Foundations & Philosophy
Absorbent Minds
Maria believed in our fast paced adult centered world we neglect to see our dependence on children. Her conviction was that we have great hope for peace and unity in the world, if only we would train ourselves to observe our children's development potential in the area of character & personality while it is being constructed in early childhood.
"To explain the self-construction, Montessori concluded he must posses within him, before birth, a pattern for his psychic unfolding. She referred to this inborn, psychic entity of the child as a "spiritual embryo." This embryo is comparable to the original fertilized cell of the body. This cell does not contain the adult form in miniature, but rather a predetermined plan for its development. In a similar way, the child's psychic growth is guided by a predetermined plan for its development, not visible at birth."
-Paula Polk Lillard, Montessori, A Modern Approach
It is believed this psychic pattern is revealed through the process of development. In this process, two conditions are needed, one the ability to have a good/interesting relationship with his "environment" and two "freedom" to move in the environment. He becomes propelled to move forward through out his environment to explore and find out who he is. In order to do this he needs freedom. This allows for mental and physical unity.
During this time he is given two aids. These aids are creative sensitivities foundational for the rest of his growth and are not seen much past the age of 6. This is important as this time passes never to be seen again with such intensity. Maria believed this was proof of development by design and not by chance. These aids are: the sensitive periods and the absorbent mind.
The first an unconscious level is from birth-3 years and the second a conscious level from 3-6 years. Before three mental functions are being created. After three mental functions are being developed.
Montessori distinguishes between the two periods of growth, one where the intelligence is directed inwardly in an act of self-construction; and two a period of development, where the intelligence is directed outwardly toward increasing knowledge, information, and experience in the world.
Montessori often said, "Impressions do not merely enter his mind: they form it" (Absorbent Mind, 1995). After the first level where the absorbent mind prepares the unconscious, the mind then slowly awakens to the conscious level, establishing memory, and the power to understand and reason. The knowledge that the child is internally seeking is then absorbed.
Montessori often compared the child's mind to a sponge, which "absorbs" everything in its surroundings. It is this time when we observe the clean slate and the development potential of character and personality that we can impart social graces, manners and caring. This is a time when we can help the child be master of himself
-Written By Erica Thomas