Montessori and Piaget Discussion Essay Sample

Paper Instructions

Academic level – Undergraduate 3-4
Type of paper – Discussion essay
Topic Title – Montessori and Piaget: The Significance of Repetitive Actions in Young Children’s Development
Instructions:

Research Montessori and Piaget- research information on what Montessori and Piaget had to say about young children’s repetitive actions.

Why did they think these actions were important in young children’s development? explain your reasoning.

Essay Sample

Both researchers focused their studies on the importance of repeated behaviors in childhood. Montessori and Piaget’s views emphasize the role of continuous actions in the development of young kids, namely the development of concentration, self-control, and cognitive thinking.

Initially, repetitive activities may help children develop concentration and self-control. Babies copy others’ behavior to learn about and interact with their world. Montessori believed that the urge to repeat arose from an irresistible energy (Jones et al., 2019). Children become more coordinated, independent, and confident as they practice a skill over time. Piaget characterized how kids move from interacting with the outside environment to being involved in mental activity during the sensorimotor stage (Lewis & Carpendale, 2023). Babies use sucking, pushing, hitting, and grasping to explore their surroundings.

Children’s repeated behaviors become more sophisticated and complex as they grow older. According to Piaget, babies engage in Sub-stage 2 of the sensorimotor stage, which focuses on their own body and involves repetitive motions (Lewis & Carpendale, 2023). Infants shake rattles, splash in tubs, or toss objects from their highchairs repetitively. They reproduce good experiences through repetitions, demonstrating active exploration and significance attribution to objects (Lewis & Carpendale, 2023). These movements strengthen motor skills, explore cause and effect, and improve cognitive thinking.

In conclusion, Maria Montessori and Jean Piaget believed that children’s repetitive actions played a significant role in their development. The philosophies of Maria Montessori and Jean Piaget are both concerned with developing cognitive skills. When educators and caregivers recognize the value of repetition, they can build environments that support children’s innate inclinations.

References
Jones, A. E., Henzi, S. P., & Barrett, L. (2019). A natural history of repetition. Journal of Montessori Research, 5(2), 15–44. https://doi.org/10.17161/jomr.v5i2.7407

Lewis, C., & Carpendale, J. (2023, May 9). Piaget’s theory of childhood development. Child and Family Blog. https://childandfamilyblog.com/piaget-stages-cognitive-development/