Maria Montessori believed that young children have inner aids that help their development. You can help your child by watching for and encouraging those inner aids.
I wrote before about one of the inner aids – the young child’s “absorbent mind.” Another inner aid is what Maria Montessori called “sensitive periods.”
Sensitive periods are blocks of time when a child is almost exclusively absorbed with one characteristic of the environment. When a sensitive period is at its height, your child might appear to be obsessed with an activity, repeating it over and over. Repetition is a good sign that your child is fulfilling an important need in his or her development. During a sensitive period, new skills in that area are learned almost effortlessly.
In the Secret of Childhood, Dr. Montessori wrote about sensitive periods:
The inner sensibilities we have mentioned determine the selection of necessary things from a many-faceted environ ment, and of circumstances favourable to development. This guidance is exercised by making the child sensitive only towards certain things, leaving him indifferent towards others. When he is sensible of something, it is as if a light came from him, illuminating that and no other, and of such things his world is made.
Here are some common sensitive periods during the early years. The exact ages, of course, can vary from child to child.
Birth-1½
*Movement
Birth-6
*Language with a sensitivity to vocal sounds. From 1½ -3, there’s often a “language explosion” and a receptivity to proper terminology from 2½-3. The sensitive period for language continues from 3-6, with the child showing an insatiable need to learn new words, including scientific terms.
1½-4
*Interest in small objects and details
2-4
*Refinement of movement
*Concern with truth and reality. To aid this sensitive period, answer your child’s questions honestly, and provide real, child-sized tools whenever possible.
*Order (with a peak at 3). An orderly environment is important because it helps your child develop internal order.
2½-6
*Refinement of the senses
*Grace and courtesy
3½ -4½
*Writing
*Drawing or handling geometric shapes
4½ -5½
*Reading
Have you noticed your child repeating activities and showing an intense interest in one thing during a specific sensitive period?
I'm Deb Chitwood. My header photo models are my children, Christina, at 1 1/2, my son, Will, at 3, and Christina again at 16. Christina is now 22, and Will is 27. Please see the 
Another post to save in my favorites. Thanks for the break down by ages, that is really helpful!
Michelle recently posted..November Classic Book – A trio of books
Thanks so much, Michelle! I’m really glad you found it helpful!
Deb Chitwood recently posted..Activity of the Week – Scrubbing and Tweezing Indian Corn
This is a very clear explanation and such a helpful post! I also really appreciate that you broke things down by age. Thanks so much!
Leslie
Leslie Swaim-Fox recently posted..Making Connections- The Bible
Thanks for your kind comment, Leslie! Even though the ages can vary, I always found it helpful to have somewhat of a guideline, too.
Deb Chitwood recently posted..Activity of the Week – Scrubbing and Tweezing Indian Corn
This is always so interesting to me. I try to take some time a few times a week to observe her, and I’ve noticed she is really obsessed with routine. She delights in telling me what’s going to happen next, and to tell me what I’m supposed to say next. She also is really interested in trying to dress and undress herself, and she wants no instruction from me! It’s hard to watch her struggle to get her shirt over her head, failing over and over, but I can tell she’s close to getting it!
Laura recently posted..Fall Minestrone
Thanks, Laura! It’s great that you’re spending time just observing Georgia! It sounds like she’s definitely in her sensitive period for order! And it’s wonderful you’re allowing her to develop coordination and independence through tasks such as dressing herself.
Deb Chitwood recently posted..Activity of the Week – Scrubbing and Tweezing Indian Corn
Great information! My youngest is a little “behind” but I know these are guidelines.
Cheryl recently posted..Struggling With The Role Of Mother
Thanks, Cheryl! The exact ages can definitely vary from child to child. It’s helpful to be aware of the general order for the sensitive periods, though. For example, it helps to know that the sensitive period for writing typically comes before the sensitive period for reading.
Deb Chitwood recently posted..Activity of the Week – Scrubbing and Tweezing Indian Corn
Great list. I love how it is broken into ages like that. I will help me to look for those things in my kids.
Thanks so much Jackie! I hope you find it helpful with your kids!
Deb Chitwood recently posted..How to Help Your Child through Natural Learning
[...] Encourage Your Child’s Sensitive Periods – Living Montessori Now [...]
Hi, Deb: Are there sensitive periods regarding relationships? My 2.5-yo boy is obsessed with babies these days — real babies, baby dolls, pictures of babies, holding things (including his Lego fire truck) as though they were babies, being held as though he were a baby…. His teacher (he goes to a Montessori preschool) said something about his having a “sensitive period” for babies — I hadn’t thought about that before! Thank you!
Rachael recently posted..On My Mind- 031411
Thanks for your comment, Rachael! I haven’t heard about a sensitive period specifically for babies or seen one talked about online, although I imagine children can go through their own unique “sensitive periods.” If you’re following your son’s interest in babies, you can’t go wrong!
Deb recently posted..Top 10 Montessori Principles for Natural Learning
My daughter is 40 months old and she loves to sort things into categories. This morning she sorted all of the spoons from the silverware drawer (baby spoons made of plastic, baby spoons made of metal, teaspoons, etc). Then she sorted all of the digital thermometers! Weird, huh?!?
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