Child Development Stages
From Birth to Three Years+

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

Mindfulness: Many adults are trying to develop the abilities to be in the moment, to focus on the task at hand, to enjoy work. This is called "mindfulness". However, we now know that children are born with this skill. It is a gift to us to observe it and out duty to protect it, just as we do periods of concentration.

Toys and materials that support this development: montessori shop

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• Age 0-1 page: first year
• Age 1-2 page: second year
• Age 2-3 page: third year

Ages and stages are different from child to child, each person unique. Our role is to prepare the environment, study the child, give clear lessons, step back and support exploration and concentration, and then to observe the miracle of concentration on self-chosen activities and the resulting happiness and compassion toward others.

"THE WONDERFUL TWO'S" is a 50-minute DVD of an infant community for children from 1-3 years of age, in Japan and in the USA. It was created to present Montessori under 3 to a national Suzuki Music conference, at the request of the wife of Dr. Shinnichi Suzuki, and offers a wealth of ideas for the home and community for the very young. It can be ordered here: VIDEO

PICTURE: carrying out real work that is helpful to the family, such as preparing food, is often a child's preferred activity; it also provides the opportunity for long periods of concentration, an experience necessary for the happiness of all of us at all ages.

It is often thought that the very young child is not as interesting to observe, interact with, or teach, as the older child. At the same time research proves that the first three years of life are the most important as far as the creation of the human's emotional base, intelligence, social skills, curiosity, joy in learning, problem solving, and so on. If we learn to look, really look, and listen to the infant we will be able to protect and nurture all that is best in the human being.
—Susan Mayclin Stephenson, Montessori 0-12 teacher, consultant, and artist

I am continually enthralled by the videos you post on your website. The international students on the 0-3 and 0-6 courses and parents I encounter continually oooh and ahhh over them and are amazed at the concentration, the independence, the abilities of such tiny children. Thank you for your continued work for the child under three.
—Judi Orion, AMI 0-6 teacher trainer in Australia, Japan, and TMI, Denver

All of our staff watched the clips and were truly touched by them; I can hardly find words to describe the wonders of seeing a small baby having such a productive communication with his mother. Studying your website and catalogs helped me shape my understanding of the 0-3 approach and curriculum.
—Valentina Zaytseva, Administrator, Moscow Montessori, Russia . . .MORE FEEDBACK

Order The Joyful Child Montessori 0-3 overview/catalog of materials that supports the development of the child at this age from Michael Olaf or Amazon

SHARING THIS SITE: The site is being used in Montessori teacher training courses at all levels, and by schools to help parents discover the amazing potential of the young child, or to prepare families for future Montessori education. Please feel free to link it to any educational site and to share it. These developmental video clips and the accompanying information have spread like wildfire all over the world, including the countries of Russia, Japan, Indonesia, Turkey, Finland, France, Italy, Australia, Albania, Chile, South Africa, China, India, Pakistan, Ireland, Switzerland, and Canada. They are being shared by teachers, doulas, university professors, grandparents, artists, physicians and others.

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

See the bottom of this page for translations of the Montessori 0-3 information in Chinese, Arabic, and Polish: http://www.michaelolaf.com/JCcontents.html

For the best in Montessori articles, links, information, and access to the Michael Olaf Montessori Shop that has provided the best educational toys & materials for children around the world, click here: WWW.MICHAELOLAF.NET