Children experience transitory periods of sensitivity, (growth spurts) during which, driven by internal motivation, they act externally to achieve a goal.
When such a sensitivity is activated, the child is attracted to activities in the environment, which concern the conquest of the purpose of his sensitivity. For example, the sensitive period for small objects internally motivates the child to gravitate to activities such as placing small objects in a container with a hole, typically using the index finger and thumb to grasp them.
Knowing the sensitive periods offers a schedule of the child’s natural development, which the Montessori approach fully covers. By carefully observing each child and offering him a shaped environment that serves his needs, he helps each child individually, to take advantage of periods of sensitivity, to choose an activity, to repeat it again and again and to achieve a deep concentration.