4 Pack Colorful Wooden Baby Rattle Educational Grasping Rattle Handbell Montessori Toy

Yous've probably heard the term "Montessori" tossed around in connection with preschool or kindergarten, so if you lot have a babe or toddler, you lot might take dismissed it as something to look into down the line. Just the truth is, the Montessori method isn't simply an arroyo to academic learning—it can help guide baby's development right from the kickoff. "The method actually starts at birth and continues through simple school and on into adolescence," says Kathryn Holm, MEd, a 0-3 Montessori educator based in Los Angeles. An easy mode to start applying the Montessori method at home with your little one? Past stocking your child'southward playroom with age-advisable Montessori toys.

In this article
What is the Montessori Method?
What are Montessori toys?
Montessori toys for babies
Punch and drop toy
Montessori toys for toddlers

What Is the Montessori Method?

Developed by Maria Montessori, Dr., in 1897, the Montessori Method is a child-centered approach to education and development that embraces hands-on, multi-sensory activities that kids can appoint in at their ain pace.

Based on Montessori's observations of how children naturally learn, the method encourages parents and teachers to create a space full of developmentally advisable toys and games, and then allow kids choose for themselves which ones they desire to play with. "Learning is internally driven," says Angeline Lillard, PhD, a professor of psychology at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville and best-selling author of Montessori: The Scientific discipline Behind the Genius. "To practice the Montessori method, we only need to provide the proper environments without obstacles." That ways items in a Montessori-style room should be inside your little one'due south reach, placed on low, open shelves. Your role? To observe and gently guide your kid as he learns, without directing his play. "The goal is to lovingly usher children toward independence," Holm explains.

The Montessori method too emphasizes learning through all of the senses, not just by listening and observing—so touching, tasting, smelling and generally being out in nature are considered just as important equally hearing Mom or Dad read a story. And the payoffs can exist large: According to a 2017 written report, preschoolers who were enrolled in Montessori programs had better academic achievement, social understanding and exectuve function skills (like paying attention and managing fourth dimension) than those who weren't. They also just enjoyed learning more than not-Montessori kids.

What Are Montessori Toys?

The playroom is the perfect place to introduce your child to the Montessori method. But when stocking the shelves, how practise you know what qualifies as a Montessori toy? Here'southward what to look for:

• Natural materials. Toys made of wood, wool, cotton fiber, metal, ceramic and fifty-fifty stone are Montessori staples, since they connect children to nature and are generally safer to oral cavity. Plus, "different textures, temperatures and weights help children refine their senses and give them more to learn about when holding a toy," Holm says.

• No bells and whistles. Montessori toys are designed to encourage kids to explore and find independently. Then instead of going for tricked out toys that motility and make sounds on their own, opt for passive toys that crave your child to physically manipulate them and incorporate them into their pretend play.

• Realistic playthings. Montessori toys tend to be lifelike and rooted in reality, providing a slap-up learning opportunity about the world around the states. "Infants and immature children don't take a framework for what's real and what'southward imitation," Holm explains. "To them, a unicorn is but as likely to exist as a rhinoceros, because how would they know any unlike? It's very confusing for them when we teach them about something and and then says information technology's non real." Choosing betwixt a blimp dragon or elephant? Go with the fauna that you and your child can later see and larn about in the zoo.

• I-task learning toys. Look for teaching toys that hone one skill at a time. Montessori toys should likewise accept what'southward called a built-in "command of fault," meaning kids will know if they've completed the job correctly.

• Toys with a purpose. Montessori toys tin too be child-size items that allow kids to independently engage in job-similar activities, like raking leaves. "Purpose draws a kid in," Holm says. 'It makes him or her feel like a competent and important part of their earth."

With so many adorable Montessori toys now on the market place, it tin be tempting to cram your child'south nursery with a slew of playthings. Don't. Or at least, don't have them out all at one time. "Part of the Montessori method is to but give children a few choices at a time, every bit non to overwhelm their immature minds," Lillard says. When faced with a looming pile of toys to cull from, it tin can be hard for kids to hone their concentration skills and ability to encounter an activeness through to the end.

Montessori Toys for Babies

Babies grow and develop at an astounding stride, so brand certain the toys you offering are right for your child's age and stage. "Continue to rotate age-appropriate toys," Holm says. "This will help your child achieve what he or she is trying to learn." Here, some of our favorite Montessori toys for babies.

Paradigm: Courtesy Program Toys

Rattling roller

Many of the standard classics make for perfect Montessori toys. Instance in signal: This PlanToys wooden rolling rattle. It's colors, sounds and motion encourage gross motor movement in babies who are itching to crawl. Keeping with the Montessori style of learning, make certain you offering this rattle when baby's developmentally gear up—non-crawlers would get discouraged if their rattle were to roll away!

Buy it: PlanToys Roller, 6 months+, $15, Amazon.com

Paradigm: Courtesy Pottery Befouled Kids

Airplane mobile

This mobile isn't only super-stylish, but it hits all the right Montessori notes. Dissimilar wind-upwardly, bombardment-operated mobiles, this one, made of wood fibers, moves with the air. When infant feels a modest draft and then sees the mobile motion, he's learning crusade and effect—and information technology's extremely captivating. Another plus: It features just v airplanes. "When in that location's more than than that, information technology becomes difficult for your infant to focus on ane object," Holm says.

Buy it: Plane Mobile, 0 months+, $sixty, PotteryBarnKids.com

Image: Courtesy Target

Classic Skwish toy

Who said Montessori wooden toys can't be brilliant and colorful? With its sparse, smooth, lightweight wooden dowels and elastic cords, the Skwish is pretty much the perfect clutch toy for infant's budding motor skills. Little ones love to smoosh the toy downwardly and watch it pop up, slide the beads back and forth, and listen to the toy's gentle rattling audio. Information technology'south made of sustainable wood and sports a nontoxic, h2o-based finish, making it condom for baby to mouth.

Buy it: Manhattan Toy Clasisic Skwish, 0 months+, $10, Target.com

Image: Courtesy Ikea

Baby gym

Baby gyms are frequently also much: Too loud, too busy, too vivid. But this wooden i from Ikea is just right. Information technology excites baby'south senses and stimulates hand-heart coordination without overwhelming. Little ones love the feel of the wooden toys and the sound they make when cacophonous together. Plus, you can slide one hanging toy in at a fourth dimension and rotate information technology daily—very Montessori.

Purchase it: Leka baby gym, 0-18 months, $30, Ikea.com

Image: Courtesy Beginning Montessory

Bell rattle

This simple rattle is a smashing first foray into music-making toys. "For small babies, you want a rattle that'due south sparse, encouraging an intentional whole hand grasp," Holm says. You also desire 1 that's lightweight and fits perfectly in teeny hands, and so your baby tin make some music all by herself. Each time your child elicits a soft jingle from the rattle, she learns about cause and issue. Bonus: The woods and metal are spot-on Montessori materials.

Buy information technology: Bell Rattle, 0-ii months, $eight, Beginningmontessori.com

Image: Courtesy ToySmith

Baby teether ball

Okay, so this babe teether isn't exactly made from natural materials, merely it'southward still a dandy Montessori toy. Why? The soft nubs are piece of cake for baby to grasp and oral cavity; it won't roll away and frustrate young babies; it squeaks when squeezed, showing cause and issue; and finally, it's just ane color. "This helps for linguistic communication development," Holm says. "For instance, you tin can say to your baby 'I accept the red ball. You're property the green ball.'" And don't worry, this teether ball is phthalate-free and doesn't accept that icky plastic smell—in fact, information technology has a light vanilla scent that's pretty yummy.

Buy information technology: Wee Play Teether Ball, 6months+, $7, Amazon.com

Epitome: Courtesy Plan Toys

Punch and drop toy

For really little ones, only take the hammer away and let infant explore with his easily. "Pushing the ball though the holes is nifty for strengthening baby'southward hands. This activeness fosters hand-eye coordination besides," Holm says. In one case baby is about a yr old, experience gratis to hand the hammer back over. Bonus: This toy is fabricated of recycled wood.

Buy it: PlanToys Dial And Driblet, 1-8 years, $xxx, Amazon.com

Image: Courtesy Magic Cabin

Play silks

Infants love to explore (and mouth) the soft, polish texture of silk. You can hang these from a play gym for baby to visually rails and reach for, use them in a rousing game of peekaboo or add them to a small basket of various fabrics for your inquisitive child to dump and explore.

Buy it: 7-Slice Play Silks Ready, all ages, $70, MagicCabin.com

Image: Courtesy Pink Montessori

Object permanence toy with tray

This is one of the near classic Montessori toys. It'south designed to encourage infant's motor skills and hand-eye coordination, and is a super-fun way to learn about cause and effect. The brawl disappears…and there it is again!

Purchase it: Object Permanence with Tray, 8 months+, $xix, PinkMontessori.com

Montessori Toys for Toddlers

Looking for keen Montessori toys for your toddler? Recollect to e'er offer developmentally appropriate playthings: A one-year-old toddler needs very different stimulation from her toys than a 3-twelvemonth-old toddler. Here, a roundup of some of the best Montessori toys for a range of toddler ages.

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Toddler-size cleaning toys

Toddlers love to assist around the house, and this prepare of child-size tidying supplies hits the spot. "If you lot give your toddler tools that are the correct size, it makes many tasks that are otherwise too hard to consummate possible," Holm says, giving him a sense of independence and responsibility.

Buy it: Melissa & Doug Let'south Play Firm! Dust, Sweep & Mop, 3 years+, $27, Target.com

Image: Courtesy Hape

Wooden shapes puzzle

Puzzles can be tricky for toddlers—that is, if you introduce a hard one too soon. This wooden game, however, is sure to set the path for a lifelong love of brain-teasers. It features but iv different shapes and colors, and each piece is easy to grasp. Use this to teach motor skills, shape and colour identification and early on counting.

Buy it: Hape First Shapes Wooden Puzzle, one-2 years, $10, ForSmallHands.com

Epitome: Courtesy Lehman's

Wooden stacking rings

This colorful classic is among people'due south favorite Montessori toys for toddlers. It helps young ones work on their fine motor skills and cause and effect know-how as they place the rings on the post and bat the wobbly base. Plus, it introduces your kid to the concept of relative size as she sorts and stacks from large to little.

Buy it: Classic Wooden Stacking Rings, 18 months - five years, $20, Lehmans.com

Image: Courtesy Cabelas

Barn playset with animals

While these plastic figurines may seem far from ideal Montessori toys, they're actually in keeping with the Montessori preference for giving children lifelike playthings to spark learning opportunities. "With a realistic-looking equus caballus, yous can name all of the body parts, pointing out little details like their hoofs, eyes and ears," Holm says. "If you had a wooden horse with soft lines and lilliputian detail, yous'd be limited."

Buy information technology: Schleich Large Red Barn Playset with Animals, three years+, $100, Cabelas.com

Paradigm: Courtesy Guidecraft

Mirror blocks set

Wooden edifice blocks are a playroom staple, and for good reason: They're perfect for open up-ended play; they bolster imagination and fine-motor development; and they teach cause and consequence. Some might even say wooden blocks are the ultimate Montessori toys. These take traditional blocks to the next level past offering an boosted sensory high signal: Mirrors!

Buy it: ten-Piece Guidecraft Mirror Blocks Set, 2 years+, $35, Walmart.com

Image: Courtesy Land of Nod

Pint-size table and chairs set

When it comes to the Montessori method, a kid's piece of furniture is every bit important as her toys. An easy-to-access table and chair prepare—that's not cluttered with blueprint elements, like the alphabet or chalkboards—will requite your toddler space to experiment and boost her sense of independence. Plus, parents volition love that this scaled-down table, featuring solid birch woods legs, is anything but an eyesore.

Purchase it: Pint Sized Table and Chairs Prepare, 1-three years, $198, LandOfNod.com

Image: Courtesy Little Tikes

Sink and stove set

When it's not safe (or practical) to let your toddler play in your kitchen sink, this Splish Splash Sink and Stove from Little Tikes is a great stand-in. Why? Because the faucet actually works! With the push of the pump, your picayune one can release a flow of water and practice scrubbing veggies and washing his own plate.

Buy it: Little Tikes Splish Splash Sink & Stove, 3 years+, $32, Amazon.com

Image: Courtesy Primo

Cubetto Playset

Think low-tech Montessori toys don't support Stem learning? Pish posh. Cubetto is a screen-free way to teach older toddlers the basics of computer programming. And yeah, it falls under the Montessori umbrella: Information technology's hands-on, child-centered and autodidactic, significant kids teach themselves. Heck, information technology's fifty-fifty fabricated of wood! Considering Cubetto is costless of bright colors and loud noises, children are able to focus on the (super-fun) task at hand: Programing a smiley wooden robot to move. (Non sold? The toy was actually researched in Montessori schools.)

Buy it: Cubetto Playset, 3 years+, $225, PrimoToys.com

Published January 2018

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