Dr. Montessori's Sensitive Periods

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For this assignment I have been asked to discuss the importance of the concept of ‘sensitive periods’ when applying the Montessori method for children aged 3 to 6 years. In order to do this I am going to: Give the definition of Sensitive Periods, List the Sensitive Periods experienced by the child aged 0 to 6 years, Describe how the child’s Sensitive Periods are facilitated in the Prepared Environment of the Montessori classroom, and I will Give examples from my work experience of any Sensitive Periods that I have observed when working with the children. Sensitive Periods is a term used by Dr. Montessori to describe certain periods in the child’s life when there comes special sensitivities that exist in the child in relation to elements of the environment to which the child is directed towards with an irresistible impulse. A sensitive period is a force from within the child. It is not caused by the environment, however the environment must help to meet the needs of the sensitive period. If the child is allowed to work with the impulses, then learning should be a pleasant experience for them. Sensitive Periods are transient aids to development, which means that it will pass. This is the reason why it is so important that the child acquires the necessary characteristics before the sensitive period disappears forever. The sensitive periods in which we have from birth to the age of 6 year are fundamental for the life of the individual. The child will experience special sensitivities to certain stimuli in the environment. The child will use these stimuli to develop certain characteristics. Once the child has developed the characteristics, the sensitivity will disappear. By this time the child will have lost the ability to create characteristics effortlessly. If the child does not make use of these sensitive periods the result will be known as
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