“The most important period of life is not the age of university studies, but the first one, the period from birth to the age of six. For that is the time when man’s intelligence itself, his greatest implement, is being formed.”  ~Maria Montessori

Maria Montessori  wrote that the sensitive period for language is from birth (really in utero) to age 6 — this means that the child is naturally drawn to and interested in developing verbal and written language skills during that time.  From 0 to about 3 years old, the child is mainly focused on learning how to speak — learning the words for anything and everything, and practicing saying them and putting concepts together. I have put together many different language works for my children, and I decided to put them all in one place for other parents who are looking for Montessori-inspired language activities for their infants and toddlers.  Some of these activities are work trays that can be put out on the shelf, while others are simply ways of speaking to young children to help them in their thirst for language.  These activities can be found in order from birth to about age 3.5 below [click on the pictures to go to the different activities].  Language round-up:

Ways of Speaking to Infants & Toddlers — from birth on

Teaching Basic Vocabulary — 1-2.5 years old

Matching Concepts — 2.5-3.5 years old

Teaching the Phonetic Alphabet — 2.5-3.5 years old

“Free the child’s potential, and you will transform him into the world.”  ~Maria Montessori

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