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In Montessori education, '''Help from Periphery''' refers to the approach of presenting objects and activities in a way that encourages purposeful movement from the child. The periphery here denotes the part of the child that interacts with external reality through the senses and movement.<ref>Standing, E.M. (1957). Maria Montessori: Her Life and Work. Plume.</ref> This approach operates under the belief that we should engage the child's hands and physical interaction as much as their visual perception, thus promoting active, hands-on learning.

== Montessori Quotes ==

*"The hands are the instruments of man's intelligence."<ref>Montessori, M. (1936). The Secret of Childhood. Longmans, Green and Co.</ref>

*"The development of the hand lags behind because we do not respect it enough."<ref>Montessori, M. (1936). The Secret of Childhood. Longmans, Green and Co.</ref>

== Research and Critiques ==

*'''Pros''': The approach of help from the periphery aligns with research on kinesthetic learning and the benefits of physical engagement in cognitive development. This approach can enhance children's fine motor skills, spatial reasoning, and sensory integration.<ref>Lillard, A. (2017). Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius. Oxford University Press.</ref>

*'''Cons''': Critics argue that this approach may undervalue other forms of learning such as auditory or visual learning. They also suggest that certain concepts may not lend themselves to physical manipulation and require more abstract thinking.<ref>Egan, K. (2002). Getting it wrong from the beginning: Our progressivist inheritance from Herbert Spencer, John Dewey, and Jean Piaget. Yale University Press.</ref>

== Comparisons to Other Methods ==

While traditional education often emphasizes visual and auditory learning, Montessori education prioritizes hands-on activities and sensory experiences, reflecting a belief in the importance of engaging the whole child in the learning process.<ref>Mooney, C. (2013). Theories of Childhood, Second Edition: An Introduction to Dewey, Montessori, Erikson, Piaget & Vygotsky. Redleaf Press.</ref>

== See Also ==

*[[Montessori Method]]
*[[Prepared Environment (Montessori)]]
*[[Sensorial Education (Montessori)]]

{{Glossary of Montessori Terms}}

== References ==

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