Is there a sensitivity period for learning sandpaper letter?

[elmostoney]

DD is 4y4m. The present Montessori school that she goes to is 100% Mandarin (Chinese). I am thinking about transferring her to a bilingual, but mostly English Montessori school. The bilingual school's founder told me that for most kids, getting them to do sandpaper letter after 4.5y may be difficult as that is when the sensitivity period usually ends. I originally plan to transfer her to the bilingual school next September, but if what the found said is true, then I have to transfer her ASAP - & that is probably this coming November. In terms of her English level, no problem in aural comprehension; spoken language is OK but not completely fluent. She knows the 26 letters and basic consonant sounds of the alphabet, and it pretty much ends here.

Can anybody offer some advice? Her present school has very good teacher student ratio 1:7 and the teacher is extremely caring and patient. The bilingual school is 1:25 with one English speaking Montessori teacher and another Mandarin teacher who is not Montessori qualified but is either in training or had some training. I also have some personal reasons which is better for me if I transfer her next September instead of now. However, if she will really miss her window in the English language by changing schools later, I am prepared to make the transfer soon.

[MattBronsil]

The easiest time to introduce that is age 4. It is when the child will pick it up the easiest. However....

I am in my 30s and learned the Mandarin phonetic characters we use in Taiwan from the sandpaper characters. So it's still easier with the sandpaper letters. :-)

There is a lot of support and research to say do not teach another writing system until a child is ok with their native writing system. I agree with this usually, but think they can be done together in a Montessori setting if the freedom of choice is respected if a child chooses to not learn two.

I've used sandpaper letters with children of all ages in my EFL classrooms with success. It is easier earlier, but not impossible later by any stretch of the imagination.

[elmostoney]

They told me that after 4.5y, the child is less interested in doing sandpaper letter and teacher will have to MAKE her do it instead of her willingly always practice by herself. That's what I am worried about.

[MattBronsil]

Originally Posted by elmostoney

They told me that after 4.5y, the child is less interested in doing sandpaper letter and teacher will have to MAKE her do it instead of her willingly always practice by herself. That's what I am worried about.

Not my experience, but I have never been in that specific example.

[Lillianna]

Although the sensitive period for the refinement of the senses is over around the age of 4, the sensitive period for the development of language continues to the age of 6. Also, the human tendencies for communication, exploration and self-perfection extend throughout the individual's life. Sometimes, children over 4 are not as interested in only tracing the letters but there are some extensions and games that can be played to give practice with the letters by increasing the complexity of the activity which makes the letters more appealing to the older child.
Good luck!