On the earth of schooling, the Maria Montessori is credited with being the perfect of the perfect. The Montessori philosophy believes in offering youngsters with a stimulating surroundings that encourages self-directed studying and exploration. One key part of this technique is using hands-on Montessori toys. These toys fall underneath completely different classes, every focusing on distinct features of a kid’s progress and understanding. At this time, we’re going to speak concerning the Montessori toy classes and the way I take advantage of them in our toy rotation with our 5 youngsters!
Associated: 9 Best Montessori Balance Boards and Balance Toys!
Associated: 30 Maria Montessori Quotes that will Inspire Any Mama!
How I Retailer It All
I simply purchase large clear totes, mark the entrance with the class (see beneath) and pull out a number of for our Montessori shelves each time we rotate toys.
After I put them out on our cabinets, I put them both in baskets or wood trays.
I get nearly 100% of those from thrift shops OR from Melissa and Doug purchases.
Everybody all the time asks how typically it is best to rotate toys in a toy rotation system.
The Montessori technique may be very baby led, so I simply do what Maria Montessori would and “observe the kid.”
When my youngsters appear bored or in the event that they take an curiosity in one thing and I do know I’ve the right toy that pertains to their new ambitions, I’ll convey it out.
I hardly ever swap out all the toys at one time.
It looks like they keep targeted on their toys longer if I solely swap out a number of at a time.
In any other case, every part appears so new and thrilling that they need to run round and play with all the new puzzles or toys without delay.
I do attempt to rotate toys each 2 or 3 weeks, however that’s as a lot of a toy rotation schedule as I’ve been in a position to nail down.
Actually, I’m superb with that as a result of it really works for us!
Montessori Classes
These are the classes I observe as a result of they’re the classes that Montessori colleges use based mostly on the Montessori technique:
Sensible Life: The Foundations of Independence
Montessori Sensible Life actions provide an effective way for youngsters to develop important life expertise.
They’re not simply toys; they’re instruments for instructing our children important life expertise whereas nurturing their independence.
It’s like giving them a head begin on turning into self-sufficient little people!
Certainly one of my favorites is the Montessori Pouring Set.
It’s good for instructing these pouring and transferring expertise.
My little ones began with pouring rice and dried beans.
Now they will pour juice and even assist set the desk – it’s a game-changer.
Montessori Dressing Frames are one other favourite within the Montessori world.
We’ve tried a number of and sadly, I haven’t discovered any that I actually love.
I’d quite simply have them observe zipping their very own jacket or serving to one in every of their siblings with theirs.
Then there’s the entire world of meals prep!
Getting meals prepared is after I spend one on one time with every of my youngsters.
We’ve 5 youngsters, so we rotate who helps make meals.
The Montessori Knife Skills Set and the Chopsticks Exercise – they’ve turned meal prep right into a enjoyable exercise we are able to do collectively.
Plus, it’s an effective way to advertise superb motor expertise.
So, should you’re trying so as to add Montessori sensible life supplies to your baby’s playroom,
I’d say go for it. They’re not simply playthings; they’re constructing blocks for all times expertise, independence, and an entire lot of confidence!
Actions like pouring, buttoning, and meals preparation not solely align with a toddler’s pursuits but in addition assist their quest for independence.
Sensorial: Refining the Senses
The Sensorial class of Montessori schooling helps youngsters refine their senses by toys and supplies designed for sensory exploration.
These open-ended toys, typically constituted of pure supplies, encourage imaginative play and hands-on studying.
Rotating these toys on a weekly foundation retains a toddler’s play area thrilling and dynamic.
Certainly one of my all-time favorites is the Montessori Pink Tower.
It’s a stack of pink wood cubes in numerous sizes.
Whereas Montessori supplies could be dear, there are some choices which can be far less expensive.
We’ve this Melissa and Doug Disney set that’s means too colourful to be thought-about a Montessori materials, however the idea is there.
It’s not nearly dimension; it’s about creating visible discrimination, and it’s such a enjoyable solution to do it.
Then there’s the Montessori Sound Cylinders are nice for fostering a way of rhythm and sound consciousness.
The Montessori Tough and Clean Boards are additionally successful in our home.
Feeling completely different textures helps youngsters refine their tactile senses.
It’s superb how a lot they take pleasure in exploring and discovering by contact.
Something with a number of textures to discover will do.
And let’s not overlook the Montessori Coloration Tablets – they’re like a rainbow ready to be explored.
Matching shades and studying about colours turns into a charming recreation.
It’s like an artwork class and a sensory journey in a single!
Arithmetic: From Concrete to Summary
Montessori arithmetic supplies make summary ideas tangible for younger youngsters.
Objects just like the Montessori Golden Beads train them about numbers and the decimal system.
By rotating these supplies, you may introduce new expertise and ideas as your baby grows.
Cultural: Nurturing International Consciousness
Cultural research in Montessori embody geography, historical past, science, and the exploration of various cultures.
The Montessori method encourages toy rotation to align along with your baby’s pursuits and developmental stage, making studying a bunch of recent toys and a wide range of actions.
I like to simply put out maps of different nations for the children to search out.
Puzzles are nice for this too.
After they get keen on one thing, we take a deeper dive till that flame goes out.
Language: A Journey into Communication
Language improvement is a key side of Montessori schooling.
Montessori Sandpaper Letters and the Moveable Alphabet are examples of Montessori toys that assist youngsters develop their spoken and written language expertise.
Toy rotation ensures that you just introduce several types of toys as your baby’s age and pursuits evolve.
Having fewer toys (the proper of toys, as we mentioned right here) after which committing to rotate toys once in a while ensures your youngsters get a well-rounded schooling.
Advantages of Toy Rotation
As a mother of 5, I might go on and on to you about how implementing the idea of toy rotation has lessened the toy litter in our residence and has given me my lounge again.
I might inform you how a lot time (actually over 10+ hours much less per week) I spend cleansing up their play space now than I did earlier than we restricted what number of toys our children had.
BUT
The actual magic of toy rotation is available in once you watch your youngsters really play with their toys.
Not simply the outdated ones which can be sure to attract their consideration and hold it longer.
I’m speaking about watching our children play with their outdated toys for such longer intervals of time now that they don’t have entry to them on a regular basis.
My youngsters are so significantly better about placing their toys again the place they go now that there are fewer objects laying round to scrub up.
Perhaps my favourite half is how naturally unbiased play involves them now.
Whether or not they’re enjoying collectively or on their very own, they’re a lot extra inventive with their toys and the tales they make up.
In the event that they need to play with their doll home however understand the dolls are all put away, they use their problem-solving expertise and make paper dolls as an alternative.
Generally they use blocks as dolls or make some out of clay.
They use their favourite toys in new methods as an alternative of insisting on toys that do the imagining for them.
I used to be as soon as so skeptical of toy rotation and really thought the one answer that was wanted was an enormous toy declutter and a yard sale.
Now I perceive that whereas you will need to reduce toys and solely hold high quality, instructional toys, implementing a great Montessori toy rotation system advantages our children in all of those methods and so many extra.
On the earth of Montessori schooling, toys are extra than simply playthings; they’re instruments for discovery and progress. By embracing these Montessori toy classes, youngsters can discover the realms of sensible life, sensorial experiences, arithmetic, cultural research, and language improvement, all whereas fostering their independence and innate want to be taught. Whereas we solely loosely observe the Montessori technique, we do attempt to foster a Montessori surroundings as a lot as potential. Having a restricted variety of toys in these classes has helped me tremendously as I’ve tried to perform this purpose!
