Montessori Materials for Home

Some materials can be made and some can be bought and used again and again. One staple of beginning to learn the alphabet is tactile yarn letters. These help kinesthetic learners get a firm grasp on letter shapes providing a similar function of traditional sandpaper letters. You can show your child how to trace the letters, using lower-case letters first. Using their tactile sense while their eyes appreciate the bright colors and shapes helps to internalize the letters while saying them out loud.

Another important item in your Montessori Materials for Home collection are Wooden Grasping Beads for ages 3 months to 3 years. They can be mouthed and used by tiny fingers to increase motor coordination and understanding of bead movement. Later they can be useful for introducing counting. Beads are always good fun!

In addition to fun, children thrive when learning order and engaged in mentally stimulating activities. A Shape Sequencing Sorting Set is a good example of this sort of activity. This encourages organizational skills and self-correcting abilities. For ages 3 and up, this is an ideal toy to give mom or dad a moment to themselves.

Another toy which is great for kids who no longer put things in their mouths are Sorting Circles. For preschool learning involving sorting, counting, and learning color they are invaluable. These can be used on various surfaces and are a simple toy with great value.

Another sorting toy are brightly colored bowls. These again can improve a child’s ability to see how things fit together, and satisfy the need to rearrange a collection of items. They also reinforce counting skills and recognition of color. Buying high quality toys, such as nicely made wooden bowls will reinforce your child’s developing appreciation of quality and beauty.

Another important and engaging toy are lacing cards. Children can use cards with patterned holes to utilize their imagination and increase fine-motor skills, creating a pattern of their liking. The ability to control and change a toy in this way is a key component to confidence and creativity.

All of these toys can be important tools in your child’s learning toolbox. Buying toys which differ from, yet complement the learning experience at school can be an effective way to increase the value of the education she is already receiving. The great thing about these types of toys is that they encourage what is already natural for your child, and compliments the normal exploratory nature of play. Teaching your child to treat his toys nicely as part of the playing process encourages a satisfying sense of order and routine that will stick with him. Some people like to display toys on shelves as part of the bedroom environment, while others like to put them away in a special place. Whatever works best for you and your child as a team will be best for you.