Introduction
The book under consideration is “The absorbent mind” by Maria Montessori, which offers one of the methods of teaching, where the first six years are taken as the most crucial stages of development. The title of the book, which is going to be discussed, has the symbolic meaning: some scientists understand the child’s mind till six years as a sponge, as with the same effect children’s mind percept knowledge.
The child’s part in the world reconstruction
The chapter “The child’s part in the world reconstruction” focuses its idea on the important contribution of children in the whole world, moreover, this importance is in education, but only school one, the children’s education starts from the very birth. The knowledge, the child gets in his/her childhood, is the most significant and remains till the last days. Children of the whole world are similar, they know perfectly the language, they learn in their childhood, they absorb the culture they live in remain authentic to it. Birth education builds the child’s mind, which, in its turn, builds the world’s understanding.
Education for life
The “Education for life” is the chapter, which is focused on the importance of education in life. The school education starts at the age of five-six when children get all possible and necessary for the knowledge for the future profession. Biological education is much more important than school, as children are born to do nothing, but to live a complete life, they should learn to eat, walk, to think. All this is impossible to impose on children, they are like observance, who should teach to do most things by themselves.
To the conquest of independence
The level of the natural development of the children depends on their ability the conquest of independence. This part is very crucial in the children’s life as this is the development of the children’s characters, the attitude to life and the identifier, which part in the society will be occupied by them in future. Children at an early age usually follow their feelings and emotions, and even without knowing what independence is, in some parts of their life they feel as if they need to conquest their independence, to surround their own environment. Learning to speak is an important spot as children may tell what they want and what do not want.
The first days of life
“The first days of life” is one of the most important chapters, as some peple3 do not always understand the core significance of the first days of children’s life. The consideration, that children in their first month understand nothing, is wrong. From the first days, children start to absorb the surrounding world, their mind works intensively and fast as all around is new and exciting. The child comes into deep emotional and social surroundings so quickly and the mother is the only person, who is familiar to the child. Children know nothing from their birth, but at the same time, they are born with the mind potential which should be developed.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the main focus of the book is the child and the importance of the child’s education. The education, which is meant, is not school, but the natural, which takes place from the first days of the child till the days, when he/she is able to be the worthy member of the society. Children are born with almost the same activities (there are some exceptions connected with health), and the development of the child and his/her ability for education depends on natural education, which takes place from the very birth of the child.
Reference
Montessori, M. (1995). The absorbent mind. Henry Holt, New York.