In Montessori education, the Planes of Development refer to specific stages of human development, spanning from birth to maturity. These stages, proposed by Maria Montessori, are fundamental to her theories of developmental psychology, and provide insight into the developmental milestones of a child. The framework is comprised of four distinct stages[1]:
The First Plane: Birth to Age 6 (Early Childhood/Infancy) – “The Absorbent Mind” The Second Plane: Ages 6–12 (Childhood) – “Conscious Imagination” The Third Plane: Ages 12–18 (Adolescence) – “New Identity” The Fourth Plane: Ages 18–24 (Maturity) – “Maturity”
Contents
- 1Montessori Quotes
- 2Characteristics and Sensitivities
- 3Research and Critiques
- 4Comparisons to Other Methods
- 5See Also
- 6Glossary of Montessori Terms
- 7Please help to translate this page into your local language
- 8References
Montessori Quotes
- “The most important period of life is not the age of university studies, but the first one, the period from birth to the age of six.”[2]
- “The child has a different relation to his environment from ours… the child absorbs it. The things he sees are not just remembered; they form part of his soul.”[3]