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Understanding Practical Life Series: Part 3 Sensitive PeriodJune 30, 2008 by Miss Norma | 2 comments

The sensitive period in development are periods of special sensitivity related to certain elements in the environment. Sensitive periods are transitory- after the child has acquired certain functions or determined characteristics, that particular sensitive period gives way to another and different one. Sensitivities appears as an irresistible impulse and urges the child to select only certain elements in his environment for definite and limited time. The sensitive period for language is the longest because we never quit learning it. It starts at about the age of four months with the baby intently watching the month, at six months or so he begins to make real sounds. The small child is very interested in learning more and more word.

The sensitive period for order begins at about the first year and is manifest in the third year. Related to the sensitive period of order is the interest for small things and details which begins at about two years old. The sensitive period for social graces is from two and a half to six years. The Sensitive Periods are meet in Practical Life.

The interest for small objects and details is met when children work with different materials in this Practical Life environment; such as using tweezers to pick up small object and transfer them. Order is met when the child works with scrubbing a table or any of the frames because they have to follow certain step to get to his final product. For example he needs to button the first button before he buttons the second. During Snack time children get to practice social graces and language. Snack time is one of the times were the child gets an opportunity to talk to a friend and say please and thank you. Scrubbing a Table, Sea Shell Scrubbing and Sweeping are some activities that help the child meet his need for movement.