Montessori: toys inspired by this educational method
Have you heard of the Montessori method? It's a way of educating your little one as they play and learn at the same time. Montessori toys are designed to be fun for kids and keep them entertained, but they also enhance children's experience-based learning.
Toys can keep kids occupied and having fun for hours! At IKEA, you can find a selection of Montessori toys that are perfect for every age. Let's play!
What are Montessori toys like?
The key point is that the toys are inspired by reality rather than being fantastical, and they promote free play – it's the little ones themselves setting their imaginations in motion as they experience the world around them, which stimulates their creativity, concentration and fine psychomotor skills.
One thing to bear in mind is what the toys are made of – they can be environmentally friendly and made of sustainable or recycled natural materials. That being said, the key thing about Montessori toys isn't the material, but rather the philosophy: helping little ones develop their creativity and autonomy.
But mums and dads! You've got a really valuable role to play in this phase. You need to guide them and help them discover things, and observe them closely to find the right toy for every moment so they can get the most out of them and have more enjoyment.
You'll find a selection of educational and durable Montessori toys grouped by age here, but remember: the choice of toy will depend on their level of development. Every baby develops at their own speed!
Montessori: toys for 0–6 months inspired by this educational approach
This phase certainly isn't about playing more, but it is about them discovering themselves and their environment. You'll see constant learning and sensory development. Babies are sponges and their little minds absorb everything. It's a great time to start stimulating their imagination!
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Montessori: toys for 6 months+ inspired by this methodology
This is when babies start getting curious about the world around them – they don't stop exploring and laughing! They do more and more with their hands, and use their fingers and palm to grip things. This is mostly a stage where they're always moving – they start to sit up and move around in their own way. It's constant development!
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Montessori: toys for 12 months+ inspired by this philosophy
Your little one will be walking soon. They're sure to be eager to take their first steps. They express themselves better and better, they start to say more words and, most crucially, this is when they begin to explore and entertain themselves.
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Montessori: toys for 18 months+ inspired by this methodology
How big you've got! They're developing more and more, and getting increasingly curious about their surroundings. So they need Montessori toys to help them experiment, have fun and learn. They'll also want to help with household tasks like sweeping and dusting. They love imitating us! It's important to keep stimulating their fine psychomotor skills with textures and shapes, and by fitting objects together and building.
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Montessori: toys for 3 years+ inspired by this educational method
Now's the time to use toys that match their needs and interests, and satisfy their curiosity about things and moments, with a constant focus on stimulating their creativity, concentration and imagination.
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All safety is great
When it comes to babies exploring during every stage of their development, we also need to protect their possible movements and be aware of hazards, because anything can happen in the blink of an eye!
At IKEA, you'll find a selection of protectors, safety latches and everything else you could need.
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Organise your Montessori toys
Order is another important factor for giving kids the autonomy they need. So let us give you some ideas for organising your Montessori toys.
- Make sure Montessori toys are accessible and visible at their height, so they can reach everything and get their toy independently.
- Rather than jumbling them all together, keep your toys on rotation. That way, you can avoid jumbling them up, refresh your organisation and spark your little one's interest.
- A reading corner at their height, and with the covers visible, lets kids choose the children's books that they're most interested in at that moment.
We know that everyday life can leave your house looking not how you want it, but don't worry! But it does help kids take more care of their things and put things away before getting another toy out.
Family activities
Time spent as a family is also vital for their growth and learning, so you need to pay attention to your little one's needs and interests.
You can create loads of experiences where your little one will learn and become aware of routines, and turn daily tasks into something fun, like reading a story and looking at the pictures together, singing songs, bath time and even routines like brushing teeth with help from mum or dad, helping you prepare food and – why not – family walks to pick up dry leaves.
There are loads of activities to do with your little one depending on their age and their needs!
Children's series
Montessori: toys for every little one following this methodology
The main benefit of Montessori toys is that kids learn by playing, exploring and getting to know the world around them.
That's why, at IKEA, we have a huge variety of Montessori toys designed for every stage of your little one's development, so they can learn through their own imagination and creativity, based on their own experiences. Montessori toys also keep them entertained for hours, and your little ones will love discovering the world around them through their senses. It's constant development! Children's rugs and baby rugs are perfect for playing comfortably in their room.
Remember to choose the toy that best matches their age and their needs, so they can get the most out of them and have more enjoyment. Check out this selection of affordable toys and plushies.
Learning with Montessori toys
With Montessori toys, kids learn in an educational way but they're also playing and having fun. A key aspect to look for when identifying these toys is that they're inspired by reality rather than being fantastical. They develop imagination and creativity as kids explore, practise and discover things while, most importantly, learning at the same time.
And get ready for back-to-school with this collection of school materials.
If you're after more ideas at affordable prices, don't miss this selection of reasonably priced furniture and recommendations!