Montessori Childrens House
of the west coast

The Child’s Sensitive Period for Order

Posted on Friday, October 17, 2008

When adults visit a Montessori classroom they often comment on the orderliness of the environment.  It feels contrary to what most adults think a child’s environment should be, disorderly and chaotic.  But it is the disorder of a child’s life that dictates the need for order in the environment.  The growing brain of a young child is taking in a jumble of sensations.  Without a well formed cognitive roadmap for organizing this information this information is just that, a jumble.  The brain is working hard to categorize these bits of information, forming and reforming neural pathways. This flood of information can be stressful for the young child who is trying hard to make sense of the world around them.  The stress itself leads to chaotic behavior.  It is this behavior that tells us that a need is not being met in the child. Often that need is for order.

In the Montessori classroom everything has its place - where it lives.  The day follows certain rhythms; the circle follows a certain routine.  The Montessori environment is predictable.  In a Montessori environment, children know where objects are and will be and when certain events will happen so they know how to react and where to get their needs met.  This is why children are much more peaceful in a Montessori environment then in other situations.  The child feels in control and can make decisions without the intervention of adults.  This leads to a sense of well being, confidence and independence. 

At home parents can create this same environment.  Children’s tools and play things can be organized so that they are easily accessible and always in the same place.  Sometimes this necessitates simplifying the environment.  Less is better in a child’s world.  Routines should be kept and children prepared well in advance when a change in routine is necessary.  These simple procedures can assist a child in managing his world and happily participating in it.