The Absorbent

“I have found that in his development, the child passes through certain phases, each of which has its own particular needs. The characteristics of each are so different that the passages from one phase to another have been described by certain psychologists as ‘rebirths’.” (Dr. Maria Montessori) Maria Montessori called these phases the “four planes of development” in which children and adolescents develop through natural stages of developmental needs. The four planes of development include birth to age 6 (Early Childhood); ages 6 to 12 (Childhood); ages 12 to 18 (Adolescence); and ages 18 to 24 (Maturity).

The first plane of development consists of ages birth to 6. We have all heard the phrase “children are like sponges”. Especially in their early years, children are referred to as “sponges” because they absorb all the information around them and then they actively make sense of it. Maria Montessori refers to this as “the absorbent mind”. Throughout the first plane of development, children will demonstrate an intense desire to make his/her own choices or to accomplish tasks independently. Maria Montessori referred to this as the “help me do it myself” stage. It is important for us to understand and find ways to help our children use their absorbent mind to learn and grow.

Although the first plane of development consists of ages birth to six years old, Maria separated the absorbent mind stage into two sub-stages. In the first substage (birth to 3), children go from unconsciously absorbing information, such as learning to sit, stand, walk, use hands, and speak, to consciously absorbing everything in their environment in the second substage (ages 3-6). She states, “Thus it happens that at the age of three, life seems to begin again; for now consciousness shines forth in all its fullness and glory.” (The Absorbent Mind, Maria Montessori)

Children from ages 3-6 continue to absorb information from their environment. However, they learn to do it consciously through the active