Natural desire to learn – sensitive periods
Respect all the reasonable forms of activity in which the child engages and try to understand them.
Children go through “sensitive periods” during which they have a very strong desire to learn and do certain activities. During these periods they learn with extraordinary ease and will.
Children naturally love developing their independence. They wish to learn how to take care of themselves and their environment.
Children can concenatrate on any interesting activity for a long time and even repeat it many times, until they are completely satisfied and happy.
Children must have the right to move at their own pace, have their own space and freedom to explore without interruptions. The children should also have the right to decide if they wish to do something alone or together with another child or other children.
Movement and experience with reality
A child is an eager observer and is particularly attracted by the actions of the adults and wants to imitate them. In this regard an adult can have a kind of mission. He can be an inspiration for the child’s actions, a kind of open book wherein a child can learn how to direct his own movements.
Dr. Maria Montessori discovered the fact that the intellect of children grows through concrete experiences and meaningful interaction with their environment.
Children need to move, touch, manipulate and organise objects in order to learn about them. Based on this discovery, Maria Montessori developed many materials in different areas of learning. All of them teach about a quality or principle through a defined movement. These materials connect development of both manual skills and of the mind. Children are content and happy, because they discover the world for themselves. Their self-confidence and independent thinking grow.
Freedom of choice, concentration, and self-discipline
As soon as children find something that interests them they lose their instability and learn to concentrate.
Children are naturally attracted to activities that capture their interest and suit their abilities. If they are able to move freely and choose the activity, they will put their own will into it. They work as long as they wish. They may work alone or with another child or two.
The first essential for the child’s development is concentration. The child who concentrates is immensely happy.
Full concentration, a complete immersion, leads to self-forgetting, and thus forms the foundation for personality building. It is a kind of freedom from all of the outside world and a focus on one aspect of reality. Concentration is developing the capacity to think, grow, and discover. It is the satisfaction of a deep internal need that helps a person live happily and understand the world around
Being active with one’s own hands, having a determined practical aim to each, is what really gives inner discipline.
Concentration leads to the development of self-discipline. Children find out that all things have some meaning. They learn that activities can help them discover these meanings. They learn to seek these activities repeatedly and independently. They learn that they can discuss these things with others and discover together too. They can even teach others about certain things. They are deeply happy.
Independence and freedom
No one can be free unless he is independent… … it is a continuous conquest, and in order to reach not only for freedom, but also strength, and the perfecting of one’s powers.
No one can be free if he or she is unnecessarily dependent on others. Children are always very proud when they can do things for themselves and to the best of their abilities. The more independent they are, the freer they will be. Children occupied with interesting and meaningful activity are not inclined to misbehave.
Freedom is also a capability which must exist within safe limits of what is true and appropriate. Freedom is related to respect and responsibility. Children know that they are free to discover, as long as they do not disturb anyone or damage anything, and so long as they respectfully return material to its place when they are finished.