CHILD DEVELOPMENT PEDAGOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Can skills and knowledge be learned at a later time after a sensitive period has passed? Yes. Skills and knowledge may be acquired at a later time, but it will usually take more time, be more difficult and the learning may not be as successful.

Detailed explanation-2: -The phrase ‘sensitive periods’ often conjures up thoughts of moody teenagers, but it actually refers to a period of time when a child’s interests are focused on developing a particular skill or knowledge area. According to Montessori Theory, the most important sensitive periods occur between birth and age six.

Detailed explanation-3: -Sensitive periods are optimal times in development when certain areas of the brain are most ready to benefit from experience. The brain’s plasticity is high during sensitive periods, meaning the brain has a strong ability to adapt to and learn from experiences.

Detailed explanation-4: -When the effect of experience on the brain is particularly strong during a limited period in development, this period is referred to as a sensitive period. Such periods allow experience to instruct neural circuits to process or represent information in a way that is adaptive for the individual.

Detailed explanation-5: -Montessori identified four main Sensitive Periods: Order, Spoken Language, Movement and Sensorial Activity. These are universal. All children have the same Sensitive Periods all over the world at approximately the same time in life for the same developmental purpose. This period occurs from birth to 6 years of age.