To meet the developmental needs of adolescents, we offer supportive and complete environments. Dr. Montessori envisioned opportunities for physical activity, collaboration, and self-expression to help adolescents develop into confident, resourceful, compassionate, and capable adults.
Adolescents need both freedom and well-balanced. While they typically push away from their parents, they still require boundaries, structure, and mentorship. They require schools that uphold and respect their families’ beliefs, expectations, and culture.
Understanding adolescence through the Montessori lens allows us to appreciate this period as one of profound transformation. By honoring the physical, emotional, social, and character development of adolescents, we provide them with the support they need and deserve to transition confidently into adulthood. With a holistic approach that integrates meaningful work, opportunities for self-expression, and guidance from highly specialized adults, these adolescents are empowered to become the capable, interdependent adults that society needs.
Wheaton Montessori School’s Adolescent Program (7th-9th grade) is a three-year cycle providing the ideal setting for students to expand their knowledge and experience real-world responsibilities while exploring their interests and pursuing their passions in an inclusive, supportive small environment. Completing the three-year cycle by staying through 9th grade means being fully prepared academically for high school curriculums. We are proud of our alumni’s high level of individual responsibility, community engagement, and academic success.
We can’t wait to watch your young people discover, grow, and thrive together! Read below for the full blog post or skip to the end for links for current families to visit.
Full Blog
This blog is the third of a four-part series exploring the stages of development: Infancy (birth to age 6), Childhood (ages 6 to 12), Adolescence (ages 12 to 18), and Maturity (ages 18 to 24) from a Montessori perspective. The Montessori approach takes a holistic view of growth, recognizing the unique needs of young people at each of these stages. This blog will cover the Adolescence stage of development and how the Wheaton Montessori School Adolescent Program’s learning environment, teaching style, and community support the natural development during this phase. By appreciating the key phases of adolescent development, you will gain a better understanding of how Wheaton Montessori School’s Adolescent Program supports your child's journey to maturity.
Adolescent Development
The age of twelve through the teenage years is one of significant physical, emotional, and social transformation. This period is characterized by the onset of puberty, hormonal changes, and dramatic physical shifts.
Adolescents, much like early childhood toddlers, experience rapid change, but this time it is in preparation for adulthood and the world. As a result of tremendous growth, adolescents require more sleep and are more susceptible to health issues (e.g. acne, depression, and eating disorders).
Adolescents rely immensely on peer relationships, and authentic applicable knowledge, and are seeking skills to contribute in meaningful ways. Adolescents are no longer passive observers of society; instead, they strive to become active participants and contributors. Like the child under 6 years of age, adolescents learn best through hands-on experiences and they benefit from opportunities to meaningfully contribute to society, both their class community and beyond.
Adolescents as Social Newborns
Dr. Montessori often referred to early adolescence as the "newborn to adulthood”, highlighting the vulnerability and transformation that adolescents undergo. This period of rapid physical and emotional development mirrors the developmental intensity of the first years of life. Adolescents are not just growing in terms of physical stature but also in terms of emotional and social maturity.
Much like a newborn, adolescents are learning how to navigate the complexities of the world around them. They are developing a sense of self and finding their place in society. Our adolescent program is designed to help them build this self-confidence and self-worth while guiding them through the emotional turbulence that often accompanies this stage.
Holistic Development: Physical, Emotional, and Social Growth
Montessori's approach to adolescence is deeply holistic. At Wheaton Montessori School, we emphasize the importance of addressing the adolescent's physical, emotional, and social needs, recognizing that these areas are interconnected and cannot be separated in the developmental process.
Physical Development
Adolescents undergo significant physical changes during this time, including hormonal fluctuations and rapid growth. Brain development continues with an oversupply of gray matter and pruning of neural pathways, which influences behavior and learning capacity.
Key physical needs include:
- Engaging in physical activity and hands-on work
- Maintaining a healthy diet
- Ensuring adequate sleep
Emotional and Psychological Development
Adolescents experience strong emotional swings and are highly self-conscious. They are extremely self-conscious and have heightened worry about peers’ perceptions of appearances, voices, thoughts, and actions. Balancing these emotions and navigating their evolving sense of self can be challenging.
Emotional needs include:
- Opportunities to build confidence and independence
- Safe yet challenging environments
- Acceptance during self-expression and identity formation
Social Development
Social connections become increasingly important during adolescence. Adolescents seek peer approval and loyalty and often engage in risk-taking behaviors as they establish their place within their social circles. They learn best through collaboration and social interaction. We must provide ways for adolescents to be independent while also providing structures to support their psychological safety and personal responsibilities.
Social needs include:
- Opportunities for collaboration with peers
- Mentorship with specialized adults
- Meaningful and relevant social engagement
- Balanced freedoms with responsibilities
Character and Intellectual Development
Dr. Montessori emphasized the adolescent’s sensitivity to issues of justice and personal dignity. This stage is a critical time for developing a strong sense of fairness and the desire to contribute meaningfully to society. Adolescents begin to understand the value of their contributions to the world around them.
Though their intellectual development might seem overshadowed by emotional upheavals, it remains essential. As their brains undergo significant rewiring and neural pruning, adolescents benefit from intellectual opportunities and challenges, as well as strong moral foundations.
The Role of Work and Contribution
Just as it was in earlier planes of development, work remains a vital aspect of adolescence. Adolescents have a strong desire to contribute to society and have their efforts recognized. Through work and activity, adolescents bolster their self-esteem and gain a sense of accomplishment.
Wheaton Montessori School honors Dr. Montessori's focus on land-based work and community, which provide ways for adolescents to engage in meaningful activities. This method encourages physical well-being, fosters social development, and prepares them for economic independence. Through hands-on work, adolescents not only contribute to their immediate communities but also develop a sense of responsibility and understanding of the value of work.
Supporting Adolescents Through Their Development
To meet the developmental needs of adolescents, we offer supportive and complete environments. Dr. Montessori envisioned opportunities for physical activity, collaboration, and self-expression to help adolescents develop into confident, resourceful, compassionate, and capable adults.
Adolescents need both freedom and well-balanced. While they typically push away from their parents, they still require boundaries, structure, and mentorship. They require schools that uphold and respect their families’ beliefs, expectations, and culture.
Understanding adolescence through the Montessori lens allows us to appreciate this period as one of profound transformation. By honoring the physical, emotional, social, and character development of adolescents, we provide them with the support they need and deserve to transition confidently into adulthood. With a holistic approach that integrates meaningful work, opportunities for self-expression, and guidance from highly specialized adults, these adolescents are empowered to become the capable, interdependent adults that society needs.
Wheaton Montessori School’s Adolescent Program (7th-9th grade) is a three-year cycle providing the ideal setting for students to expand their knowledge and experience real-world responsibilities while exploring their interests and pursuing their passions in an inclusive, supportive small environment. Completing the three-year cycle by staying through 9th grade means being fully prepared academically for high school curriculums. We are proud of our alumni’s high level of individual responsibility, community engagement, and academic success.
We can’t wait to watch your young people discover, grow, and thrive together! Current families are invited to schedule an Adolescent Community Classroom Observation by clicking on the link below.
Adolescent Community Classroom Observation
Prospective families with toddlers and children under 4 are encouraged to sign up for a school tour to explore the advantages of our Primary Program, which lays the essential foundation for our Elementary and Adolescent Community Programs.
Our waitlist for kindergarten-9th grade for Fall 2025 is currently closed. Please check back in April to see if the waitlist is open then. Individual tours will only be offered for kindergarten through 9th grade if the waitlist is open. New student transfers to our elementary and adolescent programs must be from a Montessori school.
