Are you a new parent looking for ways to support your baby’s development? Have you heard of the Montessori approach but aren’t sure how it applies to infants? In this blog post, we will explore the Montessori approach for infants and highlight the importance of age-appropriate toys in Montessori philosophy. Montessori principles can be applied from birth, and there is already so much you can do to support your baby’s development. We will provide a comprehensive overview of which Montessori principles are applicable from the first days and why these principles bring both immediate and long-term benefits. We will also provide a list of the essential Montessori baby toys for early fun and learning.
The Principles of Montessori Baby Toys
Maria Montessori designed materials for babies with specific principles in mind. These principles emphasize simplicity and natural materials, focusing on toys that promote exploration and independent play. Montessori-inspired toys for infants are made from natural materials like wood, metal, cotton, wool, or even rock. This approach prefer objects made of natural materials. Regardless, a toy doesn’t have to be wooden to be considered a Montessori toy, but at the same time, not every wooden toy is Montessori inspired. The downside to wooden toys is that they are more expensive than most other materials.
Read more here about the difference between Montessori sensory baby material and the modern, high-tech sensory toys.
Many Montessori materials are closed-ended. This means that they are designed to help children focus on learning one specific skill at a time. This can be slotting the right shape into the right hole or stacking one brick onto another without it toppling over. This is believed to aid deeper learning and development. Montessori toys also prioritize sensory stimulation and open-ended play, encouraging children to explore and learn at their own pace.
Categories of Essential Montessori Baby Toys
Montessori baby toys promote learning and development through play. One category of essential Montessori toys is manipulative toys, which enhance fine motor skills. The design of these toys help babies develop their hand-eye coordination, dexterity, and problem-solving skills. Examples of manipulative toys include puzzles, nesting cups, and stacking toys. These toys are simple and made of natural materials like wood or wool. This way they not only connect children to nature but also promote sensory stimulation. By offering age-appropriate toys that enhance fine motor skills, Montessori toys help babies develop their skills and abilities at their own pace.
Sensory Toys
Sensory development is crucial in early childhood. They provide opportunities for children to actively use their senses as they explore their world through ‘sensory play’ is essential to brain development. Sensory play includes any activity that stimulates a young child’s senses. These are the sense of touch, smell, taste, sight, and hearing, as well as anything that engages movement and balance.
The aim of sensory toys is to engage a child’s attention physically and cognitively by stimulating one or more of the five senses. These toys can help children develop their senses of touch, sight, sound, and more. Examples of this category include textured balls, sensory boards, and musical instruments. Textured balls stimulate babies’ sense of touch, while sensory boards help them train their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Musical instruments develops their sense of hearing and rhythm, therefore making them part of the essential Montessori baby toys.
Practical Life Toys
Practical life activities are an essential part of the Montessori curriculum. These activities focus on developing a child’s independence, concentration, coordination, and sense of responsibility. Practical life activities are the first activities we can introduce to young children when they enter the Montessori prepared environment. These are activities of real-life that help children feel comfortable and interact appropriately and productively with their environment.
Practical life toys assist children to learn valuable life skills and develop their independence. Examples of practical life toys include toy brooms, baby-safe kitchen utensils, and self-feeding tools. As an example, toy brooms aid in growing babies’ sense of responsibility and coordination. Baby-safe kitchen utensils help practice their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Self-feeding tools assist in practicing independence and coordination.
Language Development Toys
Stimulating language is a crucial part of Montessori education for babies. Language development toys help babies develop their language skills and promote learning through play. Examples of language development toys include picture books, tactile alphabet cards, and language flashcards. Picture books help babies extend their vocabulary and language skills, while tactile alphabet cards train their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Language flashcards aid their forming language skills and promote learning through repetition.
Gross Motor Toys
Physical activity and gross motor development are essential for babies’ overall development. Gross motor skills are those that require whole-body movement and involve the large muscles of the body to perform everyday functions such as standing, walking, running, and sitting upright. Gross motor skills are important to enable children to perform everyday functions, such as walking, running, skipping, as well as playground skills (e.g. climbing) and sporting skills (e.g. catching, throwing, and hitting a ball with a bat). These are crucial for everyday self-care skills like dressing and climbing into and out of bed.
Gross motor toys help babies develop their gross motor skills and promote physical activity. Examples of gross motor toys include crawling tunnels, soft climbing blocks, and push toys. However, this does not mean that we have to buy these, most of them can be found in our environment. Take your baby outside, let them climb over stairs, logs, step up on curb, explore playgrounds etc.
Choosing Montessori Toys for Your Baby
When selecting Montessori toys for your baby, there are several factors to consider. Here are some tips to help you choose:
Consider your baby’s age and developmental stage
Choose toys that are appropriate for your baby’s age and developmental stage. Montessori toys develop babies’ skills and abilities at their own pace, so it’s important to choose toys that are challenging but not too difficult.
Look for toys that align with Montessori principles
Montessori toys are simple and made of natural materials like wood or wool to connect children to nature and promote sensory stimulation. Look for toys that promote exploration, independent play, and hands-on learning.
Emphasize safety and durability when selecting toys
Choose toys that are safe and durable. Montessori baby materials are designed to be long-lasting and withstand the wear and tear of play. Avoid objects with small parts that could be a choking hazard. (You can read more about the dangers of crochet toys here.)
Creating a Montessori toy rotation system
Consider creating a toy rotation system to keep your baby engaged and interested in their toys. This involves rotating a selection of toys every few weeks to keep things fresh and exciting for your baby.
- Observe Your Child: Start by observing your child’s interests and developmental needs. This will help you choose toys that are both engaging and appropriate for their age and stage of development.
- Limit Quantity: Don’t overwhelm your child with too many toys at once. A good rule of thumb is to have 5-10 toys available in each rotation.
- Rotate Regularly: Create a schedule for toy rotation, such as every two weeks or monthly. This keeps the toys fresh and exciting for your child.
- Quality Over Quantity: Focus on quality toys that are well-made and durable. Montessori toys are often made from natural materials and are designed to withstand extended use.
- Maintain Order: Keep the play area tidy and organized. This helps your child focus and promotes a sense of responsibility for their environment.
- Observe and Adapt: Pay attention to how your child interacts with the toys. If they show a particular interest in a specific toy or activity, you can extend its presence in the rotation. (Read this blog about how to observe the Montessori way.)
- Balance Skills: Ensure a balance of toys that cater to different developmental skills, such as fine motor skills, gross motor skills, cognitive development, and social interaction. Try to make sure that there’s a good balance between open ended and closed ended toys, too.
- Safety First: Always prioritize safety. Check toys regularly for any damage or small parts that could be a choking hazard.
Final thoughts
The above mentioned essential Montessori baby toys are an excellent way to support your baby’s development. By providing age-appropriate toys that promote exploration, independent play, and hands-on learning, Montessori toys help babies develop their skills and abilities at their own pace. Montessori principles can be applied from birth. There is already so much you can do to support your baby’s development. It’s essential to consider your baby’s age and developmental stage when selecting Montessori toys. Look for toys that align with Montessori principles, and emphasize safety and durability. By embracing the Montessori approach and providing a nurturing environment for your baby, you can help them develop into independent, confident, and capable individuals.
Click on the links to read more about how the Montessori Visual Mobiles, the Montessori Tactile Mobiles or the Sensory Baby Play help your baby’s development.