What Is The Montessori Method?
The Montessori Method was developed by Maria Montessori, MD, in 1897. It’s a child-centered approach to education and development that embraces hands-on, multi-sensory activities that kids can engage in at their own pace.
What Are Montessori Toys?
Montessori is becoming more and more popular and many families are choosing to adopt the lifestyle with their children but, if you don’t know much about Montessori, it can be difficult to know if you are choosing best Montessori toys for 2-3 year olds.
How do you know what qualifies as a Montessori toy?
Montessori educational toys for toddlers are:
Toys that are made from natural materials wherever possible
Wood is most common.
Focused on teaching one thing
Materials should be aimed at a specific milestone (ex: fine motor development, language development, etc)
Practical life tasks are one of the cornerstones of Montessori education
Think chopping, sweeping, etc.
No Bells and Whistles
Choose passive toys that require kids to manipulate them.
Realistic
Montessori toys tend to be lifelike, providing an opportunity to learn about the world around them
There is much more to Montessori, but sticking to these basic guidelines should mean you are able to find a gift that suits their home.
Wooden Rainbow Blocks Set
Young toddlers, in particular, will love this colorful, wooden rainbow stacking toy that can be used in many different ways to create shapes and patterns.
It’s really great for young toddlers to help them learn all about colors and pattern recognition when trying to rebuild the rainbow, as well as refining hand-eye coordination
Early Learning Basic Life Skills
Dressing boards are great for teaching toddlers practical life skills like using zippers and buttons or even tying laces.
Wavy River Stepping Stones
It’s best to try and avoid plastic when buying Montessori materials but these wavy river stones are a great tool for any toddlers showing a particular interest in gross motor development.
They are durable enough to use outside and non-slip. These wavy river stepping stones are also great for teaching balance and coordination skills.
This version is actually a much more affordable version of these much-loved materials in Montessori families.
Child Standing Tower
Ok, so this is not technically a “toy” but I just had to include it on the list!
If you’re looking for a gift for a friend or loved one who practices Montessori at home with their toddler, a standing tower is an absolute must-have item!
Thie method is all about teaching children independence, and this commonly used item in Montessori homes allows them the freedom to reach things and help parents in the kitchen. If they don’t already have one, this gift will be one of the best gifts you could give.
Wooden Cylinder Socket Building Blocks Set
This wooden cylinder set teaches all about different sizes and how to recognize similarities in materials. There is also a colored version but the plain wooden set is slightly more in line with the Montessori principle of focusing on having activities teach one isolated skill at a time.
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Let’s Play House! Dust! Sweep! Mop! Pretend Play Set
This child-sized cleaning set is a perfect example of practical life activities kids learn with this method. It’s essential in any Montessori home to have cleaning equipment that toddlers can collect and use themselves.
Young children love helping clean up their messes, and a simple task like washing a chair can occupy them for a very long time! A child cleaning up their own mess – what better Montessori toys for 2 year olds can you find?
