sensorial exercises

Training the Senses

/ Cosmicnissa / 1 Comment

2014-04-12 16.43.09

“The development of the senses actually precedes that of higher intellectual faculties, and in a child between ages three and six it constitutes his formative period.” (p.143 para. 4)

Montessori education focuses on helping the child develop naturally and during his Early Childhood years a child is growing and adapting to his environment around them.  They are attracted primarily to discover things they can discover through their senses.  What a key time to hone in on observation skills as well as discerning slight differences between stimuli!  Often children in this age group truly enjoy the sensorial exercises where that practice sorting, organization, and grading exercises picking up on the smallest differences and elements that can attribute to their success in their future careers.

One example is the chef who may need to determine how much more seasoning to add to a dish using sight, taste or smell.  A doctor may need to be able to pick up on various symptoms through observing with their senses such as listening carefully to heartbeat.

Montessori, M. (1972). Generalizations on the training of the senses. In The discovery of the child (pp. 143-152) New York: Ballantine.

The importance of developing senses

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Montessori, M., & Costelloe, M. J. (1972). Introduction, Childhood: A Social -Problem. The secret of childhood (pp. 100-102). New York: Ballantine Books. (Original work published 1966)

Thoughts after reading PART 1: 16. Lack of Comprehension

“The soul is constantly being nourished with the sight of natural beauties like the rising of the sun, or the delightful vision of a work of art, or with the sound of melodious voices or instruments….  If there were no ego to take delight in these various sights and sounds, what good would there be in these elaborate organs of sense?” (p.102, para. 1-2)

Part of the Early Childhood curriculum in a Montessori Classroom includes sensorial exercises.  Building sensorial skills brings concrete meaning to ideas that without experience are abstract. Sensorial activities help the child differentiate, categorize and grade smells, sounds, flavors, colors, sizes and textures.  Through his senses, the child learns to understanding the world around them and developing meaningful vocabulary, helping him to express himself and connect to his environment.  When a child feels a rough material, he connects the feeling with the meaning of the word, gaining understanding beyond basic comprehension.