Baby watching the Butterfly Mobile

Montessori Child Development Stages
Birth to Three Years

On these pages you will see actual video clips of children demonstrating their concentration and focus on activites that support their optimum development, supported by adults who are standing back and learning from them,

The first essential for the child's development is concentration.
The child who concentrates is immensely happy.
— Maria Montessori, MD

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FIRST YEAR Development: YEAR ONE

AGE 1-3 Development: AGE 1 TO 3+

Comments about this site: COMMENTS

THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDEPENDENCE, MOVEMENT, LANGUAGE—AND HAPPINESS— IN THE FIRST YEARS OF LIFE
It is often thought that the very young child is not as interesting to observe, interact with, or teach, as older children. At the same time research proves that the first three years of life are the most important as far as forming the child's emotional base, intelligence, social skills and many other aspects of being human. What is the answer? We must learn what to look for in the first few days, weeks, months, and years, of the human being. This discovery will help us protect and nurture the child in this precious formative period of life. Our knowledge will lead to greater happiness for all.

NEWS: Within the first month of its existence, this site on the first stages of development has spread like wildfire all over the world, including the countries of Russia, Indonesia, Turkey, Finland, France, Italy, Australia, Albania, Chile, South Africa, China, India, Pakistan, Ireland, Switzerland, and Canada. It is being linked to Montessori school websites, used in Montessori teacher training, and shared by teachers, doulas, university professors, grandparents, artists, physicians and others. Because the video clips show the child really demonstrating the stages of development the information is easily understood no matter what the language spoken. Please feel free to link this site to any educational website, and to share it in any way.

The Future of Michael Olaf Montessori overviews, catalogue, newsletters will be electronic. See the details on how to be included here: FUTURE

GENERAL MONTESSORI INFORMATION
The main Michael Olaf page has very interesting information about Montessori in general: www.michaelolaf.net

ADOLESCENTS LEARNING ABOUT PARENTING
The Montessori 0-3 information is part of the Human Development curriculum for a Montessori Middle school: Human Development Course

MORE BIRTH TO THREE YEARS INFORMATION

Here is a short introduction to the Assistants to Infancy approach:
1. Parenting
2. Preparing the Environment
3. Prenatal
4. The First Year
5. The Second Year - Working with My Family
6. The Second Year - Toys
7. The Second Year - Music, Art and Language

The main birth to three page, The Joyful Child, contains all 18 chapters of the Montessori Assistants to Infancy (birth to three) overview, and ideas for materials, toys, furniture for children at this age and their parents. It is also a catalogue of mobiles, toys, books, and other materials to order: Joyful Child