The Logic (or Dialectic) stage is roughly ages 10-14 or even 15. The beginning of this range coincides with “The Nine Year Old Change”. It’s a shift in consciousness that marks the end of early childhood and the beginning of a new developmental phase. If you’d like to read more in depth about this, there are some links at the bottom of this post. While much of what is written is from a Waldorf environment, it’s worth noting that mainstream educational research shows that by third grade (around age 8-9), students have identified profiles for their classmates. They have decided who is “the smart one” or “the funny one” or “the artist”. It is clear that they have made some connections between abstract things such as behavior or clothing choices to define their classmates in more definitive terms.
But the world is confusing for them now. They may take a very hard position on things as their way of finding a rock to cling to in the storm. They are caught between the silliness of early childhood and the seriousness of young adulthood. They’re figuring out what behaviors fit where–what behaviors need to stop, what do they need to learn and when do they use each of those.
Aren’t you exhausted just thinking about it?
At this stage, they learn how to gather and organize their thoughts and environments to lay a foundation for moving forward. Their capacity for abstract thought begins to mature and they’re ready to take on subjects like Algebra or Logic. Their mind shifts such that they are less interested in finding out facts than in asking “Why?” and analyzing the complex interrelationships of things around them. It is often a time of much arguing as children in this stage are trying to reconcile what they see in the world and try to make the pieces fit together with their existing level of knowledge. As parents, we don’t always see it quite that way–but if we could shift our perspective, we might have an easier time ushering our Logicians through this confusing stage of life.
At this age, it’s about UNDERSTANDING
It’s about taking a breath and helping them to take a breath to find the words to put the ideas together in appropriate and articulate ways. It’s sharing what’s in their minds without judgment and hearing their ideas–helping them develop their sense of self as they move forward into the world. These are new people forming before our eyes!