IS THERE SUCH THING AS A MONTESSORI TOY?

Nowadays different alternative pedagogy methods have started gaining popularity, and amongst many, Montessori has become a buzzword. Social media is exploding with inspiration and ideas not only from experts but also engaged parents. And well, riding the popularity wave, more and more toy manufacturers or retailers are attaching the Montessori stamp on different products, or as a bait in their advertisements, too.

But is there such a thing as Montessori toy at all? Well, the short answer is: NO.

here’s a secret: montessori toys do not exist.

For the very simple reason that Maria Montessori has not designed any kind of toys at all! She has designed different learning tools – or „manipulatives” as Montessorians prefer to refer to them –  to use them in her House of Children in during her work with children older than 3 years. Essentially they are didactic materials to be used in institutional settings. 

So when it comes to toys, especially for the age under 3, maybe it’s a bit more accurate to talk about Montessori-inspired or friendly toys. Or even better:

toys that align with the montessori values

Because I’d like to emphasize one thing immediately. Even though these materials take a centre stage in Montessori education along with the prepared environment, there is so much more to this alternative pedagogy than the physical objects themselves.

When we try to look at what makes toys compatible, it’s worth approaching the question rather looking at the values. This also helps us think outside of the box sometimes. Even if we have resources at home that do not look like the quintessential Montessori thing at first blink, we can still make the best use of them with the principles in mind. Montessori (or any other pedagogy for that matter) is rather a way of thinking!

So what makes toys Montessori -compatible then? Let’s dive into the characteristics and values together!

1. THEY ARE MADE OF NATURAL MATERIALS.

Montessori-friendly materials or toys are usually made of natural materials, such as wood, metal or glass. Montessori educators and parents believe that young children „absorb” their environment. Therefore harmony and simplistic beauty are considered very important. Natural materials tend to be more aesthetically pleasing, and they also connect children to their natural environment.

education of the senses and natural consequences

But beauty is not all! Natural materials will also nurture the senses. Children, being „sensorial explorers” in the first years of life, will discover the world and learn through all their senses. Materials which have weight, texture, smell or even temperature give them much more information, and will naturally accelerate their learning.

Also, objects made of natural materials offer natural consequences and feedback. If I throw my glass cup on the floor or a wooden toy across the room, it might break. In a Montessori environment it’s considered a valuable learning opportunity. It does not only teach about cause and effect, but also to be more responsible for their environment and handle things with more care.

But not all wooden toys are Montessori.

Only because a toys is wooden, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s Montessori-compatible. In fact, this is one of the greatest generalization I see sometimes when it comes to labelling toys. Why? First of all, it’s not only Montessori which prefers natural materials. Think of Waldorf, for instance, which places the same great (if not greater!) emphasize on it! And also, because in a Montessori setting you’ll find a few things made of plastic, too. How come? Because…

2. IN MONTESSORI THEY ALSO PREFER REALISTIC TOYS.

One of the reasons why a Montessori educator or parent might pick a plastic toy over a wooden one is that it’s more realistic. In Montessori they place a huge emphasis on the child’s attachment to reality, especially in the early years. Reality is rich and magical enough for children. It’s full of extraordinary novelties, and we do not need to offer cartoon characters or products of our fantasy to make things exciting for them.

So what does it mean when it comes to toys? If Montessori principles resonate more with you, try to look for toys without cartoon heroes or unrealistic characters (such as humanized animals or fairies). The more lifelike it is, the better! You might even feel even drawn to pick an anatomically correct plastic doll over an organic cotton one, or a plastic model animal over their Holztiger counterparts.

3. MONTESSORI-FRIENDLY TOYS ARE SIMPLE.

While realistic materials and toys can be rich in detail, other Montessori materials tend to be very simplistic in nature. If you look at the iconic Pink Tower, for instance, it’s… well, just pink! It has no other colour, no other extra feature. There are no farm animals, numbers or the ABC painted on it in the name of being “more educational”! Why? It’s because of something Montessori educators like to call:

isolation of quality

The ten wooden blocks of the pink tower differ only in size. By eliminating elements that can be confusing or distracting, it helps the child focus on discovering and understanding one concept at a time. Materials are simple so they act as of a kind of magnifying glass in the child’s exploration.

But how does it translate into toys? Montessori parents tend to choose more simple toys, reminiscent of famous classroom materials. However tempted we are to get more value for our money, simple things might be worth their price tag more at the end of the day. Not only because children will spend more time deeply engaged with them, but they also tend to be more versatile and present different opportunities as they grow.

If you can’t find simplified toys, you can also try to present them in a simplistic manner or more gradually, and this way the child will figure out more easily by himself the concept behind the toy.  

4. MONTESSORI-ALIGNED TOYS AND MATERIALS INVITE A PURPOSEFUL ACTIVITY.

Montessori materials are made with simplicity in mind, to provide children with opportunities to discover key learning outcomes. Every material has a specific purpose. So yes, purpose is another keyword here!

meaningful activities with a beginning and end

Children enjoy engaging in meaningful activities, through which they build their understanding of the world. Toys or activities which present a challenge – and have a very well-defined work cycle, with a beginning and end – can offer children a similar experience to Montessori materials. Therefore Montessori-friendly toys and activities, whether through their design or presentation, happen to be more close-ended. (Which of course doesn’t mean Montessori education is against open-ended play! On the contrary! They believe these purposeful experiences will also enrich children’s open-ended play at the end of the day!)

purposeful work with real tools

Another way of offering children a purpose is involving them in everyday chores and activities. Giving them not only realistic, but real tools as well as involving them in real work – like helping them bake their own snacks, or sweeping up the crumbles after eating – not only encourage to hone many different skills, but also offer them a sense of usefulness, belonging and meaning.

5. THEY ARE DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE.

Montessori materials, because of their well-defined purpose, are labelled many times as educational. Sometimes even with a bit of a smirk, implying they focus too much on early academics. Or, other times, it’s also misinterpreted the other way around: only because a toy can be slightly seen as educational, it’s immediately labelled Montessori. But it’s a bit more complex than that!

Montessori-friendly toys or materials never actually push children toward academics. But they rather meet the child where she is. They’re always offered based on a close observation of a child’s individual interest and developmental stage. So toys, which pride to teach the ABC to toddlers through singing jolly songs, or introduce numbers before children would be ready, cannot be seen as Montessori-friendly at all. Montessori educators and parents also try to follow the child when it comes to interests, and offer toys or materials related to them.

6. MONTESSORI-FRIENDLY TOYS ENCOURAGE HANDS-ON LEARNING.

Also, with a special focus in the first six years, Montessori encourages learning and discovery through the hands, and not abstract concepts. Or with the own words of Maria Montessori:

“What the hand does, the mind remembers.”

Therefore, toys or materials which can be touched and explored, and translate abstract concepts in a tangible way are definitely more Montessori compatible.

7. THEY ALSO ENCOURAGE INDEPENDENT LEARNING.

And finally, another reason why we can’t call every educational toy Montessori is, because Montessori-friendly toys should be encouraging independent, self-directed play and learning. Promoting independence again is a core value in Montessori, and it’s no different when it comes to play. There’s no need for an adult to explain, intervene or support the child’s work. But the child should be able to easily understand and complete the activity alone. To be able to play individually with them, Montessori-aligned materials are usually “self-correcting”. It means that there’s only one way to complete them correctly, and children can immediately see whether they got it right or wrong. These characteristics of toys help them own their discovery, and in return it also boosts their self-confidence.

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So these are the characteristics that, in my experience, can make toys or materials more or less Montessori-friendly. If a toy won’t tick all these boxes, of course it doesn’t mean it’s bad. Quite simply it’ll mean it’s just not that Montessori!

Also, in reality, we will never be able to get the perfect toys or materials. We’ll always need to make compromises based on our budget, availability, or even other personal values (like our wish for sustainability). We can also look for inspiration elsewhere, and find that some other pedagogy will resonate with our thinking more. So instead as a golden standard to follow, take this list away with you as useful aspects when you are picking toys the next time you shop, and trying to figure out what works best for your child. And of course, as a handy knowledge, so you’re also armed against toy makers’ or retailers’ fancy-sounding marketing promises!

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RELATED PRODUCTS

On Malih nog naokrog you can find official, AMI certified Montessori materials for the classroom as well as home schooling by Nienhuis and GAM Montessori. (And of course many-many toys, too, which tick several of the boxes above, making them ideal to use in a Montessori home or even institution.)