In Honor of Independent Toddlers Everywhere, Here are 10 of Amazon’s Best Montessori Toys
Our family has a real toddler now — an independent, sassy two-year-old who makes her opinions known and likes to cut deals with us. Also never did I imagine that #toddlerlife would basically be just a full-on wrestling match. To all my toddler parents, you know how simultaneously hilarious and HARD this all is.
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
To support her willful sense of self, we have moved toward certain Montessori-method inspired toys and tools around our house. Montessori is all about children leading, adults following; they take some risks, make choices and also mistakes, and begin to build confidence. Some Montessori professionals argue there are not really ‘Montessori toys,’ and I basically agree with that. Much of what’s in this list aren’t actually toys. But outside of a classroom, there are certain tools, materials, and even some “toys” that support our toddler’s budding independence and good questions. Here are the best Montessori-inspired toys (and tools) that we have found.
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Table of Contents
1) Learning Tower
Little Partner’s Kids Learning Tower: learning towers are the perfect Montessori tool to bring toddlers up to counter height so that they can “help” in the kitchen. This is great for dinner prep, family baking, or even washing hands at the kitchen sink.
Love that the Littler Partner’s option comes in the ‘natural’ wood tone, my personal favorite. And although it is on the pricier end, the reviews support its safety and durability.
Of course, the disclaimer is that kids cannot be left unattended, and toddlers should probably exhibit a certain amount of independence (be able to stand on their own and tall enough to not sneak out through the side opening) before use. Equally important with any learning tower (or any product for that matter): read the reviews! On Amazon, I like to re-sort reviews so that ‘most recent’ populate before ‘most popular.’
2) Kids’ Chef Learning Knives
While we’re still in the kitchen, our second best Montessori “toy” (use that quite loosely here…) are these Kids’ Chef Learning Knives. These are perfect for little hands that want to help chop fruits and veggies but need something safer and learner-friendly. Again, don’t leave little unattended, and model how to use these before toddler goes solo.
3) Busy Board
Third on our list of Montessori-inspired toys and tools is a busy board, and we love this sturdy and sleek wooden option from DeMoca! Love (again) the natural wood option and solid reviews. This board is a great option in the car or for air travel, with latches, velcro, a zipper, a latch, and laces to practice tying. It encourages her fine motor skills and curiosity (‘what happens if I pull this or push this…?’). Highly recommend!
4) Pretend Play Cleaning Supplies
I have actually used the dustpan and brush from this Melissa & Doug Pretend Play Cleaning Set several times (lol). It works. But when cleaning up in the kitchen (or everywhere because #toddler), Penelope wants to help. And rather than tell her she really can’t, she can walk right over to her cleaning stand, grab her mop, and have at it.
5) Kids’ Art Easel
This was a Christmas gift this year, and it’s been such a huge hit: this art easel has a two magnetic sides, one chalkboard, one white-board, a paper roll up top, and lots of space on the tray table for supplied (cups included!). Putting it together was a bit of a dramatic event on Christmas Eve (instructions actually terrible), but overall, after reading a ton of reviews, this easel hasn’t disappointed. Penelope can be creative and make somewhat of a mess (contained) for hours on end.
6) Open, Simple Shelving
Our sixth item on our best Montessori-inspired toys/tools list is an open shelf for a tidy, simple display of toddler toys. This display offers a clean, uncluttered environment (i.e. not the average toy box) for toys and books to be on display. When P wants to play, it’s all about choice–what does she feel like doing or exploring or reading right now? Then, when she’s exhausted it, it goes back on the shelf. These shelves are also great for toy-rotation (bringing in items she maybe hasn’t seen in a while, and rotating out ones she’s choosing less often).
7) Balance Board
So this is actually on our ‘want’ list because Santa had other plans this year. Maybe it will be a birthday present. But I can’t wait to get P a balance board. Sometimes called a wobble board, these design-friendly, wooden boards offer open-ended options for low-risk free-play and imagination: do you stand on it? In it? Balance on its end? Make it a ramp? A bed for baby doll? Possibilities = endless.
8) Musical Instruments
Ear plugs probably necessary, but encouraging musical exploration and “sound making” (nice way of putting it) is really good for kids. Musical instruments like these allow littles to test out rhythm, pitch, and volume and their adorable dance moves.
9) Books
Can never go wrong with books. We leave many in the bed during “rest and read” time (our nap time…when naps became something to protest). Here’s some of what we’ve been reading this fall/winter:
- Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd (we make it a game of finding the mouse)
- Corduroy by Don Freeman
- Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry and Vashti Harrison
- Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. (great to make into a sing-songy event)
- Big Ideas for Little Philosophers: Equality with Simone De Beauvoir by Duane Armitage
- Waiting is Not Easy by Mo Willems
- Antiracist Baby by Ibram X. Kendi
- From Head to Toe by Eric Carle (we do this one standing up so we can act it out)
- First Numbers, Colors, Shapes (First 100) by Roger Priddy (sticker book is a huge hit)
10) Wooden Blocks
Blocks are so simple but have endless design possibilities and no right/wrong (other than perhaps the laws of gravity and physics). Cannot go wrong with a good set of trusty blocks.
So: this is our list of best Montessori-inspired toys on Amazon. But what’s missing here? Please add your comments below — y’all are really the experts when it comes to what works best in your household!
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