The Absorbent Mind by Maria Montessori.
The Montessori approach views the child as one who is eager to learn and capable of initiating learning in a supportive and engaging environment. In The Absorbent Mind, Montessori provides her theories of learning coupled with in depth descriptions of each stage in development, including development in the womb. Montessori touches on language development, development of the senses, physical development, imitation, the importance of pretend play, the importance of hand work and more. I especially love in this book Montessori’s devotion to her theory that children are capable of so much more than they are given credit for, she constantly reminds the reader to not stifle a child’s eagerness to learn by doing things for them.
“There is in the child a special kind of sensitivity which leads him to absorb everything about him, and it is this work of observing and absorbing that alone enables him to adapt himself to life. He does it in virtue of an unconscious power that only exists in childhood.” - Maria Montessori, The Absorbent Mind.
“With his first footstep the child reaches a higher level of experience. Observing him at this time, we see that he tends to always enlarge his independence. He wants to act of his own accord, to carry things, to dress and undress himself; and this is not due to any suggestions from us. His impulses are so energetic that our usual response is to check them. But, in doing this, we are not really checking the child but nature herself, for the child’s will is in tune with hers, and he is obeying her laws one by one.” - Maria Montessori, The Absorbent Mind.
“...we cannot make a genius. We can only give to each individual the chance to fulfill his potential possibilities.” - Maria Montessori, The Absorbent Mind.