Best Montessori toys for babies and toddlers

Montessori from the first days of life?

At noskinoski.co.uk we have plenty of toys and accessories for the littlest ones, inspired by this alternative pedagogy. Discover the best Montessori toys for babies in our opinion. We make our subjective review on the occasion of the appearance of a separate category in our store - Montessori toys!

We love seeing your accounts on Instagram! Many parents tag noskinos on social media so we can get a sneak peek at how they are preparing for the arrival of their little one. Even before we introduced a separate category of Montessori-inspired products to the store, we knew that the age-old (as much as 100 years old!) pedagogy, was one of your favorites. A Montessori-style home is a beautiful, orderly room, allowing the child freedom and independent exploration of the world. Wonderful mobile over the cribs. Waiting on neat shelves are wooden children's toys and contrast books. Everything tidy, uncluttered, close to nature. A safe, harmonious space where you can focus on the child and his individual development.... This approach is very close to us!

Montessori from the first days

Maria Montessori's philosophy is to encourage active discovery of the world through play! And play is a natural behavior for children - and it's a natural behavior from the first days of life. Can a week-old infant play? He is already observing the world, and although he can't see clearly, he is fascinated by black and white contrasts. Soon hands and feet also become interesting, and in time everything that can be caught, shaken, explored with hands (textures, endings, protruding parts). It's a time when turning from side to side, gently massaging and getting acquainted with new toys are great adventures, directly translating into baby's development.

Montessori-inspired toys nurture toddlers' cognitive, social, emotional and physical development. By introducing its elements from the very beginning, you can see if it will be the right choice for your child and your family.

What is a Montessori toy?

There is no official certification or official list of "approved" Montessori toys. A toy can be considered a Montessori toy if it supports this educational philosophy to some extent, is inspired by it.

What to look for when choosing a Montessori toy for babies:

1. Natural materials.

Surround your toddler with natural materials: wood, metal, cotton, wool, paper.... Do you have to give up plastics completely? Admittedly, ttraditional Montessori toys are usually made of wood - such toys were available when Maria Montessori lived. Nowadays, there are also many ingenious toys inspired by this pedagogy, made of other nature-friendly materials: silicone or bioplastics (such as sugar cane). It's up to you as a parent to decide how orthodox your Montessori home should be and how focused on rigid rules.

2. Simplicity and abandonment of distractions.

Montessori toys are toys without playing, glowing, mutlimedia effects. No batteries or speakers. Remember that clutter is also a distraction! Instead of buying tons of unnecessary toys, stock up on just a few - appropriate for each developmental stage ahead of you. Fewer toys allow the Child to focus on the task at hand. From a parent's point of view, fewer toys also mean less cleanup, and more time for yourself when the Toddler falls asleep.

3. One function / one skill

Montessori toys for infants should focus the child's attention on one skill/concept, or as it is sometimes said - strong stimulation of only one sense. Being able to focus on one stimulus or one skill being trained helps build a foundation for learning later.

4. Realistic

If a plush squirrel, it's one like the one in the forest or in the photo. If a cow figurine, it's one like in a pasture, not in a cartoon. If pots for a toy kitchen - miniature versions of those used by adults. Maria Montessori preferred toys and books that were rooted in reality. Children love to imitate the adult world around them, but this is an assumption that will be important to you at a much later stage than infancy....

The best Montessori-inspired toys for children aged 0 to 18 months:

1. Rattle Roll

Classic over classic. It rattles, stimulates hearing and touch. In later infancy, it will encourage longer distances by crawling, crawling and walking behind the rolling roller.