Sensitive Period: Small Objects

Montessori identified 11 sensitive periods that children go through. one of these periods is the sensitive period for small objects.

A child’s interest in small objects begins around 1 year old and lasts until about 4 years old. During this time they are engrossed by teny tiny things. They want to pick up small objects or may notice small details and want to explore them with all of their senses.

If you have noticed your child picking tiny crumbs off the floor and handing them to you, exploring the pea stone at the playground and attempting to put it in their mouth, or finding small specs of dirt and pausing their speed crawl to show you, then you may have a child in a sensitive period for small objects on your hands.

Naturally this sensitive period scares some parents because they are worried about their child's safety. A child's safety should always be our priority, but there are ways that we can offer safe exploration of small objects to our children to satisfy their needs.