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The Four Planes of Development

The document outlines Maria Montessori's four planes of child development: 1) The first plane from birth to age 6 focuses on physical independence and language development through the absorbent mind. 2) The second plane from ages 6 to 12 sees the reasoning mind emerge and interest in justice, morality, and social groups. 3) The third plane of adolescence from 12 to 18 is a period of physical, psychological, and identity transformation. 4) The fourth plane from 18 to 24 is when social philosophy of life and independence are developed. Understanding these stages helps adults support each child's unique development.

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808 views2 pages

The Four Planes of Development

The document outlines Maria Montessori's four planes of child development: 1) The first plane from birth to age 6 focuses on physical independence and language development through the absorbent mind. 2) The second plane from ages 6 to 12 sees the reasoning mind emerge and interest in justice, morality, and social groups. 3) The third plane of adolescence from 12 to 18 is a period of physical, psychological, and identity transformation. 4) The fourth plane from 18 to 24 is when social philosophy of life and independence are developed. Understanding these stages helps adults support each child's unique development.

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maypa20
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The Four Planes of Development

The four planes of development is the term Maria Montessori used to described different
periods in a childs life from the moment he is born (or even before) until he becomes an adult.
These four planes consist of six years each subdivided in two sets of three years. In each plane
of development the child has certain characteristics and needs that if known by the adult will
help him understand, support and more importantly not interfere in the child’s development
towards adulthood. Following I will go through each of these planes:

A) First plane of Development. This first plane corresponds with the first six years of life of the
child and is subdivided in two phases:
1. 0-3 years of age: in these stage the child has no capacity for controlled movement, no
formal language but at the same time has great potential forces to achieve these. Montessori
referred to the infant in the first months of this subphase as the psychic embryo. The child has
an unconscious mind that is quietly guided by nature, by the sensitive periods and although it
may seem the child has no mental life he is in fact absorbing everything to which he is exposed.
Physically there is a huge amount of changes that happen in these three years of life: the child
who is born without the capacity of being independent learns to control his body, walk, run, eat
and is very interested in learning how to perform basic tasks of his daily life such as getting
dressed, going to the bathroom, cleaning of self, etc.
2. 3-6 years of age: At the beginning of the third year of life the child usually develops
the idea of self. The child wants to practice and perfect independence and begins to have a
conscious mind. The child is moving at will, practicing to improve his balance, refining
movements, rapidly developing language and developing his will which will lead to the
developing of self discipline. By the end of this subphase the child develops humor.

The period that relates with the first plane of development is also referred to the
absorbent mind. We know too that the sensitive periods of corresponding with this first plane of
development are order, movement of language and the adult must be very careful to allow the
child to gather impressions effortlessly and make the best he can of this ability to learn without
any effort. During this first plane of development the absorbent mind of the child needs to
understand reality so that he is ready in the next phase to develop more abstract thinking.

B) The Second plane of development is comprised by the period between 6-12 years of age
and its beginning is usually marked by the loss of the first baby teeth. The child is more
independent and the reasoning mind takes over the absorbent mind. The child is very interested
in differentiating right and wrong which leads to the developing of the sense of morality. By the
end of this second plane the child has a very keen knowledge of justice.

The child in the second plane of development becomes more social. He is interested in
forming and belonging to groups and learning about the larger world. This is why in this period it
is good that the child receives information about different cultures.
This is the plane in which the child/s imagination develops. In the first plane the child
needed to understand reality and he now has the capacity for abstraction and thus he can learn
about things he can’t see. This capacity together with his developing interest towards justice
and morality makes him be much more interested in people and events in other parts of the
world.
Physically the child is healthy and strong. Maria Montessori considered this period “calm
and easy”1 (vs the next period of development).

C) Third plane of Development. This plane refers to the adolescence or the period between
12-18 years of age and its begining marks the end of childhood. This is a period of
transformation both physically and psycologically. “The character is seldom stable at this age;
there are signs of indiscipline and rebellion. Physical health is less stable and assured than
before”2
The emerging adult asks himself lots of questions about his life and vocation. He is now
also capable of caring for people he has never seen which translates into desire to contribute to
society; it is the period where the social being is born.
The third plane is a period of ideals, the young adult is seeking more knowledge and
experience.

D) Fourth plane of development ​comprising ages 18 through 24 in which the person develops
social phylosophy of life. The young adults know how to make choices and decides how he
wants to spend her time.

As a conclusion I can say that learning about the different planes of development is of
much importance because “if the adult is going to help the child, the adult has to learn from the
child. This understanding will help the adult to allow the child to develop according to the
characteristics of each special period of development” 3.

1
Absorbent Mind. Kalakshetra p. 20
2
Absorbent Mind Kalakshetra p. 20
3
Maria Montessori “What you should know about your child” p. 21

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