03/02/2023
In our last post, we shared as one of our children assembled a Geometry Cabinet, a material which is part of the Sensorial area of the Primary Montessori classroom.
Below are reasons why the geometric cabinet is an important material in a Child's early ages while at Montessori
1. It helps to further develop the child’s visual sense in the discrimination of shape/form.
2. It exposes the child to a variety of geometric shapes and to help him/her discern the differences between them.
3. It helps the Child in the absorption of the geometric figures. ( As these materials are presented, the child is shown to remove and trace around each shape with his/her fingers. For a young child, this kind of movement is irresistible! as he/she repeatedly traces and traces around the shapes, they develop a muscle memory of each one thus knowing the shape by not just sight, but also by touch!
4. It acts as an indirect preparation for handwriting. ( Each shape inset has a k**b that a child engages a three finger grip to grasp. This grasp is the same used to hold a pencil. Through repetitive removal and replacement of the shape, the child's fingers are being prepared for the correct pencil grip.
As the Child's fingers trace the contours of the shapes, he/she is not only controlling the muscles of the hand, but developing a firmness of touch. This will again help him/her as learning to write begins. This type of indirect preparation leads to much success as the child begins working with a pencil!
