Maria Montessori discovered that young children exhibit “sensitive periods” or a strong sensitivity to particular exercises and objects during various stages of their development.

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This sensitivity is demonstrated as all-encompassing interest of the child in a particular facet of the environment.

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This interest produces in the child an immense amount of intellectually directed activity. The activity brings about the acquisition of that particular knowledge or skill which the child then masters quite easily.

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For example, when the child reaches his second year, he begins to become very interested in the order of things in his environment.

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Every object has a specific place in the child’s environment, and every routine is to be carried out in a certain way. If anything is disorderly or out of the ordinary, the child will probably protest or correct the change.

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In the Montessori classroom, the teacher acts as a guide for your child. Through their knowledge of the sensitive periods, the teacher is able to guide the students to the activities which will benefit his or her needs to the fullest.