Social development of the child
A child that comes to the Casa (this is another word for pre-school or school) at two and a half years is in her / his active formation period of mental powers, and by that building up a storehouse of social experiences and acquiring their own human characteristics throughout the expressions of their needs, tendencies, and by the sensitive periods. We consider very young children up to the age of three years, Spiritual Embryos and in regards to the development of social behaviour we may say that a child below three years of age is also considered a Social Embryo. As the child becomes gradually aware of the fact that and how his or her actions affect others, he / she will start to evaluate situations using intellectual powers such as intelligence, moral and judgment. If the environment is reassuring, the child finds itself secure and finds orientation, he or she will gradually make conquests to adapt and furthermore develop a sense of belonging to the environment. As the understanding develops about being one with society, a social restructuring process takes place within the child. As the child crosses the stage from his self centred and unconscious creator to a conscious worker, he or she will then be accountable, will feel reliable for his / her own work and a feeling of responsibility towards society will emerge. When the child is offered a mentally nurishing environment and has adapted to the environment, there will be a feeling of oneness, and willingness to work for others, be part of the community and eventually contribute to the wider environment. There lies the importance of a Mixed Age group. Dr Montessori wanted to create an environment where children of different age groups can work together towards self development. In our period of physical and social growth, we are in a mixed age group at every step. In the same manner, children Will already learn to be and coexist in a mixed age group. It not only helps in learning but also develops a caring nature amongst the children. I have been a foreign Montessori student at RTI Mumbai, under the guidance of Ms. Zarin Malva.



