The Montessori style of play and learning is becoming more popular with modern parenting, but what exactly does Montessori mean? Here is your quick guide as to how you can incorporate the Montessori style into your child's play.
What is Montessori?
Montessori is a scientifically based educational approach that focuses on independence, exploring, and respect for a child's natural curiosity and development It was founded by Italian physician and educator Maria Montessori.
What is a Montessori Toy?
A Montessori toy is designed to spark curiosity, creativity and encourage exploration. The toy should also allow the opportunity for the child to explore independently, and at their own pace.
What are the main benefits of Montessori Toys?
Montessori toys provide children with learning while they play. The main benefit is that children learn and correct their mistakes on their own, without adult input. In this environment, children learn to explore things and do practical things to enhance their abilities. Montessori toys also encourage children to problem solve independently.
What does a Montessori playroom look like?
It's not just about the type of toys, it's also about how they are presented to your child.
Independence
Independence is one of the most important concepts in the Montessori style, which is why toys in the Montessori playroom should be open and within the child's reach. The Montessori method recommends using low toy shelves that allow the little ones to explore and choose the toys they want.
It's also important to teach the children from an early age that every toy has its place, and that pack up is necessary after play. You should encourage your child to return to toys back to the shelf.
Less is more
A Montessori playroom should be minimal, as too much options can be overwhelming for a child. Using a few selective pieces encourages creativity and imaginative play.
A great way to keep toys fresh, it to rotate them them weekly or monthly, replacing the pieces to keep the playroom fresh.
Our Favourite Montessori Style Toys
Stacker Toys
Wooden stacking toys help children practice and develop their hand-eye co-ordination and fine motor skills and they'll have hours of fun learning how to take them apart and put them back together.
SHOP The Pewter Stack HERE
Puzzles
Puzzle play is so much more than fun and games! Research shows it develops spatial skills, facilitates hand-eye coordination, increases creativity, enhances problem solving skills, accelerates fine motor development, boosts confidence and self-esteem and advances social skills.
Start simple with few pieces, then increase the size as your little one grows.
SHOP Q Toys Basic Puzzle HERE
Abacus
An abacus is great for teaching numbers, counting, basic addition and subtraction. It’s also great for improving your child’s pincer grasp.
SHOP Wooden Abacus HERE
Wood Shape Sorter
Shape sorter toys introduce geometric concepts and build an understanding of finding and matching similar shapes. Fitting the shapes into the slots increases fine motor dexterity.
