Montessori Human Tendencies

Montessori education is a distinctive approach that emphasizes a child’s natural development and innate desire to learn. A central component of this approach is an understanding of Montessori’s Human Tendencies, observable characteristics that guide a child’s natural development and shape their behavior. Throughout her international travels, Maria Montessori observed these Human Tendencies in children across various cultures around the world. Even today, teachers in diverse settings across the globe witness these tendencies in action as they observe their students. 

According to Montessori, the Human Tendencies play an important role in development and learning from an early age. They serve as guides for our natural behaviors, supporting our survival, adaptation, and integration into society. Montessori noted that these tendencies are not simply fleeting childhood phases but aspects of the human condition that are observable into adulthood. By understanding and nurturing these Human Tendencies, Montessori educators can create environments that support a child’s natural development and enable them to reach their full potential.

Table of Contents

• Orientation
  • Sense of Time
  • Sense of Place
• Order
  • Sequencing
  • Organization
• Exploration
  • Sensorial Exploration
  • Physical Exploration
  • Intellectual Exploration
  • Emotional Exploration
• Activity
  • Purposeful Work
  • Repetition
• Manipulation
  • Fine Motor Skills
  • Gross Motor Skills
• Communication
  • Language Development
• Imagination (Abstraction)
  • Conceptual Thinking
• Exactness
  • Precision 
  • Attention to Detail
• Self-Mastery
  • Self-Assessment
  • Self-Improvement
• Final Thoughts

The following list of tendencies is representative, but not exhaustive. Also, some educators may use slightly different terms to describe them. Nevertheless, the tendencies outlined below reflect the many Human Tendencies observable in children worldwide, driving their development.

Orientation

Orientation is about children’s need and desire to understand their place in the world and to seek a sense of belonging and context in their environment. Montessori understood that children need to be oriented to their surroundings to act upon their environment independently. This involves children developing an understanding of their surroundings, both temporal and spatial, which is important for their sense of security and confidence. By nurturing this tendency, the Montessori approach helps children anchor themselves in the world, giving them a stable base from which to explore and learn. 

Sense of Time

It’s important for children to develop an understanding of the passage of time and to create order and routine in their lives. They want to know what day it is, and what year it is. They want to know what time they go to lunch, what time they have read aloud, and what time they go home. Montessori classrooms provide a structured environment that helps children develop a sense of time. This is achieved through activities such as daily schedules, routines, and time-related vocabulary.

For example, children may learn about the days of the week, months of the year, and seasons. They may also use clocks and calendars to help them understand the concept of time. By providing a structured environment that supports the development of a sense of time, children learn how to feel secure and confident in their daily lives.

Sense of Place

Another human tendency involves a sense of place. Children have an innate need to understand their environment and to create order and structure in their surroundings. Montessori classrooms provide a rich and stimulating environment that supports the development of a sense of place.

For example, on a macro level, children may orient themselves by learning about geography, cultures, and the natural world. This is especially true in Montessori elementary classrooms, where children often become very interested in learning about the wider world.

At a micro level, children will want to understand their classroom environment. They will want to know the location of the various areas of the classroom and the materials that are available to them. They will want to know how to use the various resources at their disposal, how to take care of them, and where to put them away. By providing a rich and stimulating environment that supports the development of a sense of place, the Montessori approach helps children feel connected to their surroundings and to the world around them.

Order

From a very young age, children are naturally drawn to environments that are predictable and structured. Maria Montessori noticed that children feel more secure and comfortable in settings where order is maintained. This ordered, predictable setting is known in Montessori circles as the “prepared environment.”  A prepared environment lays the groundwork for children to explore, learn, and grow. When their environment is orderly, predictable, and familiar, children can focus better, leading to deeper learning and understanding.

Montessori believed that the order in the environment is directly connected to the internal order within the child’s mind. An organized environment helps create mental clarity and aids children in understanding and categorizing their experiences and learnings. It’s not just about physical tidiness, but about the order in routines, sequences of activities, and the consistency in the way things function around them. This predictability helps in establishing a sense of time and sequence, which aids cognitive development.

Sequencing

Sequencing is an important aspect of order. Children have a natural inclination to arrange objects in a particular progression, be it by size, color, function, or other salient qualities. Maria Montessori believed that this desire to sequence is an innate aspect of a child’s development. Sorting and ordering during the early years builds hand-eye coordination and concentration. Over time, it cements cognitive flexibility, pattern recognition, and logical reasoning skills. 

Organization

Organization is also an important aspect of order. Children have a natural desire to organize their environment. They may enjoy putting their toys away or arranging their books on a shelf. Maria Montessori believed that providing children with opportunities to organize their environment is important for their development. By allowing children to organize their environment, they can develop their ability to plan and think ahead.

In the Montessori classroom, the environment is carefully organized to support the child’s natural tendency towards order. Materials are arranged on shelves in a specific order, and children are taught to return materials to their proper place. This helps children develop their ability to sequence and organize their environment.

The tendency towards order is an important part of a child’s development. By providing children with opportunities to sequence and organize their environment, they can develop important skills that will serve them well throughout their lives.

Exploration

In the Montessori approach to education, exploration is a key element of a child’s growth. This natural curiosity motivates children to actively engage with their environment, striving to understand and interact with the world. Montessori settings are carefully crafted to support this desire to explore, providing diverse materials and experiences that stimulate discovery, investigation, and learning. This drive to explore extends beyond just physical activity; it includes intellectual and emotional exploration as well. 

Sensorial Exploration

Sensory exploration is a key component of the Montessori approach. Children are encouraged to use their senses to explore and learn about the world. Montessori classrooms are filled with materials that engage the senses, such as the pink tower, the red rods, geometric solids, tasting and smelling bottles, and more. These materials allow children to explore different textures, smells, sounds, and tastes, as well as concepts such as longer and shorter, or smaller and larger, to develop their sensory perception.

Physical Exploration

Physical exploration is also an important aspect of the Montessori approach. Children are encouraged to move and explore their environment. Montessori environments, both indoor and outdoor, are designed to allow children to move freely and engage in physical activities. For example, children may walk on a balance beam, climb a ladder, or crawl through a tunnel. These activities help children develop their gross motor skills and spatial awareness.

Intellectual Exploration

In a Montessori setting, intellectual exploration is actively encouraged through a range of engaging materials and activities. These resources are designed to stimulate critical thinking, problem-solving, and creative expression. As children interact with these materials, they naturally develop a curiosity that drives them to ask questions, seek answers, and deeply understand various concepts. This approach to learning fosters an environment where knowledge is not just absorbed but actively constructed through exploration and discovery.

Emotional Exploration

Emotional exploration is equally vital in the Montessori environment. Here, children are guided to recognize, express, and manage their emotions effectively. This supportive atmosphere enables them to develop key aspects of emotional intelligence, such as empathy, self-awareness, and resilience. By learning to understand and navigate their feelings, children build a foundation for personal growth and the ability to engage in healthy, empathetic relationships with others.

In essence, exploration is a natural tendency that is encouraged in Montessori education. By providing children with opportunities to explore their environment,  Montessori educators help children develop a love of learning and a curiosity about the world around them.

Activity

Maria Montessori’s educational philosophy places significant emphasis on the role of activity in child development. She firmly believed that children have an innate desire to engage in purposeful work and activities. This drive is not just about keeping busy; it’s about engaging in meaningful tasks that contribute to their physical, mental, and emotional development. Montessori observed that when children are involved in such activities, they demonstrate a remarkable level of concentration, satisfaction, and joy, indicating the deep-rooted nature of this need.

Purposeful Work

Montessori observed that children are naturally drawn to activities that have a purpose and produce tangible results. Purposeful work allows children to develop their concentration, coordination, and problem-solving skills. They learn to plan and execute tasks, and to take pride in their accomplishments.

Montessori classrooms are designed to provide children with opportunities for purposeful work. Within the prepared environment, activities are designed to be more than just educational tools; they are seen as vital instruments for children’s self-construction and self-reliance. Practical life activities such as pouring, sweeping, and washing dishes allow children to develop their fine motor skills and learn to care for themselves and their environment. 

Repetition

Montessori also recognized that children have a natural tendency to repeat activities that they find interesting and engaging. Repetition allows children to refine their skills and gain mastery over their environment. In the first plane of development, children ages 0-6, repetition means doing the same thing over and over again. In the second plane, ages 6-12, repetition means tackling the same idea or concept, but through variety. Elementary children get bored when repeating as a young child would. They need to replicate their learning by making a model or finding a different way to practice the same concept. They need a variety of ways to interact with knowledge, ideas, and concepts in order to develop skills and attain mastery. 

In Montessori classrooms, the presence of self-correcting materials enables children to work independently and at their own pace, fostering an environment of self-guided learning. As they repeat activities, children not only enhance their memory and concentration skills but also grow in confidence and self-assurance. 

Montessori strongly believed in the critical role of purposeful activity for children’s development and well-being. Through providing opportunities for purposeful work and repetition, these classrooms are instrumental in helping children to develop their full potential, guiding them towards becoming independent and self-sufficient individuals.

Manipulation

Montessori education recognizes the importance of the human tendency to manipulate objects. Children are naturally drawn to investigate their environment through touch, and the Montessori classroom provides ample opportunities for them to do so.

Fine Motor Skills

One way in which children develop their ability to manipulate objects with ease is through the use of Montessori materials. These materials are designed to be handled in a variety of ways, allowing children to practice their fine motor skills and refine their hand-eye coordination.

For example, the Knobbed Cylinder material consists of a set of cylinders that vary in diameter and height. Children must use their fingers to grasp the knobs on the top of each cylinder and place them in the corresponding hole on the wooden block. This activity not only helps children develop their fine motor skills but also teaches them about size and spatial relationships.

Another material that helps children develop their manipulation skills for older children is the division material known as Racks and Tubes. With this material, children manipulate beads, pouring them from tubes into small cups, then taking the beads from the cups and distributing them onto the division boards.  This material, along with many of the Montessori math materials in the elementary classroom, allows for continued refinement of fine motor skills. 

The Montessori approach recognizes the importance of the human tendency to manipulate objects and provides children with opportunities to develop their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination through the use of specially designed materials.

Gross Motor Skills

Alongside fine motor skill development, Montessori education also offers opportunities to manipulate objects using gross motor skills. These skills involve larger body movements and are crucial for overall physical development and coordination. In many Montessori settings, activities like outdoor play, gardening, or movement-based games are incorporated. These activities require children to use their whole body, often manipulating large objects, thus improving balance, strength, and spatial awareness. For example, carrying and setting up Montessori materials from shelves, moving mats or furniture for workspaces, and participating in outdoor activities like climbing or balancing on a beam all contribute to the development of gross motor skills.

The Montessori approach provides a holistic environment for children to develop their manipulation skills. By engaging in a variety of activities that require both fine and gross motor skills, children in a Montessori setting can develop their dexterity, coordination, and understanding of their physical capabilities comprehensively. This not only aids in their physical development but also fosters a deeper connection with their environment and the materials within it.

Communication

Montessori education emphasizes the importance of communication in a child’s development. Communication is a tendency that allows individuals to connect with others, share ideas, and express themselves. In a Montessori classroom, children are encouraged to develop their communication skills through various activities and experiences.

Language Development

One of the most significant aspects of communication is language development. The Montessori pedagogy recognizes that children have an innate ability to learn language and provides a rich environment to support this development. People all over the world transmit information, signals, and messages through gestures, speaking, and writing. In a Montessori classroom, children are exposed to a variety of languages through songs, stories, and conversations. They are encouraged to use language to express their needs, thoughts, and feelings.

Montessori teachers also provide language materials that help children learn to read and write. These materials are designed to be self-correcting, allowing children to learn at their own pace. As children progress, they are given more complex materials to challenge their skills.

Imagination (Abstraction)

Imagination is the ability to create mental images and concepts that do not exist in the physical world. The development of imagination is essential as it enables children to think abstractly and creatively. This tendency develops in the elementary years when children move from concrete to abstract thinking. 

Conceptual Thinking

Imagination plays a vital role in conceptual thinking, which is the ability to understand abstract concepts and ideas. In Montessori settings, children are encouraged to use their imaginations to explore and understand concepts such as time, space, and number. For example, children may use their imaginations to visualize the passage of time, such as imagining a clock ticking or the sun moving across the sky.

Through the use of materials and activities that stimulate the imagination, children develop the ability to think abstractly and make connections between different concepts. For instance, they may use their imaginations to visualize the relationship between numbers and quantities or to understand the concept of cause and effect.

The development of imagination is crucial in Montessori education as it helps children to think creatively and abstractly. By providing children with opportunities to explore and use their imaginations, Montessori educators help children develop the skills they need to become independent, creative thinkers who can solve problems and make connections between different ideas.

Exactness

Maria Montessori noticed that human beings have a natural inclination towards exactness. This tendency is evident in the way children are drawn to order and precision in their environment. The Montessori approach to education encourages the development of this tendency by providing children with opportunities to refine their skills of observation, analysis, and synthesis. Although a tendency towards exactness may not be evident in all areas of one’s life, it typically manifests in areas where exactness is crucial and in those of personal importance.

Precision

One way in which the Montessori approach promotes exactness is by emphasizing precision in all aspects of learning. Children are encouraged to pay close attention to detail and to strive for accuracy in their work. This is achieved through a variety of activities that require careful observation, measurement, and comparison.

For example, in the Montessori classroom, children may work with materials such as the Pink Tower or the Brown Stair, which require them to match blocks of varying sizes and shapes with precision. This helps to develop their spatial awareness and fine motor skills, as well as their ability to distinguish between subtle differences in size and shape. 

As children enter into the elementary years, their inclination towards exactness takes on a different flavor. For example, students learning long multiplication might come up with a challenging multiplication problem and use the Montessori Checkerboard as a tool to solve it. The Checkerboard allows them to manipulate beads that represent numbers, and understand the multiplication process in depth. After completing the problem, these students typically demonstrate their pursuit of exactness by verifying their answers with a calculator. 

This step not only confirms the accuracy of their work but also reinforces their understanding of the mathematical concepts involved. In cases where the calculator shows that their initial answer is incorrect, students are motivated to revisit and scrutinize their work. This might involve retracing their steps on the checkerboard, identifying where they might have gone wrong, and attempting to solve the problem again.

The process of self-correction and persistence is a fundamental aspect of the Montessori approach. It not only nurtures a student’s attention to detail and accuracy but also instills a deeper understanding of concepts. Additionally, it fosters important life skills such as resilience, problem-solving, and the ability to learn from mistakes. By engaging in this iterative process of checking, identifying errors, and retrying, Montessori students develop a more profound appreciation for the value of accuracy and precision, especially in areas that are complex and challenging.

Attention to Detail

Another way in which the Montessori approach fosters exactness is by promoting an attitude of careful attention to detail. Children are encouraged to approach their work with a sense of curiosity and inquiry and to take the time to observe and analyze the world around them.

For instance, children may be invited to observe and describe the characteristics of different plants or animals. They are encouraged to look at every small detail of the living specimen, often creating illustrations with labels, or writing stories or reports. They may also be encouraged to explore patterns and relationships in numbers, shapes, and colors. Using the Color Tablets, children distinguish shades of blue, from lightest to darkest, noticing the subtlety in detail from one shade to another. Through these activities, children learn to appreciate the beauty and complexity of the world around them and develop a sense of wonder and awe for the natural world.

The Montessori approach recognizes the importance of exactness in human development and seeks to foster this tendency through a variety of activities and experiences. By emphasizing precision and attention to detail, Montessori education helps children develop the skills and attitudes needed to succeed in a complex and ever-changing world.

Self-Mastery

Montessori education is based on the belief that every child has an innate desire to learn and develop. One of the most important human tendencies that Montessori educators focus on is self-mastery. This tendency drives individuals to continually strive for self-improvement and growth.

Self-Assessment

Self-assessment is a critical component of self-mastery. Montessori educators encourage children to reflect on their abilities and weaknesses and to set goals for themselves. By engaging in self-assessment, children develop self-awareness and self-confidence. They learn to recognize their strengths and weaknesses and to take responsibility for their own learning.

Montessori educators use a variety of tools to encourage self-assessment, including self-reflection journals, peer evaluations, and self-checklists. These tools help children to identify areas where they need to improve and to set achievable goals for themselves.

Self-Improvement

Once children have identified areas where they need to improve, Montessori educators help them develop strategies to achieve their goals. Self-improvement is a process that requires effort and dedication. Montessori educators teach children to break down their goals into smaller, achievable steps and to monitor their progress along the way.

Montessori education emphasizes the importance of intrinsic motivation. Children are encouraged to take ownership of their learning and to find joy in the process of self-improvement. By developing a growth mindset, children learn to embrace challenges and view mistakes as opportunities for learning.

Self-mastery is a critical human tendency that Montessori educators focus on. By encouraging self-assessment and self-improvement, Montessori education helps children to develop self-awareness, self-confidence, and a growth mindset.

Final Thoughts

Montessori education, with its focus on the child’s natural development and innate desire to learn, is grounded in a deep understanding of the Human Tendencies identified by Maria Montessori. These tendencies are attributes that can be observed in children from diverse cultures and historical backgrounds. They are witnessed not only in the childhood years; they are observable aspects of the adult human experience as well, shaping our behaviors from childhood through adulthood.

Montessori’s approach to education leverages human tendencies to create an enriching learning environment where children can thrive. By recognizing and nurturing these qualities, Montessori educators provide opportunities for children to explore their interests, develop essential life skills, and cultivate their potential. 

From understanding the concept of time and place to engaging in purposeful activity and sensory exploration, each aspect of the Montessori curriculum is thoughtfully designed to align with the Human Tendencies. This alignment ensures that children are not just learning academic skills, but are also developing holistically, growing into well-rounded individuals with a lifelong love for learning and an intrinsic motivation to pursue self-mastery. Montessori education stands as a testament to the power of respecting and supporting the natural developmental trajectory of children, guiding them gently toward a path of self-discovery and personal excellence.