THE CAPSTONE PROGRAM3RD PLANE OF DEVELOPMENT

AGE 12 TO 18NEEDS DURING ADOLESCENCE ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD:

THE FORMATION OF THE SELF

THE CAPSTONE PROGRAMTODDLERS & ADOLESCENTS

Toddler/Adolescent SIMILARITIES:• Egocentric (focused on self)

• “I can do it myself”

• “I already know (how to do) that”

• “It’s all about me”

• Seemingly insensitive at times, but can be incredibly empathetic

• Has a keen sense of fairness

• Feelings can be easily hurt

• Plays hard… works hard… sleeps hard

THE CAPSTONE PROGRAMTODDLERS & ADOLESCENTS

Toddler/Adolescent NEEDS:• Reassurance• Active listening• Adequate nourishment – often• Physical attention (hugs, pats on the back)• Limits (they will push the limits and want to know they are consistent)• A safe place where they can feel free to fall apart/lose control/have a tantrum or just be themselves• Freedom to explore new things/new friendships/new places, with the knowledge that there is a

home “base”, a place of normalcy, to return to• Help making wise choices• Positive role models• Freedom to make and learn from their mistakes• And most importantly, unconditional love and acceptance

THE CAPSTONE PROGRAM3RD PLANE OF DEVELOPMENT

“This is the time, the sensitive period where there should develop the most noble characteristics that would prepare a child to be social, that is to say, a sense of justice and a sense of personal dignity.”

- Maria Montessori, From Childhood to Adolescence

“The two needs of the adolescent are to be protected during the delicate physical transition period and to be placed in a position to understand one’s role which he/she will play in society.”

- Montessori’s Erkinder essay

THE CAPSTONE PROGRAM3RD PLANE OF DEVELOPMENT

Physical Changes: Onset of puberty

Accelerated Muscular Development: It’s a time when strength, speed and reaction time tend to peak.

It brings an abundance of energy and remarkable capacity to work.

Physical Needs: Adolescents need

constructive challenges and outlets for their boundless

energy. They need to be physically active, but they

also need time to relax and reflect. They need to have meaningful work and take

pride in what they’ve done.

Source: “Building a Just Adolescent Community”, in Montessori Life, 2008, Vol 20 No. 1

THE CAPSTONE PROGRAM3RD PLANE OF DEVELOPMENT

Social Changes:

Friends are priority.

They form a sense of identity through their peers.

They are looking for their place in society.

Social Needs:

Need peers and adults

who allow them to explore

their social and physical

environments, and support

them in their processes.

Source: “Building a Just Adolescent Community”, in Montessori Life, 2008, Vol 20 No. 1

THE CAPSTONE PROGRAM3RD PLANE OF DEVELOPMENT

Source: “Building a Just Adolescent Community”, in Montessori Life, 2008, Vol 20 No. 1

Cognitive Changes:

They begin to think and

reason abstractly and to

think through problems in

a systematic way.

Cognitive Needs: Interdisciplinary curriculum

with meaningful, diverse cognitive challenges.

To exercise their abstract reasoning abilities and help

forge a sense of personal identity, they need to

consider powerful dilemmas, contradictions,

social and moral problems.

THE CAPSTONE PROGRAM3RD PLANE OF DEVELOPMENT

Source: “Building a Just Adolescent Community”, in Montessori Life, 2008, Vol 20 No. 1

Emotional Changes:

This is a time of self consciences, anxiety, uncertainty, emotional

liability and learning by trial and error.

Emotional Needs: To develop a strong sense of

self. They need to be empowered to make their

own decisions, to contribute, to succeed and to fail. They

need to be able to learn from their mistakes. They

need a caring adult who will take the time to listen and

support them.