Montessori Learning Toys
Any activity or material is an opportunity to broaden the child’s horizons and gain new knowledge when it comes to the Montessori method of education.
From a specifically and systematically arranged Montessori Prepared Environment to a structured Montessori Curriculum for different planes of development into account, one can say that the Montessori Method of education definitely sets your child up for success.
While it can be quite unconventional to associate open-ended play with educational and academic development in children, the Montessori Method makes it possible.
By meticulously incorporating toys that align with the Montessori Principles, Montessori education promotes optimum holistic development in children.
Open-ended or imaginative play is a great way to promote the child to broaden their horizons and explore new concepts tangibly.
While there are no specific “Montessori Toys” denoted in the Montessori method of education, there are several toys in the market that align with the Montessori principles and promote autodidactic education even when the child is playing.
If you are a parent or an immediate caregiver, in search of Montessori toys that not only entertain and excite your child but also facilitate learning, look no further.
Here is all you need to know about Montessori Learning Toys to help you find the right ones for your younger ones.
Contents
What are Montessori Toys, Exactly?
Before jumping on to the list of the best Montessori Learning Toys, it is important to know what Montessori Toys exactly are.
Ideally, Montessori Toys are common and traditional toys that align with the Montessori Principles and Montessori Philosophy.
These toys that are meticulously integrated into the Montessori Prepared Environment often encourage the child to learn through experimenting.
Contrary to traditional toys that integrate complicated components, bright colors, flashy lights, and loud sounds, Montessori toys are minimalist in terms of appearance and are neither flashy nor noisy which might overwhelm or overstimulate the child.
Montessori toys should be accessible, easy to manipulate, maneuver, handle, touch, and child-friendly.
Montessori Toys should also facilitate the development of fine motor skills and gross motor skills as well sensory development in children from a young age.
What are the Characteristics of Montessori Learning Toys?
Montessori Learning Toys unlike traditional toys meant for children are aligned with the Montessori Philosophy and Montessori Principles to facilitate holistic education.
As there are no specific Montessori toys available in the market, it can be difficult for parents to determine the right toy for their child.
With intimate knowledge of the characteristics of Montessori Toys, you can easily distinguish a Montessori toy from common toys.
Here is a list of Characteristics of Montessori Learning Toys:
1. Simple and Sweet:
Flashy, noisy, colorful, and complex toys can overwhelm or overstimulate the child. The chief purpose of Montessori Toys is to provide the child with an appropriate amount of sensorial stimuli for sensory development in children.
These toys are developed to facilitate the child with organized information as well as help isolate sensory stimulation.
Any Montessori toy that you incorporate into your child’s curriculum should be made of solid colors, should not comprise too many moving components, and should not be too flashy or noisy.
2. Based on Reality:
According to Dr. Maria Montessori, The child has an absorbent mind and passes through several phases of Periods of Sensitivity.
During these initial six years, the child is unable to differentiate between fantasy and reality.
Toys based on reality allow children to comprehend practical life skills and come closer to the nature that surrounds the.
When choosing a Montessori Learning toy, parents should look for a toy that teaches the child about cause and effect.
3. Natural:
The Montessori Method of education prohibits the use of plastic and synthetic materials.
Hence, all Montessori toys should be made with paper, rubber, polished wood, metal, stainless steel, shatterproof glass, felt, or bamboo.
4. Functionality and Independence:
Montessori Learning toys must integrate concrete components that allow children to actively manipulate and maneuver the toys.
Ideally, Montessori Learning toys don’t have multiple components or complex extensions that might confuse or overstimulate the child.
Montessori toys should be easy to manipulate, hold and interact with as well as help with the development of the child’s decision-making skills, will, and independence.
The child should willingly pick up the toys and interact with the toys on their own terms.
What are the benefits of Montessori Wooden Toys?
Montessori Learning Toys are an exciting element of the unique world of Montessori.
But the question arises as to why these Toys are so important or why should you incorporate them into your child’s curriculum.
Each opportunity in the Montessori Environment turns into an opportunity to learn and develop.
In order to answer these questions and clear your doubts, it is best to take an account of the benefits that come with using Montessori Learning Toys:
1. Sensorial Development:
Unlike traditional toys that are made from hollowed-out plastic and have the same density overall, Montessori toys are solid figures that provide children with varied densities, sizes, and even textures.
Montessori Learning Toys are a great way of promoting sensory development in children, as they stimulate and engage all the senses.
2. Environment Friendly:
Contrary to Common toys that are manufactured from plastic or other synthetic materials, Montessori Toys are manufactured from naturally sourced materials.
The Montessori Method of Education promotes children to appreciate the earth, nature, and their natural surroundings with the help of these Montessori toys and materials.
In contrast to Plastic toys that usually end up in landfills, Montessori Toys are made from wood or naturally sourced materials that are easily broken down and recycled.
3. Based on Reality:
While having several multifunctioning components in a toy can be a pro, they often overstimulate and confuse the child.
Montessori Learning Toys are simple with very few moving components that isolate each concept and allow children to conceptualize different topics and help them comprehend the real purpose of the toy or object.
Montessori Toys are straightforward and often depict real-life functions to help develop a sense of reality in developing minds.
Montessori Learning Toys promote children to develop unique skills, such as practical life skills, STEM Skills, Language Skills, and much more.
4. Long-Lasting and Durable:
Montessori Learning Toys are manufactured with the idea of repetitive play and exploration, Montessori Wooden toys are more than just durable!
Manufactured from good quality wood, Montessori toys are able to withstand and endure years of play.
5. Child Friendly:
Montessori Toys are often coated or varnished with non-toxic paint that won’t harm the child’s health.
These Toys are made from child-friendly materials that won’t hurt the child when they play with the toys.
6. Promotes STEM Learning:
Montessori Learning toys are a great way of introducing STEM and STEAM concepts to children, especially from a very young age.
These toys isolate each complex and arbitrary concept and provide children with tangible repetitions to help acquaint them with STEM and STEAM subjects.
Learn about Montessori and STEM Education: https://mymontessorimoments.com/montessori-and-stem-education/
A list of the Best Montessori Learning Toys for children:
When finding toys that efficiently facilitate education wasn’t hard enough, finding toys that fully align with the Montessori philosophy is even more difficult.
There are myriads of Montessori Learning Toys in the market that not only spark the interest of your child but also facilitate learning of Math, Language, Practical Life, Cultural, and STEM skills as the child plays along.
To help you find the right Montessori Learning toys that cater to your child’s needs and requirements, here is a list of the best Montessori toys that will inspire your child to learn and develop:
1. Crystal Mining Kit:
What better way to keep your child engaged, interested, and entertained than by utilizing the beauty of luminescent crystals?
The Crystal mining kit is a great way to promote sensory development in children and allow them to learn about crystals through a hands-on activity.
The Crystal mining kit comes with eight different sets that can be excavated from soft plaster shells.
From ages 24 months to 10 years, the Crystal Mining kit covers a diverse age range and not only aligns with the Montessori philosophy but also promotes fine motor development in children.
2. Abacus:
Are you in search of a Montessori-aligned toy that promotes the development of math and fine motor skills in children?
If yes, then a basic Abacus may come to your aid. Meant for children from ages 12 months and up, an abacus is a great math toy that helps children solve basic math problems with the tips of their fingers.
Not only, basic arithmetics, but an abacus also allows children to comprehend and differentiate between different colors, shapes, or sizes, as well as promotes the development of visual discrimination and sorting skills.
3. Peg Board:
Pre Boards are great Montessori Math Toys for children between the ages of 3 to 4 years.
Peg Boards are another wonderful Montessori Learning toy that facilitates the development of both mathematics and fine motor skills in children.
Peg Boards are a great Montessori math toy that facilitates the enhancement of sorting skills, categorizing skills, hand-eye coordination, and visual discrimination in children.
Peg Boards come with oversized pegs that allow the tiny hands to easily manipulate and maneuver the toy.
4. Multiplication Board:
Montessori Multiplication boards are another wonderful Montessori Math toy that helps children comprehend the complex mathematical operation of multiplication through tangible and visual stimuli.
The Montessori Multiplication board comes with a board with numbers and blocks that have corresponding two numbers printed on the top sides that can be flipped to check the answer.
5. Phonetic Reading Blocks for Beginners:
Montessori Learning toys are not limited to developing math skills, The Phonetics reading blocks for toddlers is a great way to develop literary skills in children from a very young age.
Allow your child to understand, identify, and isolate each phonetic sound of the alphabet to embark on the journey to communicate effortlessly with the help of Montessori Phonetic reading blocks for toddlers.
This Montessori Reading toy comes with all 5 vowel blocks along with 30 consonant blocks to create about 80 phonetic combination words.
Allow the child to mix, match, and explore new word combinations with help of these wonderful Phonetic Reading Blocks and develop their reading skills as well as fine motor skills.
Want to learn how Montessori Teaches Reading? Check this out: https://mymontessorimoments.com/how-montessori-teaches-reading/
6. Scientific Explorer- My First Mind-Blowing Science kit:
The Scientific Explorer-My First Mind-Blowing Science Kit is perfect for parents who are looking for a Montessori-aligned hands-on learning toy that promotes STEM Learning.
This Montessori Learning toy comes with 20 pieces encompassing test tubes and measuring cups to experiment with non-toxic chemical reactions.
Children are promoted to use ingredients such as cornstarch, baking soda, and color tablets to conduct their very own experiments.
Are Montessori Learning Toys meant for your Child?
Any opportunity in a Montessori Environment is an opportunity to learn and develop in the Montessori environment.
While traditional toys are great for keeping the child engaged and entertained, Montessori Learning toys are a great way of promoting auto-didactic education through self-directed play.
Montessori Learning toys are a great way to facilitate holistic development in children by taking the needs and requirements of the periods of sensitivity into account.
Montessori Learning Toys provide children with age-appropriate stimuli which isolate each education concept and build the skills one at a time.