“Our work is not to teach, but to help the absorbent mind in its development work. How marvellous it would be if by our help, if by an intelligent treatment of the child if by understanding the needs of his physical life and by feeding his intellect, we could prolong the period of functioning of the absorbent mind!” – Maria Montessori, The Absorbent Mind
“Movement, or physical activity, is thus an essential factor in intellectual growth, which depends upon the impressions received from outside. Through movement, we come in contact with external reality, and it is through these contacts that we eventually acquire even abstract ideas.” – Maria Montessori.
“In our work, therefore, we have given a name to this part of the mind which is built up by exactitude; we call it the ‘mathematical mind.’”
– Dr Maria Montessori, The Absorbent Mind
The “essential purpose” of language is used to communicate, but it also serves many purposes; to establish relations among people, express or clarify thoughts, play, creative mental activity, and gain understanding.
“Education is a natural process carried out by the child and is not acquired by listening to words but by experiences in the environment.”
“One test of the correctness of educational procedure is the happiness of the child.”
The first essential for the child’s development is concentration.
