THE TIDY TOT | CALM THE CHAOS WITH KIDS
  • TOOLS + RESOURCES
  • WHY I CHOSE MINIMALISM
  • Blog

Tidy Thoughts

Articles, tips and inspiration all about attainable minimalism for moms and families.

Montessori's Sensitive Period for "Order"

10/29/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
Toddlers are naturally orderly - Maria Montessori indicates that a child’s “sensitive period” for order (desire for consistency, repetition, routines etc.) begins at birth and lasts until around age five and peaks around 18 months to 2.5 years. A sensitive period simply means that children seek out relationships and objects relating to specific interests and abilities around certain times of development.

Just because this age may have a heightened awareness of “order” doesn’t mean it will always be easy (we KNOW that - ha!), but you can do a few things to help guide them in the right direction:
  • Keep accessible toys to a minimum
  • Have a designated place for everything (another Montessori principle)
  • Have a specific time of day (or part of your routine) when it’s time to clean up
  • Make it fun with music, rhymes
  • Use a timer (have your little one set it!)

Helping your toddler or young child clean up their toys and tidy their belongings is a great way to invoke that orderly instinct and simultaneously teach responsibility. The more you model this, the more it becomes a natural part of their routine as they grow.

I notice my two year old instinctually puts something back in it’s place if we’re cleaning up together. If I switch it up and change where the toy is stored, she STILL puts it back in the place from before sometimes. It’s so interesting to see how she processes - have you experienced this “sensitive period” with any of your children?
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    BLOG DISCLOSURES

    Categories

    All
    About
    Babies 0 To 12M
    Cleaning
    Consumerism
    Decluttering
    DIY
    Family
    Feelings
    Food
    Gear
    Holiday Season
    Home
    Home Systems
    Hosting
    Intentional Living
    Minimalism
    Montessori
    Motherhood
    Organization
    Routine
    Sustainability
    Tidying
    Tips + Tricks
    Toddlers 12M To 5Y

    SHOP ON ETSY
    Picture

    Archives

    September 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021

    Picture
Picture
BLOG
SHOP
ABOUT
CONTACT
PRIVACY / TERMS
DISCLOSURES
Picture
Picture

Get motivation, minimalism, mess-management + free tools straight in your inbox



Emails are infrequent and no spam ever!
© COPYRIGHT 2023 THE TIDY TOT. ​ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • TOOLS + RESOURCES
  • WHY I CHOSE MINIMALISM
  • Blog