Montessori glossary · Ideas
Sensitive periods
Windows in early childhood when a child is unusually receptive to learning one particular thing.
In plain English
What it actually means
Montessori observed that young children pass through phases of intense, temporary interest — in order, in small objects, in language, in movement, in social behavior. During one of these windows a child will repeat the same activity dozens of times and absorb it with very little effort. Outside the window the same skill takes deliberate work. Much of the classroom design exists to make sure the right material is available when the window is open.
Why it matters to you
On a tour
This is why a Montessori teacher watches so closely, and why the answer to ‘why is she doing that again?’ is usually ‘leave her to it’.
More terms
Other words you will hear
Hear these words used properly
Tours run mid-morning, during the work cycle, year-round.