When a child is born, it is an unknown entity, just beginning the work of making themselves into a human being with appropriate human help. Maria Montessori calls this “The mission that compels the child to grow and to become a complete human being, to realize itself. For this reason the Child is truly the father of the adult.” It is important to realize that at birth, we all have the potential for the task to develop into a happy, integrated, strong human being.

The first three years of life should be considered fundamental in the literal sense; in that these years form the basis for the development of the personality. The Child, however, requires more than just help, they also need the right information. Thus the adult helpers need to understand the importance of their role, that they hold the key to the development of this human being.

Silvana Montanaro, MD, the author, provides a book illustrating the importance of education in the first 3 years of life for the Child to reach a high level of emotional, intellectual and moral integration.

• 166 pp, soft cover, 2019 edition