The Montessori Ring on a Ribbon is one of those Montessori mobiles that has the potential to result in life-changing moments. Sounds ambitious? Perhaps, however if you read my post about the Bell on a Ribbon mobile then you know that small, innocent-looking tactile mobiles have great power lurking in them. Still not convinced? Read on to learn more!
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?
This mobile is simply a wooden ring hanging from a ribbon. Later, when your baby starts mouthing, you can treat the wood and use it as a teether toy, however I believe that for tactile purposes, it is better to offer raw wood. Why would it matter? Raw wood has a completely natural look and feel, which is an important Montessori aspect when a baby touches an object.
You CAN hang the Ring on a simple ribbon, as the name suggests. However, I would advise to hang it on an elastic ribbon. That will make it so much more fun! Read on to learn more.
SO WHY IS THE MONTESSORI RING ON A RIBBON MOBILE SO ATTRACTIVE FOR YOUR BABY?
This is the time when the whole world disappears and your little one will do simply everything in his/her power to grab it and pull it again. Just imagine what an effort that would take for a 3-4-month-old baby! They are consciously planning an action, using higher level thinking. They are focusing and controlling their body to abide their wish, using muscles, fine and gross motor skills. And when they achieve what they planned to do, their self-esteem will shoot to the sky!
From then on, it’s down to exploring, manipulating, discovering and everything else in between. A ring! On a Ribbon! A whole world of possibilities!
WHAT ARE THE SCIENTIFIC BENEFITS OF THE MONTESSORI RING ON A RIBBON MOBILE?
- Development of fine and gross motor skills
- Hand-eye coordination
- Exploring the relationship between cause-and-effect
- Extended focus and concentration
- Executing a planned action alone
- Raising self-esteem
- Visual tracking (when the ring is in motion)
- Develop intentional and coordinated movement
- Muscle and core strength development
- Learning about self and their effect on the environment
- Strengthening connections between left and right side of brain
TIPS AND TRICKS
- The Ring can be used when your baby is lying on their side (read more about the importance of side lying play in this post from Pink Oatmeal). When doing tummy time, either you have to hold the ribbon and hang it low enough for your baby to reach or take the Ring off and offer it to them. Later, after treating the wood, it can be used as a teething toy.
- Please ALWAYS monitor your little one and never leave them unattended when they are working with this tactile mobile. It requires strict adult supervision. It’s a great opportunity to have some quality play time with your baby.
FINAL THOUGHTS
After learning how to bat with the Bell on a Ribbon mobile, your baby is ready to learn to grasp, hold and pull. Even though these don’t seem like much to us, they are huge milestones in his/her life! Watch how your little one figures it all out by themselves, you don’t even have to move a finger! The developmental benefits are almost endless. Are you curious about what might be the next tactile mobile? Head over to this post to find out!
It’s very easy to DIY this tactile mobile. If you’d like to buy it as part of a set, take a look at the Basic Tactile Set in my Shop or head over to my Etsy shop to get it as part of the High-Contrast Tactile Mobile Set.
Click here to read more about how the Montessori Visual Mobiles, the Montessori Tactile Mobiles or the Sensory Baby Toys help your baby’s development.
How did your baby react to this mobile? Please share your photos on my Instagram site. #montessoriedited, @montessoriedited