Montessori glossary · Ideas
Absorbent mind
Montessori's term for how children from birth to about six take in their whole environment effortlessly and completely.
In plain English
What it actually means
A young child does not learn their first language by being taught it; they absorb it, along with the accent, the manners and the atmosphere of the house. Montessori argued this capacity is unique to early childhood and fades, which is why the first six years carry so much weight and why the environment around a young child is treated so carefully.
Why it matters to you
On a tour
It is also an argument for calm rooms and unhurried mornings.
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Tours run mid-morning, during the work cycle, year-round.