Every parent wants the best start to their toddler’s early years. But how do you ensure that?

Enter Montessori and wooden toys—the unsung heroes of children’s development. Designed to be timeless and environmentally friendly, Montessori toys are an excellent way to encourage learning through play without overwhelming kids at a young age. They are an incredibly brilliant choice for parents looking to invest in learning through play that actually matters.

 

 

Why should your child have Montessori toys?

Montessori toys are practical and suitable for learning through play, inspiring independence, creativity, and problem-solving. They're made with some outstanding qualities, like:

• Simple
• Functional  
• Interactive 

They look appealing due to their durability, non-toxicity, and eco-friendliness, which benefits both your child and the environment.

You can use these versatile wooden toys in various ways. A plain stack of wooden blocks can be a teething toy for a baby, a stacking game for a toddler, and a building masterpiece for a preschooler. All you need is to decide which to pick. So, let’s dive in!

 

 

Building the Foundation: Toys for Infants

At this point, your baby is beginning to discover the environment around them. Your baby's tiny hands are learning to grasp objects, their eyes are tracking movement, and their brains are developing their understanding of cause and effect. So, an ideal toy should be light and easy to hold.

1. Wooden pull-along toys: Ideal for tiny fingers to grasp and move around, the adorable animal buddy toys aid motor skills, and the smooth texture is delightful to play with.
2. Wooden teethers: Soft, natural wooden teethers are a better and safer alternative to a plastic teether and help soothe sore gums during those teething months.

These toys are simple but effective. They entice your baby to concentrate, reach, and explore their senses without overstimulation.

 

 

Exploring the World: Toys for Toddlers

Toddlers are like little explorers who love to keep moving and experimenting with their environments. It’s when they’re honing motor skills, problem-solving, and even language skills. The right toys will keep them engaged while ensuring they meet those critical developmental milestones.

1. Stacking toys: Wooden stacking stones and other toys are excellent for hand-eye coordination and problem-solving.
2. Shape Sorter: A traditional wooden sorter is a great way to teach toddlers about shapes, colours, and spatial awareness.
3. Pull-Along Toys: A pull-along giraffe or elephant, made of wood, promotes walking and balance while also inspiring imaginative play.
4. Wooden Puzzles: Chunky wooden puzzles with knobs are friendly for little fingers and help develop fine motor skills.

These toys push your toddler’s abilities just enough to keep them engaged while avoiding frustration. They’re also open-ended, which means your child can do different things with them as they age.

 

 

Learning before School: Toys for Preschoolers

Preschoolers have boundless creativity and enthusiasm. They're beginning to grasp social roles, express creativity, and tackle more complex problems. It's also a wonderful time to bring in toys that facilitate pretend play, collaboration, and higher-order problem solving.

1. Role-play toys: A mini wooden kitchen with pots, pans, and pretend food for role-playing and social skills. 
2. Outdoor fun: Bring the mud kitchen for making endless mud pies and castles while exploring nature.
3. Construction toys: Using wooden blocks, you can construct towers, castles, and even entire cities.
4. Dollhouse play: Wooden dolls that come with interchangeable outfits or wooden tool kits to encourage role play and storytelling.
5. Activity Boards: A wooden activity board is another beneficial gift for physical and mental development. 

The orders encourage your child to think creatively, collaborate with others, and think beyond conventional boundaries. And they’re tough enough to stand up to even the roughest play sessions.

 

 

Choosing the right Montessori toys for your child

With endless options, it can be difficult to choose the right toy. Below are a few things to watch out for:

1. Follow Their Interests: Is your child an animal lover? Wooden animal puzzles can be a winner. Does your child love building? Go for blocks or construction sets. Always pick where your child's interest is. If your child is old enough to understand, ask them before you make a decision.
2. Simple But Not Boring: Montessori toys are made simple. Avoid toys with too many parts and tools because less is often more. Many elements often confuse children and overwhelm them. So, keep their play sessions light and clean.
3. Choose Wisely: Look for toys that can be played with in different ways as your child ages. A wooden train set, for example, can facilitate simple play now and be used for storytelling later.
4. Safety First: Constantly look for non-toxic finishes and smooth edges, particularly for younger children. Look for other safety standards like the EN71 certification on toys.

 

 

Final Thoughts

As parents, we all want the best for our little ones. When you choose Montessori toys, you aren’t simply providing them with something to play with—you are providing them with the building blocks for learning, growth, and exploration of the world around them. Remember, less is more, and it’s equally important to choose your baby’s toys wisely.

We hope that the guide above gave you useful insights and will help you find the next best toy for your kids. Explore our entire collection of toys at Barnshenn for newborns and toddlers. Are you in search of additional inspiration? Hop on to our social media handles, like TikTok, Pinterest, and Instagram, for more gift inspiration for toddlers. See you in the next blog.