I do preschool at home with my own children for now and I have made it my mission to help other parents guide their children the Montessori way.

What this refers to is a special time in a childs development wherein a child takes great interest in acquiring a certain skill or trait.

This requires the adult to furnish activities that allow a child to develop these skills.

For when the period ends, a child moves onto the next phase in their mental development.

These are natural impulses of mastery and we, as parents, are simply to act as facilitators and observers.

A child will become disinterested and grow tired of performing the particular task of the phase.

Dr. Montessori believed this would warp the childs being and affect them through their adulthood.

Children may enter these sensitive periods before or after these ages and the sensitive periods can be slightly shorter or longer than stated.

Parents see their babies smacking their lips at food and showing other signs of readiness.

It means that foods are introduced as a compliment to the babys diet; a step toward what western culture has termed weaning.

During the first year of life, babies progress from involuntary flailing of their limbs all the way to proficiently crawling, then onto the amazing feat of walking upright.

So, limiting screen-time and letting them hear more spoken words in real life is key.

These tantrums are easily prevented by giving your child the predictability they need.

Taking advantage of this sensitive period is easy and fun Find out more about loose parts play here.

This is the window in childhood when potty learning is typically mastered.

The most important thing to remember while your child is learning to use the potty, is to remain gentle and calm through the learning process.

I used the tips in the book for my middle child and potty t raining was a snap.

This is a great time for games that involve these components.

To help your child during this sensitive period, what you dont do is equally as important, if not more important, than what you do.

Its also important not to over-teach during this sensitive period.

Its a time to back away from their exploration and let them grow and gain knowledge themselves, through their senses.

You can help your child along by providing ample opportunities to refine their pincer grasp.

This child has developed the spatial recognition it takes to complete this task.

Sensitive Perios Montessori