The Terrific 2s
Maria Montessori said this long before scientists recently discovered that the first years of a child's life are crucial for cognitive development.
"...the most important period of life is not the age of university studies but the first one, the period from birth to the age of six. For that is the time when Man's intelligence itself, his greatest implement, is being formed."
Maria Montessori
Early Development in Children
A baby or toddler undergoes rapid development by means of a mind that is constantly absorbing impressions from the environment, at first rather like a camera and then more self-consciously.
This child is continuing the process, begun at birth, of developing language, coordination of movement, and independence. All of this is facilitated by the child's active participation, interacting with his/her environment.
The Prepared Environment
The prepared environment in a Montessori classroom is scaled to fit these children. One finds low shelving that holds enticing materials selected to aid each child's progress toward independence.
Practical Life Activities
Many of the materials and activities for the toddlers are in the category that Maria Montessori called practical life. Helping with food preparation, sponging up spills, scrubbing a table, dusting a shelf, carrying a tray, or polishing shoes: all aid the child's development of movement control, involving both large and small muscles.
These activities help the child to develop concentration and independence. Many of the activities also foster eye-hand coordination: sewing, manipulating scissors, or gluing papers. Feeling objects in the bags develops the ability to identify objects by using only the sense of touch aided by visual memory.
Sensory Exploration and Language Development
As toddlers explore with their senses, their exploration, which yields information about the world, is facilitated by their ability to concentrate and by their control of movement. Outdoor activities help to develop equilibrium and balance.
Toddlers are eager to learn the names of things, to know the words that are appropriate to a given situation. They work tirelessly at learning to communicate with those around them, while they increase their vocabularies and the length and complexity of their spoken phrases.
Listening to stories or joyfully learning names for various plants and animals or for objects in their environment: these activities help children become more familiar with the richness of their language.
Recommendations
- Create a Prepared Home Environment: Mimic the Montessori classroom by organizing your home to be child-friendly. Have low shelves with accessible materials, use child-sized furniture, and ensure a safe, engaging environment for exploration.
- Incorporate Practical Life Activities: Introduce simple, safe tasks that involve caring for the home and themselves, such as wiping spills, dusting, or simple food preparation, to aid in developing fine motor skills and independence.
- Encourage Sensory Exploration: Provide various textures, shapes, and colors for your child to explore. This could include sand play, water games, or sorting activities that stimulate tactile learning.
- Focus on Language Opportunities: Engage in constant verbal interaction. Label items around the house, describe actions performed during the day, and read stories regularly to enrich your child’s vocabulary and language comprehension.
- Support Physical Development: Ensure that your child has plenty of opportunities for physical activity both indoors and outdoors to help develop their balance and coordination.
- Observe and Adapt: Like Montessori teachers, observe your child’s interests and readiness to advance in activities. Tailor their learning environment to challenge them appropriately without causing frustration or boredom.
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