Montessori Childrens House
of the west coast

Montessori 101:  Tendencies

Posted on Tuesday, October 07, 2008

In understanding Montessori’s vision of the child and the learning process, we must understand the concept of Human Tendencies.  Tendencies are natural impulses arising from the sub-conscious which direct humans without reason or conscious thought to perform certain actions. Tendencies exist in all humans from birth through maturity; they are always with us.  These actions help humans to assimilate and adapt to their culture; to our time, place and group.  Tendencies are nature’s way of helping each individual as well as our species survive and self-perpetuate.  Human Tendencies include: self-preservation, gregariousness, communication, exploration, order, co-ordination of movement, curiosity, perfection and independence.  Tendencies are universal through all cultures and throughout all time and history, and are expressed differently at different stages of our lives.  A child’s tendency for gregariousness directs him to seek out other children and as well as adults so that they learn to be in community.  Adults are gregarious for other more complex reasons.

In the Montessori framework there are three important faculties that support the learning process:  Tendencies, the Absorbent Mind and the Sensitive Periods.

The Absorbent Mind effortlessly imprints information coming from the environment into the brain.  The Absorbent mind gives the brain, through the senses, data from which to work.  The child later directs this data to the outside world through activity; perfecting and refining the information creating an even broader and more refined cognitive road map from which to be in the world.

The Sensitive Periods by focusing on certain aspects of the environment highlight important areas of development giving the child ever increasing skills.

The Tendencies direct.  They are the basic force of energy behind the Absorbent Mind and the Sensitive Periods.

The child passes through several Sensitive Periods from birth to six during which he learns skills which allow him to fulfill his tendencies.  If during these Sensitive Periods this vital urge is repressed or warped, the child will carry this lack with him through his entire life.  This is why as Montessori guides we assist the child through purposeful activity to satisfy the Tendencies and begin a path of understanding regarding their purpose in life.