The Shift in Play in the Second Plane of Development - Age 6 to 12

There is a big shift in development that happens at approximately 6 years of age. 

Children are entering into what Dr. Montessori referred to as the "second plane of development."

Characteristics of the second plane are:

• a growing capacity for reasoning
• a strong interest in social relationships, social hierarchies, and morality  
• a better understanding of how the world works

Children in this plane are now less focused on sensory exploration and more motivated by imagination, collaboration and meaningful work. 

The first plane revolves around physical movement, while the second plane includes movement but it’s now more complex, focused, precise. 

By the second plane, children often have developed attention spans and can focus on tasks for longer periods of time, if interested.

This shift results in a need for a new type of play. 

Because they’re now interested in collaboration and have longer attention spans, their play shifts to "big work" or "project-based" play. 

They now want to do things like:

• LEGO sets with more pieces
• Build more elaborate forts outside (bigger and more complex)
• take time to plan and work on one project for days at a time with others

Children at this age will also show a strong interest in new ideas, and want to take more risks in executing their ideas.

Preparing for The Large Scale Projects

During this stage, it’s helpful to remember that some of your child's projects may take days or weeks to complete. 

Cleaning up an activity when you’re done working is now difficult because they’re not technically finished. 

I would recommend having a designated spot somewhere where they can keep their ongoing projects and return to them when inspired. This is a great age to get them a desk of their own.

You also don’t have to let these ongoing projects take over your house. You can set a limit for how long you'll keep a project up, i.e. a week or whatever you’re comfortable with. If they haven’t returned to it, you’re going to take it apart, put it away, etc. 

And if you absolutely have to take something apart that your child is still working on, I would suggest taking a photograph of it. You can also offer to help put it back together at a more appropriate time. 

Like I said, you don’t have to let these big projects take over, but if they’re important to your child. It's a good idea to try to figure out how you can allow them to continue working on it.

Items like these are great gifts for children in the second plane:

• Stanley Tool Set for Children
• Makedo is a collection of child-safe tools that can be used to build anything and everything out of recycled cardboard.
• Run The Runway Dressing Making Kit
• Art-Chitect - Learning drafting and architecture skills
• Create Your Own Comic Book
• Make Your Own Loom Animals