Montessori toys are wooden because wood is safe, durable and environmentally friendly. Wooden toys also allow kids to draw upon their own imagination, connect better with the toy they are playing with and encourage creativity. They are beautiful, without being overwhelming for our tiny humans.
Wooden Montessori toys were made popular by Dr. Maria Montessori, an Italian educator, physician and scientist. She created the Montessori method—a method of teaching through play and natural materials that allows kids to learn at their own pace using exploration, personal expression and self-motivation.
The majority of toys used in the Montessori classroom are wooden. This is because, unlike plastic, wood warms up when touched and cools when left alone. This helps kids connect more to the natural world and the toy they are playing with. Another advantage to wooden toys is they are chemical-free and can last decades, long enough for your kids' kids' kids to play with.
The Benefits of Montessori Toys
The parents at GoodBuy Gear are big fans of Montessori toys and play kits. Here are a few of the top reasons why we love them.
1. Encourage Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
There are many learning and development benefits to Montessori toys including concentration, perseverance, object permanence and embodied learning. The best Montessori toys encourage critical thinking and problem-solving in our tiny humans. One of our favorite toys for this is a wooden puzzle because it challenges our little ones while keeping them entertained.
2. Support Child Development
There are several different levels of Montessori toys that support the different stages of your little one’s development. They have 12 levels of toys that support everything from sensory exploration to experimentation and self-correction. For example, Level 1 toys are made for infants aged 0-3 months old. They include toys like this Level 1 box that is designed to support your kiddo’s grasping strength and developing vision.
3. Non-Intrusive
A lot of our little one’s toys come accompanied by loud noises and sounds. Not only is this annoying to be around, but it’s also a source of stress when brought to restaurants and other public places. Montessori toys are great because they aren’t loud. They can be brought to dinner or on planes to keep your kiddos entertained without eye rolls from other tables.
4. Don’t Require Batteries
There aren’t many things worse than finally getting your little one to play with a toy only to find out five minutes later that you need to replace the batteries. Most wooden toys don’t come with batteries so you don’t have to constantly replace them and deal with a mid-day tantrum.
5. Beautiful
Due to the wooden nature of Montessori toys, they look great as decorative elements in your little one’s playroom. This is especially nice if you live in a small apartment where your kiddo’s play area is connected to your dining room (Montessori toys look a lot better than that old Mickey Mouse toy on your shelf).
6. Help Develop Fine Motor Skills
Many Montessori toys help with fine motor skills like hand-eye coordination and visual motor skills. These are crucial for our little one’s development, especially in those first few years. Our favorite Montessori toys that help with this are wooden building blocks and stackers. These toys require fine-motor precision and focus in order to build and balance the blocks in the correct way.
7. Foster Creativity
Montessori is known for educational toys, but these toys can also foster creativity with imaginative play and open-ended play. Some of our favorite toys that encourage creativity are a wooden play kitchen or cash register play set. Not only do these toys help improve imagination, but it also helps our tiny humans learn to count.
8. Durable
Toys made of wood are among the most durable toys you can get and can last through generations of play. Unlike plastic toys that break or dent easily, Montessori toys will last for many years and can be passed down or resold. Many of the parents at GoodBuy Gear have had their Montessori toys for years.
9. Better for the Environment
It goes without saying that wooden toys are better for the environment than plastic toys. Because wood is more durable, it will last longer and will not end up in landfills as often. Wood is also biodegradable so even if it does end up in a landfill, it will decompose.
These are just a few of the many benefits of Montessori toys for babies and young children. Montessori-inspired toys have a lot of benefits we value at GoodBuy Gear, including sustainability and durability.
However, all these benefits wrapped up in a toy can equal a more expensive price tag. That’s where we come in. We believe every child (and parent) deserves access to the best toys and brands out there. High-quality goods can cost money, but when you shop secondhand Montessori toys from online marketplaces like us, you can get an average of 50% off traditional retail.
