The Four Planes of Development
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Based on her own observations and the observations of other psychologists, Dr. Montessori believed that
"growth is a succession of births," and that each birth starts a new plane of development. Each plane is
built on the formation of the previous plane, and if the child fulfills his/her needs at each plane, he/she will
be prepared to experience healthy and successful growth and brain development at the next plane.
The first and third planes of development are times of dramatic transformation, and the second and fourth
planes are relatively calm and stable. Roughly speaking, the first plane occurs before and during preschool
(birth to 6 years), the second plane occurs during elementary school (6 years to 12 years), the third plane
occurs during the teenage years (12 years to 18 years), and the fourth plane occurs during the college years
(18 years to 24 years).
The First Plane (Construction of Self): During the first plane, the child is concerned with
self-construction and forming a basis for the human personality. This is a self-centered time of
development. Birth through age six is the most active time for brain development; dendrites in the brain
continue to form. Will, the ability to make choices, and self-discipline are slowly beginning to develop. Dr.
Montessori called the child's mind during this plane, the absorbent mind, likening it to a sponge, when a
child can learn subconsciously and effortlessly through observation and exploration. We, as adults, must
maintain an orderly and consistent environment and schedule to allow the child to feel secure so that he/she
can classify newly acquired information, necessary for brain development. We must also provide
opportunities for independence, rich language, and a variety of sensorial experiences to speak to the child's
sensitivities. Experiences provided during this time of brain development become a part of the child's brain.
The Second Plane (Exploration of the World): During the second plane, the child is no longer
self-absorbed. Dr. Montessori called this time "the birth of the social being." The child wants to understand
the society in which he/she lives and wants to participate in it. The child is no longer dependent on external
order because he/she has internalized it. This is also a plane of responsibility, and the power to reason
develops. We, as adults, must understand that no classroom is large enough. We must provide access to
information and opportunities to explore the world, and allow for the child to take on responsibility.
The Third Plane (My Impact in this World): The third plane is similar to the first plane. Montessori
refers to this child as "neonate," or new born. This child has a lot of intellectual information about the
world and now knows himself/herself, but is going through great physical and hormonal changes. The
child is consumed with contemplating and trying to merge knowledge gained through the first two planes
by trying to find his/her place in the world. During this time, the adult must step back and allow for the
child to take care of his/her own needs and take part in community service activities. The child must see
that he/she will be able to impact the world.
The Fourth Plane (Integration of the Personality): The fourth plane is the time when everything
comes together. If needs have been met in the other planes, we have an adult who can express
himself/herself as a member of society.
Each plane is approximately six years and has two sub-phases, each three years long. The greatest changes
occur during the first three years, or first sub-phase, of each plane, when the foundation is laid out. The
second half of each plane, or second sub-phase, is the time to develop and crystallize experiences or
impressions taken during the first sub-phase of the plane. Dr. Montessori used sub-phases to group
different ages of children to form a classroom. This is why the preschool, or primary, Montessori
classroom consists of children between the ages of three and six.