Sensitive Periods in Baby Development

Before the article begins, Let's start with a concept
what are sensitive periods?

The Italian educator Montessori developed the theory of children's sensitive periods.
A child's sensitive period is a period of time when a child is exposed to a certain strong natural behavior for a short period of time consecutively connected to each other.
Let me translate that for you by saying that at some point in time, a child may suddenly develop an obsession, some kind of strange behavior, or some kind of intense interest that strikes many parents as odd.
However, once moms and dads have mastered this natural law of sensitive periods, they can develop their children's abilities in a natural way as long as they follow their children's interests. Moreover, the sensitive period is very short; if you miss such a natural period of strong interest, in the future, mom and dad will have to cultivate the child's interest in learning whatever they want the child to learn.

So, I've heard it said before that knowledge of sensitive periods is a watershed moment for smart moms and dads. It's interesting to think about it.
For example, during the sensitive period of painting, children suddenly like to paint and may even paint all over the furniture and walls. Many parents may wonder why their children are suddenly disruptive and disobedient. In fact, adults do not realize that their children have reached the sensitive period of painting. As long as good guidance, the child's interest in painting can be maintained. The ability to draw is not only closely related to the ability to concentrate as the foundation of future studies but also to the aesthetic ability; hand fine motor skills are also a great help.
If an adult stops a child from drawing everywhere during this time, it is likely that after this time, the child will no longer be interested in drawing.
So, here we go; let's start talking about the 5 sensitive periods that every child may experience and when they occur.

Friendly Note:

Each child's development may be different, so the sensitive period may be early or late; if the family environment is more relaxed, there is no repression or special experience of the child. Usually, the sensitive period will be within this age.

Language sensitivity period (1.5 to 2.5 years old)

The language sensitivity period begins when a baby starts to look at the shape of an adult's mouth and makes muffled sounds of learning to speak. Language ability affects the child's ability to express himself. Therefore, parents should often talk to their children, tell stories, or use more rhetorical questions to strengthen the child's ability to express himself and lay a good foundation for future interpersonal relationships. To address this situation, a story or a short reading a day should be essential for both children and parents.

Order-sensitive period (2 to 4 years old)

The child needs an orderly environment to help him recognize things and become familiar with the environment. Once the environment he is familiar with disappears, it will be disorienting to him. The order sensitivity of young children often manifests itself in the demands for orderliness, habits, and ownership. If adults fail to provide an orderly environment, the child does not have a foundation on which to build a sense of relationships. As the child develops internal order in the environment, intelligence is gradually constructed. This is the period when children need to be taken for walks and introduced to utilities and rules.

Sensory Sensitivity Period (3-6 years old)

From birth, children use their senses of hearing, sight, taste and touch to familiarize themselves with the environment and understand things. Before the age of three, children absorb things around them through their subconscious absorptive mind; between the ages of three and six, they are more able to analyze and judge things in the environment through their senses. You can randomly guide your child to use his/her five senses to feel things around him/her. Especially when your child is full of the desire to explore, you should try to satisfy his or her needs as long as they are not dangerous or invasive. This is the time to start sensory training at home and in the kindergarten.

Action-sensitive period (2-6 years old)

Two-year-old children can already walk; it is a period of lively activity; parents should let their children fully exercise so that their body movements are correct and skillful and help the left and right brain develop in a balanced way. In addition to the training of large muscles, the practice of small muscles, i.e., the training of fine movements of hand-eye coordination, not only develops good habits but also helps the development of intelligence. This is not only a need for sensory integration but also a key to the cultivation of a healthy physique. Be sure to allow your child a period of vigorous exercise every day.

Reading Sensitive Period (4.5 to 5.5 years old)

Although the child's writing and reading ability is late, if the child gets sufficient learning during the sensitive period of language, senses and body movement, his/her writing and reading ability will arise naturally. At this time, parents can choose more reading materials and set up a home environment full of books, which can make the child develop a good habit of loving reading. If you can read to your child from the beginning of his or her life, usually our children will have a more outstanding performance at this stage: they have already begun to read freely.
Children who have been exposed to early IQ development will be able to read on their own at this stage and will find reading to be their greatest joy! Children who do not have Early Mental Potential Development (EMPD) will also begin to have a desire to read and write when they enter this critical period.

Conclusion:

What are we going to do?
Family members must be unified in their thinking. If there is no unity of thought, and everyone thinks their idea is right, a child will have to bear the pull from several sources. So, adults should not argue about issues in front of the child.
Inclusion and tolerance are needed. Children are a magnifying glass for the family; how they have been treated is how they treat others. It is up to us to adjust ourselves first, treat ourselves and our families well, and provide a safe and harmonious family environment for our children.
Don't use adult values to judge children's behavior.
You cannot use a certain educational method mechanically. There are many times when children don't do what they are supposed to do; that's because they can't take care of it. Adults should be flexible; the soul of the scientific education method is to cultivate and protect children's concentration; when we teach children what to do, we must first observe what they are doing.
The real object of education is ourselves. Only when adults change can children change.
Another thing Kaiya Baby would like to say is
Never replace the child's growth; self-righteousness to help heartache, love, and care, in fact, is to hurt the child; parents have to learn together how to be qualified parents in order to better lead the child's growth.