INDUSTRY INSIGHT
CHILD DEVELOPMENT
SPONSORED CONTENT
MONTESSORI CENTRE ACADEMY
Without Your Child ’ s Imagination , Abstract Thinking Cannot Exist
There is a very special stage in your child ’ s developing brain that manifests and feeds the imagination . The process of thinking that produces the imagination is necessary for creative abstract thinking . The child ’ s ability to imagine impacts not only their intellectual learning but their imaginary games , being competitive in sports , and the arts .
The brain of a third grader is straining to make neural connections for information to think at a higher level of learning . The imagination tickles their creativity to think what is possible , what is plausible , and what is impossible . These connections stabilize the brain for more complicated thought processes . Those neurons that are not connected are pruned away ( lost ). Without the imagination , there can be no creativity or theoretical learning or advances in science , technology , engineering , and math . Children should be exposed to hands-on learning in order to test reality in all subjects . Classes should be small and discussions should be to focal point of learning . This allows for cooperative learning and collaborative learning . Mass learning of data and memorization , does little to push the boundaries of the creative thought processes .
Education has to serve this new developing talent of your child ’ s brain growth by developing an interactive curriculum that is sensitive to this new stage of learning . Children at this age are eager to read stories with the magic of Harry Potter and the mythical world of Percy Jackson . Reading , in third grade and on , becomes important in pushing their boundaries of reality . This literature , because of its more convoluted scenarios , and more sophisticated language , will not only appeal to the child ’ s interest but his emerging theoretical thinking and processing . The child begins to test reality and push the limits of the impossible to what is plausible . It is a stage of thinking that produces “ What if ?”, “ Truth or Dare ?”, and taking unreasonable chances and risks . JFK , as U . S . President , declared , “ we will put a man on the moon .” The moon was the reality ; getting there was the unknown . The minds of men were put to the test in solving the impossible . This brain development of intense imagination serves as the basis of research in science , math , technology , language , and the performing arts .
Prior to this third grade state , children were practicing skills for dance and t-ball . Their reading interest was a storyline with a touch of magic . An example would be “ The Three Bears ” and “ Captain Underpants .” Animation thrilled the child , as in cartoons and Disney movies . As young children , they are learning skills and data in preparation of the brain ’ s ability to imagine .
This Industry Insight was submitted by Yolanda Sweenie , Director of Montessori Centre Academy since 1988 . She has a vast array of experience in both Montessori education and teacher education , serving as a teacher trainer at Carlow College for the American Montessori Society . She wrote educational programs for model cities , and directed the first Montessori funded program under Head Start in Washington , D . C . In addition , she created workshops and served as a curriculum consultant for the Pittsburgh Board of Education when it created a public Montessori in the City of Pittsburgh .
Hampton | Winter 2017 | icmags . com 9