Comments on: Encourage Your Child’s Sensitive Periods

By: Antonia

Antonia — Wed, 07 Jan 2015 00:20:53 +0000

Hello!
This is a really interesting post. My daughter is now 21 months old. A bit after her first birthday, she was really focused on books. She would bring me books to read all day long and I was kind of confused; how could books be more interesting that playing? This lasted about a month and then she started talking! At 16 months old she was trying to make sentences and now she tells amazing things. So thanks for explaining to me what was happening in her mind and letting me know that there will be more of these “strange fixations”.
I was wandering, could I please translate this post in Greek and put it on my blog? Of course there will be credit to you and a link to this site and your facebook page.

Greetings from Athens
Antonia

By: Ruth Reynolds

Ruth Reynolds — Wed, 09 Apr 2014 20:33:06 +0000

I understand this is a list to understand the general order of development, so my question might not be relevant. When you list an age span, from 2-4, does that mean the senstitive period spans until around the 4th birthday or spans to almost the 5th birthday?

My daughter is 11 months, so I suppose I can wait and see! I’m excited that she has started pointing to objects and starting to communicate, mostly non-verbal, at this point. I’ve been trying to teach her sign language, but so far, she’s not taking much interest. She uses the word “uh oh” for dropping things and for when she sees something out of place!

Thanks for sharing your knowledge on this site!

By: Sarah Scherrer

Sarah Scherrer — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 02:48:13 +0000

My daughter is 40 months old and she loves to sort things into categories. This morning she sorted all of the spoons from the silverware drawer (baby spoons made of plastic, baby spoons made of metal, teaspoons, etc). Then she sorted all of the digital thermometers! Weird, huh?!? 🙂

By: Deb

Deb — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 22:16:36 +0000

In reply to Rachael.

Thanks for your comment, Rachael! I haven’t heard about a sensitive period specifically for babies or seen one talked about online, although I imagine children can go through their own unique “sensitive periods.” If you’re following your son’s interest in babies, you can’t go wrong!

By: Rachael

Rachael — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 14:57:14 +0000

Hi, Deb: Are there sensitive periods regarding relationships? My 2.5-yo boy is obsessed with babies these days — real babies, baby dolls, pictures of babies, holding things (including his Lego fire truck) as though they were babies, being held as though he were a baby…. His teacher (he goes to a Montessori preschool) said something about his having a “sensitive period” for babies — I hadn’t thought about that before! Thank you!

By: Deb Chitwood

Deb Chitwood — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 01:12:04 +0000

In reply to Jackie.

Thanks so much Jackie! I hope you find it helpful with your kids!

By: Jackie

Jackie — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 19:55:54 +0000

Great list. I love how it is broken into ages like that. I will help me to look for those things in my kids.

By: Deb Chitwood

Deb Chitwood — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 03:20:29 +0000

In reply to Cheryl.

Thanks, Cheryl! The exact ages can definitely vary from child to child. It’s helpful to be aware of the general order for the sensitive periods, though. For example, it helps to know that the sensitive period for writing typically comes before the sensitive period for reading.

By: Cheryl

Cheryl — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 00:28:19 +0000

Great information! My youngest is a little “behind” but I know these are guidelines.

By: Deb Chitwood

Deb Chitwood — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 07:09:58 +0000

In reply to Laura.

Thanks, Laura! It’s great that you’re spending time just observing Georgia! It sounds like she’s definitely in her sensitive period for order! And it’s wonderful you’re allowing her to develop coordination and independence through tasks such as dressing herself.