What is the sensitive periods of human development

Sensitive periods, also called "sensitive", are such intervals of time when especially favorable conditions are created for the formation in a person of certain skills and abilities, behaviors and psychological properties. Parents of young children should be aware of their offensive, prepare for them, so that the child, in the most convenient conditions for him, absorbs the knowledge gained.

The main periods of development and perception of the world

A well-known Italian educator and educator, Maria Montessori, who had been watching the growing children for a long time, created an author's method of early development. In it, she singled out several periods for the effective development of certain aspects of the psyche. The author of the methodology comes to the conclusion that man has such conditions only once in his life. If he does not have time to master knowledge in certain sensitive periods, he will never be so receptive to them. She describes the approximate time frame for each of them, but every parent should monitor their child, because one can never say for sure how long this time will last.

You should prepare for the training of the baby. Knowledge of the existence of such periods and about the individual characteristics of your child will help loving parents to make an optimal plan of studies. Here are the main sensitive periods allocated by Montessori:

• Development of speech - from birth to 6 years;
• Perception of order - from birth to 3 years;
• Sensory development - from birth to 5.5 years;
• Perception of small objects - from 1.5 to 6.5 years;
• The development of movements and actions - from 1 to 4 years;
• The development of social skills - from 2.5 to 6 years.

Sensitive periods of development of physical qualities

As already mentioned, every child is individual in his development. Any sensitive periods can go unnoticed, and you need to be ready for any of them. It is worth paying special attention to the development of the physical qualities of the child, because motor activity is important throughout life. Vigorous movements lead to the saturation of the blood with oxygen. The latter, in turn, nourishes the brain cells responsible for mental functions. At first the child begins to be interested in individual movements, repeats them for the parents, then he is attracted by the process of several actions, when it is necessary to keep balance or express feelings by gestures.

How to use critical and sensitive periods

The end time of any period when a child has mastered certain knowledge and skills leads to a rethinking of the existing situation, to the determination of his place in the social world. These moments are called "critical periods", when a person changes in personality traits in a very short period.

Of course, for the youngest children, parents are an example for imitation, Mom has a special influence. Therefore, you need to closely monitor their actions, any reactions to what is happening, because the child copies Mom's behavior. For older children, it is very important to visit groups or gardens where the training is conducted in accordance with Montessori's author's program: there every child is watched by caring teachers, all in moderation, there are any materials required for effective teaching in any of the sensitive periods.