Sensitive Periods

Contents
Table of Contents
Name of Student1
Topic2
Content page3
Introduction4
Normalisations and deviations5
Elementary period6
Human needs and tendencies                                                                                                               ………   8
Sensitive periods…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..9
Absorption and acquisition of culture……………………………………………………………………………………………9
Reasoning and intellect………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..10
Moral sense…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..12
Herd instinct………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….12
Imagination……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………13
Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..14
Bibliography……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………15

Introduction
Dr Montessori defined the sensitive periods as a time in a child’s life where he is interested in one particular area to the exclusion of all others. During the period 0 to 3 the child absorbs impressions with his unconscious absorbent mind. The impressions he receives are merely absorbed, without any method to it. The period 3 to 6 years is the period where the child absorbs impressions via his conscious absorbent mind, which is a time of enormous potential in the life of the child.   The children need stimulation and opportunity to develop the brain through stimulation, active learning and exploration through their senses. The child is a spontaneous learner and is driven by an inner drive which Montessori called the horme. He acquires skills of classifying and ordering in a prepared environment.
He experiences sensitivities to language, movement, and attention to detail, order, social skills and intellectual development.   This is the start of the ‘creation of the man’. Should the environment not be conducive to attaining and perfecting the sensitive needs, it will result in a child being deviated with obstacles to learning. If a... [continues]

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