17 TOYS TO GIVE TO CHILDREN RECOMMENDED BY AGE, ACCORDING TO MONTESSORI

Christmas is coming, and we all want to give our children the perfect toy; he who besides having fun, is educational and beneficial for its development. In this sense, "Montessori friendly" toys are a wonderful choice, since they are respectful of the child, they stimulate him in his learning and help him discover the world at his own pace.

We have talked about this topic with Almudena Palacios, teacher, educator in Positive Discipline, expert in the Montessori method and founder of the web Living Montessori. From his extensive experience, He has recommended a series of Montessori toys that we can give to children at these parties, keeping in mind the importance of free play and respectful of its development.

Characteristics of Montessori toys

For María Montessori, work and play has no differences, so in this pedagogy there are no toys as such, but materials with which to play and learn.

In this way, we would talk about toys Montessori friendly that they have a series of common characteristics, apart from the obvious function of entertaining the child and that, according to Almudena Palacios, it should be something secondary:

"The most important thing is that the toy develops a skill or ability in the child, because after all it is not entertainment the only thing that is sought. In addition, it is convenient to develop a sense or an activity that brings experiences and sensations. "

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Between the features that a Montessori toy should have, is it so:

Through the game, they must offer knowledge of the cause-effect relationship.
They must be made of natural materials and not exclusively plastic. This will stimulate the sensory sensitivity of the child, since when experimenting with different materials you will notice the difference in touch, weight ...
Although toys are classified by age, it is important not to be guided by this data since the best is know the child's skills, abilities and development. In this way, we can succeed with the choice of the toy according to the child's need.
The toys or activities we do with the child should go from least to greatest difficulty, in addition to isolate an ability to work on each occasion.

Classification of toys, according to the child's age

As we have just seen, the expert in philosophy Montessori reminds us that age classification is nothing more than an objective indicator, that although it can help us to get an idea, we don't have to follow joint feet, it will depend on the development of our son.

"The Montessori philosophy can be carried out from birth. Although it is a pedagogy for an educational center, there are many families who cannot take their children to a Montessori school, but they want to enjoy this philosophy of living at home, because we remember that learning and education start at home. "

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From birth to three years

"At this stage the most important and characteristic of the child is freedom of movement, so it is important to offer toys that encourage free movement and provide motor advantages," the expert tells us.

But Almudea reminds us the importance of not forcing movements or postures of the baby, and let each child follow his own pace, stimulating him with appropriate toys.

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These are the recommendations of the expert:

From birth to three months We can use Montessori phones. There are several depending on the moment in which they are: black and white, gobbi, octahedra ...

Mómil Montessori Munari, via Viviendomontessori.com

From three to six months, it is best to place a mirror on the wall to start looking at each other, as well as offer other toys such as Montessori balls, rattles, shoot ...

Montessori ball

Rodari Montessori

From six to nine months, it is advisable to place a bar on the wall so that the child can use it to stand up. Other of the typical games of this stage are the baskets of treasures, which we will fill with objects that stimulate the child's development.

Basket of treasures, via ViviendoMontessori.com

From nine to 12 months, we will return to the classic basket of treasures but changing what we introduce inside, as well as other Montessori accessories such as the learning tower: //www.amazon.es/dp/B07F1RBNTB%3F, - perfect when the baby starts to walk and keep the balance-, or the simple stay box.

Permanence box

From 12 to 15 months, the permanence boxes of different difficulty become a perfect game for the child, which we can complete with simple, stackable puzzles, tricycles ...

Wooden puzzle

Wooden cylinders

From 15 to 24 months, we can resort to "practical life materials", that is, to materials that we use in our day-to-day lives and that help stimulate the child's development. For example, kitchen or cleaning supplies, as well as craft materials, such as waxes, tempera, chalk with a blackboard ...

Blackboard-briefcase

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From 24 to 36 months, we will resort to materials that provide sensory stimulation, either through touch or visual.

Stackable Nut Set

Melissa & Doug - Stacking and sorting board (10379) On Amazon for € 9.99

From three to six years old

"From the age of three, toys must respond to the child's innate curiosity, satisfy their interests, and offer them skills, abilities and experiences," Almudena says.

In addition, Almudena informs us that up to six years all children go through the sensitive periods of order, movement, sensory, language and social development:

"We will be able to know at what moment the child is through observation, as they are very characteristic and striking periods. In addition, we must try to look for toys that foster concentration, creativity and imagination"

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Following these criteria, the expert Montessori recommends the following toys or games:

Some of the traditional table games come in handy to be used after three years. Like the educational game Questioned or the classic wooden Domino

Wooden dominoes

Educational board game - Asked

The toys to use outdoors They are always very beneficial for the child, as they encourage contact with nature and the outdoors.

Bicycle

Boppi - Children's Balance Bike, Wood, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years on Amazon for € 44.99

At any age: books and constructions

But in addition to toys, Almudena emphasizes the importance of giving books at any age. There are Montessori-inspired books until age six, approximately. These types of books usually have common inspiration in real life.

"Books should arouse curiosity about the real world and real characters in the child"

Some of the books recommended by the expert are:

Collection Little Edu, to learn to dress, to manage anger, to go to the bathroom alone ...
Collection Little marina, which will teach the child to love animals, to discover the secrets of the park, to manage their emotions ...
The road to school
Science for children

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Finally, a wonderful gift for all children are the building blocks, of which we have already spoken several times for the multiple benefits it brings to the development of the little ones.

"Building blocks are materials that allow children to work their concentration, imagination, creativity and attention, in addition to motor skills. They can be used from the first year of age"

ColorBaby - Cube 100 wooden blocks Play & Learn (40993) On Amazon for € 23.00

Acknowledgments, Almudea Palacios, Montessori expert and founder of Viviendo Montessori
More information, Living Montessori: 70 original gifts for children up to six years