Montessori, M., & Costelloe, M. J. (1972). Introduction, Childhood: A Social -Problem. The secret of childhood (pp. 37-48). New York: Ballantine Books. (Original work published 1966)

Thoughts after reading PART I: 7. Psychic Development

“Slight errors at the beginning can cause the greatest deviations in later life.  A man can grow and reach maturity within a spiritual environment that is really not his own.  He lives shut out from the paradise that should have been his.” (p. 47-48, para. 4)

Certain times in a child’s life are optimal for experiencing and learning various skills or behaviors. If this moment is missed it may be harder to learn later or could be lost all together. The child has an innate desire to meet these needs and if they are not met, it can cause the child a great deal of distress.

As parents, we can get very frustrated when children through tantrums; however, Montessori explains that these tantrums are often signs of an unsatisfied need, a response to alarm, or even disorder. It is essential for us to look deeper into the root cause of the child’s distress. It is easy to demand quiet or calm, but even if the child submits to the adult’s request, their issue remains unresolved. If we discover the root of it, we are better able to understand the child and help promote peace within the child’s soul.

We should approach the child as a scientist, looking for what it is the child is seeking and help them along their journey of growth, nurturing their psychic development by providing them with an environment that can help them on their developmental journey.