It can be overwhelming to start a Montessori approach with your child because there are no rules dictating what can be called Montessori.
The word is thrown around a lot, giving busy parents yet another thing to worry about: am I buying my kid the wrong toys?
Do I have to throw away the plastic talking dog that my toddler drags around everywhere?
Don’t worry, it’s not as overwhelming as it sounds.
Maria Montessori, an Italian educator, founded the method on the basis that children are naturally curious and can explore the world without being micromanaged, leading to them growing up into independent and creative adults.
Montessori education is so popular that Prince George attends a Montessori school!
One aspect of Montessori is toys- or, rather, lack thereof.
Montessori toys are meant to be simple, open-ended, and few. The reason is really quite simple. Have you ever watched a baby unwrap a present?
They show far more interest in wrapping paper or boxes. A baby can spend a long time playing with paper towel rolls and pots and pans, but tire of baby toys with all the bells and whistles.
This is because boxes and paper towel rolls are open-ended. A box can be a spaceship one minute and a bear cave the next. Open-ended is just one of the characteristics of Montessori toys.
What makes a toy Montessori?
Many people think all educational or wooden toys are Montessori, but this is not always true.
Montessori toys, in addition to being open-ended, are simple and practical. They encourage creativity, imagination, and play-based learning.
Children are curious and always ready to explore, and a toy with no clear purpose encourages them to find out what they can do with it.
If a child has a doll that says 47 phrases, they never have to use their imaginations to make the doll talk.
When the batteries run out, they may even consider the doll useless because she has lost her function. Montessori toys don’t have one purpose. They can be anything you want them to be!
Why should you buy Montessori toys?
When you buy good quality toys that grow with the child, they can last forever.
How many times have you bought a plastic toy only for it to break hours later, or swept under the couch and found 16 small plastic toys you haven’t seen in months?
While it’s tempting to shower your child with all the toys you can buy, this isn’t recommended by Montessorians.
Don’t worry, the plastic flashing trucks can coexist with the simple wooden toys.
Montessori Toys
Black and white picture books: Montessori learning can start from when your child is a newborn baby.
These high-contract books are easier for babies to see. From birth, you can help your baby improve concentration and develop a love of books. Purchase here and here
Balls: Soft squishy balls like this or this can be grasped by small baby hands and help develop hand-eye coordination. For bigger babies, textured balls like these can provide fun sensory play and encourage movement as your baby tries to roll or crawl toward the ball.
Climbing frame: Toddlers love climbing, and climbing frames like this or this come with ramps and arches that enhance the fun. Allowing children to do “dangerous” things like climbing on their own is a big part of Montessori play.
Mirrors: This is something you probably already have in your house. Your baby can watch themselves during tummy time. Over time, looking in a mirror will give them a sense of self, and show them what they can do. Just make sure the mirror is secured to the wall!
Musical instruments: In addition to introducing your baby to music, instruments like these and these improve motor skills and speed up brain development
Stackers: Stackers come in so many variations including this, this and this. Stacking rings develop your child’s cognitive skills and certain varieties can help teach colours and numbers.
Puzzles: Puzzles are budget-friendly and available almost anywhere, and they’re great for problem-solving and motor skills.
“Real life” toys: Play kitchens, gardening tools, dolls, and other “real life” toys are a huge part of Montessori learning. They can shadow you while you cook, garden or care for a baby sibling. Your child will feel responsible and included. As a bonus, caring for a doll can teach them social-emotional skills while also teaching them practical skills like putting on clothes and shoes.