fascination with sensorial experiences (taste, smell, sounds, weight and touch) results in the child learning to observe and make increasingly refined sensorial discrimination. Nothing is in the mind that was not first in the senses. One can let the child smell different herbs, different foods, like fruits surrounding them in nature walks or even the supermarket.
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Sensitive Period for Order (age 18 months to 2 years)
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- Category: Sensitive Periods
- Last Modified: 17 July 2012
Sensitive period for order starts from birth and peaks at 18 months to 2.5 years and prolongs to age five. This is characterized by a desire for consistency and repetition. There exists a passionate love for established routines and is when a child may seem disturbed by disorder. The “terrible twos” are often exaggerated reactions to small disruptions in order that is not perceived by adults. The environment therefore must be carefully ordered with a place for everything and with carefully established ground rules.
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Sensitive Period for Numbers (from 4 to 5.5 years)
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- Category: Sensitive Periods
- Last Modified: 17 July 2012
Sensitive period for numbers - This is the time when we introduce the math curriculum is introduced in a Montessori classroom. Counting used to be a part of language and at this period they are interested in numbers as an entity and a separate type of language.
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Sensitive Period for Movement (birth to 4 years)
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- Category: Sensitive Periods
- Last Modified: 17 July 2012
The sensitive period for movement can be divided into different classifications. For acquisition of gross and fine motor (walking and the use of the hands) is from 0-2.5 years of age. The environment we prepare for this is the opportunities for the child to crawl, pull up, encourage to walk with or without assistance and not just left to sit by themselves. A child is also given toys/materials that allow their hands to hook, bat, touch, turn, insert and grasp small items within their abilities. We have to give them toys or materials that improve the movement of the hand, and improve eye/hand coordination. These opportunities given to them need to be repeated in order for these skills to be refined.
Sensitive Period for Language (birth to 6 years)
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- Category: Sensitive Periods
- Last Modified: 17 July 2012
The sensitive period for language is from 7 months in utero up to 5.5 to 6 years of age. There are several aspects of language from spoken language, to written language and reading. This is an integral part of a child’s life to be able to use words to use words or language in order to communicate. It is the progression from babbling to single words to phrases to two or three word sentences, with a continuously expanding vocabulary and comprehension. A second language is also learnt very easily at this time.
Montessori Sensitive Periods and How to Implement them at Home
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- Category: Sensitive Periods
- Last Modified: 17 July 2012
Within Maria Montessori’s framework due to her studies with children, she has observed the occurrence of sensitive periods. In other pedagogies it can get called developmental milestones or windows of opportunities. It is those periods in the child’s life when a certain ability manifests itself strongly. During these periods the child has an especially strong sensitivity towards a particular piece of knowledge or skill. The sensitivity lasts for a certain period and does not reoccur.
Read more: Montessori Sensitive Periods and How to Implement them at Home
