Montessori-Inspired Gift Guide

Written By Home and on the Way
Montessori Inspired Gift guide

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Alright. Before I begin this “Montessori-inspired” gift guide there is an important message I have to share. Montessori is not about the stuff. This guide covers ages 0-24 months, though some of the outdoor, gross motor, and kitchen gifts would be great at an older age too. In that age range what children truly need is not stuff but time with us. We could get our children zero gifts this holiday season and they would be happy. Montessori or just being a good parent in general has nothing to do with buying things.

Now moving on because while I believe this wholeheartedly I also know I will be buying some Chanukah gifts for my son. These things I am buying him are things I think will be useful for him or useful for our home. He doesn’t need them, but I am excited to get them for him. I tend to prefer getting more practical gifts for him. Last year I got him a learning tower for Chanukah for example and that has been used every single day since he was a year old, often multiple times a day.

This gift guide is divided into sections: outdoors, kitchen, gross motor, and then age-based. This is a mix of things we love in our home and things we are buying this year for our son. If it isn’t something I would buy or own I do not have it on here. I have a few recommendations under each category. I note which one we love in our home and also note the ones we don’t have but are trusted brands. A few recommendations come from products friends own when I have a different brand. I also note what we are getting my son this year for Chanukah. He is currently 19 months old so at Chanukah time he will be turning 21 months. In addition to what is listed here, we will get him a few books and perhaps an experience gift such as a zoo membership

Montessori gift list for the outdoors

Montessori-Inspired Gifts for the Outdoors

A Rain Suit: this is a fantastic tool for getting out in all whether. For winter last year we just layered underneath and skipped the snowsuit. It is great in the rain and great in the mud. We got a 6-12 month size and he still fits in it at 19 months.

Rain Boots: this year we knew we needed rain boots for the rainy days. I also wanted ones that were more barefoot style. These ones fit the bill and are affordable.

Snow Boots: we got rain covered with our rainboots but wanted good snow boots. Again I wanted as barefoot style as possible and these were the ones recommended.

Scooter: scooters are a fun outdoor activity for toddlers. We introduced ours around 17 months.

A wheelbarrow: a wheelbarrow is a perfect practical life outside activity and great for active toddlers. It is perfect for the transportation schema and maximum effort work.

Balance bike: a balance bike is perfect for toddlers who are not yet ready for a pedal bike. We are skipping training wheels and using the balance bike instead.

Montessori gifts for the kitchen and practical life

Montessori-Inspired Gifts for the Kitchen

Learning tower: This is definitely a big gift but a real favorite in our home. We use it multiple times every single day.

Toddler Knives: we use multiple toddler knives around here and they are great for involving our son in the kitchen.

Mini Pitchers: these are essential for including toddlers in pouring.

Cooking trays: reduce the mess by putting trays under where your child is working.

Child-sized tools: these make such a difference in including your child in the kitchen and I highly recommend.

Visual Recipes: here is where I plug my guide. I really think my visual recipe packet can be so helpful though. It has made cooking with my son so much more fun!

Montessori-Inspired Gifts for Gross Motor

Pikler triangle: we LOVE our Pikler triangle. It folds up easily to store away and has gotten so much use since he was 7 months old. It is a great gift starting around 6 months. While I would have loved to link a more affordable Amazon option I do not feel comfortable linking them without knowing the brand on something like this. If you have a cheaper one you like, please let me know!

Bowling Pins: great for getting moving indoors

A play tunnel: crawling does so many great things for the brain. I love bringing out our play tunnel.

A balance board: we started using this at around 8 months but at 18 it is a real favorite for balance and climbing.

  • Our Balance Board, also part of some cool bundles: Lily and River (code HOMEANDONTHEWAY)

  • Another popular favorite: Kinderfeets

Rocker/climber: though I would generally recommend a Pikler triangle over an arch climber I do like that it doubles as a rocker.

Balance Beam: lately my son at 19 months has been loving his balance beam. If you are setting up an indoor gross motor area it is a fun addition.

Montessori inspired gifts 0-6 months

Montessori-Inspired Gifts for 0-6 Month Olds

A play kit subscription: this is a great way to get developmental toys that match your child’s interests without having to do all the research.

  • A great Montessori-inspired play kit: Lovevery Play Kit

  • A great option to save space and help the planet by renting toys: Tiny Earth Toys (code homeandontheway15)

The Skwish: a fun toy for little ones

Rattles: Rattles are a classic baby toy and a definite favorite.

Teethers: another must for young infants

Montessori Mobiles: the classic set of Montessori mobiles is a great gift for a newborn, though our ultimate favorite mobile came in our Lovevery playkit.

Play Gym: this is a great place for floor time for a young infant

Montessori inspired gifts 6-12 months

Montessori-Inspired Gifts for 6-12 Month Olds

A drum: we got a drum for my son for Chanukah when he was 9 months old and it was a fantastic gift.

A stacker: stackers are great to introduce at some point in this range, likely near the later end.

Single Piece Puzzles:

Object permanence box: object permanence boxes are a great material for older infants.

A play kit subscription: this is a great way to get developmental toys that match your child’s interests without having to do all the research.

  • A great Montessori-inspired play kit: Lovevery Play Kit

  • A great option to save space and help the planet by renting toys: Tiny Earth Toys (code homeandontheway15)

Montessori gift guide 12-18 months

Montessori-Inspired Gifts for 12-18 Month Olds

A play kit subscription: this is a great way to get developmental toys that match your child’s interests without having to do all the research.

  • A great Montessori-inspired play kit: Lovevery Play Kit

  • A great option to save space and help the planet by renting toys: Tiny Earth Toys (code homeandontheway15)

Walker Wagon: everyone has opinions on walkers. Many don’t like to use them but we loved ours. I really recommend this one because it holds things to carry so can be useful far past this stage and has slower wheels. This keeps it from flying in front of the child.

Puzzles: at some point in this age range you might be able to move to puzzles with a few different shapes. Peg puzzles continue to work on the pincer grasp and are a great option.

Crayons: art supplies are a great gift around this age

Hammer Toy: hammer toys have been a definite favorite for us.

Musical Instruments: we love introducing musical instruments in our home. We got him a set for his first birthday and he loved them.

Montessori inspired gifts for 18-24 month olds

Montessori Inspired Gifts for 18-24 Month Olds

Realistic animals: realistic animals are great for language work and picture matching. In Montessori, we look for animals that look realistic versus ones that are unrealistic and painted wood (even if that means they’re plastic!)

A play kit subscription: this is a great way to get developmental toys that match your child’s interests without having to do all the research.

  • A great Montessori-inspired play kit: Lovevery Play Kit

  • A great option to save space and help the planet by renting toys: Tiny Earth Toys (code homeandontheway15)

Color Sorting: toddlers around this age are often starting to explore colors though it might be awhile before they are successfully matching them.

Baby dolls: baby dolls are great at this age. Many in Montessori opt for more realistic dolls as realistic is prioritized, however, cloth dolls can be nice too.

Blocks: blocks are great around this age. We are getting unit blocks for my son. He already had the Lovevery block set which we also love. Unit blocks are great for longterm building and math concepts.

Screen Free Audio Player: this has been amazing for us. My son can use it totally independently and has been able to since his first birthday. Some also use CD players for their toddlers but a toddler specific one feels easier to me.

Home and on the Way
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