| Brain research is one of the most exciting scientific | | | | young children engage in the world around them. She |
| fields, making revolutionary discoveries during the last | | | | also recognized the ease with which a child could learn |
| decades of the 20th century. Neuroscientists are able | | | | during the first 6 years of life. She referred to this time |
| to see how the brain develops. Because of this | | | | as the "Absorbent Mind" stage because of the |
| research, new emphasis is being placed on early | | | | sponge-like ability of the child to take in new |
| childhood experiences. "If you want to significantly | | | | information. Many of Dr. Montessori's scientific |
| influence a child's ability to think and to acquire | | | | observations and theories are being supported by |
| knowledge, the early childhood years are very critical" | | | | brain research being done today, nearly 100 years |
| said neurobiologist Petter Huttenlocher in Inside the | | | | later. You should be taking advantage of your child's |
| Brain by Ronald Kotulak. | | | | absorbent mind and feeding it regularly. You can |
| The brain is nourished by its environment. It munches | | | | provide your child with hands-on materials and |
| on the experiences it has, taking in each morsel | | | | experiences that refine their senses in their every day |
| through its senses. All the sights, sounds, aromas, | | | | environment. Giving your child the opportunity to |
| textures and flavors that the child is exposed to | | | | participate in day to day activities--for example, |
| become fuel for their growing brain. This fuel helps | | | | cooking dinner, watering household plants, making their |
| generate the energy required by the brain as it makes | | | | bed, filling a bird feeder--are just a few examples of |
| the connections between trillions of brain cells. These | | | | the kinds of experiences that engage a young child's |
| brain cells are constantly growing or withering away, | | | | mind and body. Active participation in life gives the child |
| strengthening or growing weaker depending on the | | | | the opportunity to think logically, sequencing the steps |
| wealth of the feast. | | | | needed to perform a given task. Each task completed |
| Now that we have a better appreciation for the | | | | builds self esteem. When the child's mind and body are |
| importance of the environment and sensorial | | | | active his intellect is able to develop fully. Allow your |
| experiences our children have, it is a good idea to look | | | | children to explore the world around them, follow their |
| at the different environments that our children spend | | | | interests, and learn how to delve into new experiences. |
| time in - home, daycare or school. Consider, | | | | As a Montessori teacher with 16 years experience in |
| metaphorically, whether your child is being given a | | | | the classroom I have had the opportunity to guide 2.5 |
| steady diet of fast food - nutritionally void, with the | | | | to 6 year old children in learning to tie their own shoes, |
| same 7 ingredients being assembled in a variety of | | | | read their first book, count to 1000, bake bread, learn |
| ways, served by individuals who are not in tune with | | | | the names of shapes, countries in Africa, notes on the |
| the many needs of the young child, in an environment | | | | C-major scale and much, much more. None of those |
| that is institutional and cold. What our children need and | | | | individual accomplishments compare to what a former |
| deserve is a five star restaurant where each | | | | student of mine recently wrote to me. "I learned how |
| ingredient is carefully selected, where subtle nuances | | | | to learn with Laura," wrote Emmanuel Verret (now 14 |
| spice up and give unique flavor to each day. The | | | | years old). No teacher could be given higher praise. As |
| delicacies your child enjoys are best served to them | | | | a parent, you are your child's first teacher, and they |
| by a parent or caregiver who appreciates unique | | | | can learn much from you. As you think about how |
| appetites and who is observant enough to never let | | | | your child spends her day you may want to ask, "Is |
| your child's cup become low or empty. The ambiance | | | | my child having a five star day? Have I created a |
| should be warm, homey and interesting. | | | | bountiful experience? Have new connections been |
| Dr. Maria Montessori, and Italian physician and educator, | | | | created in that incredible brain? Is my child learning how |
| observed the interaction between the child and her | | | | to learn? |
| environment, taking note of the eagerness with which | | | | |