I’m a Montessori guide. Which means, naturally, I collect and hoard Montessori materials and Montessori-friendly toys and objects… it’s a problem. Seriously, ask any Montessori guide you know - I’m pretty sure we all do this! So when I was recently asked to name a “core” set of Montessori materials I thought it would be a fun challenge to narrow it down and make a list of my absolute favorites for using at home with babies and toddlers.
I do think (as per my reply) that it’s hard to pinpoint a specific set of materials that every family would benefit from, because of several factors! Most Montessori materials are close-ended, which means they have a concrete objective and aim at the development of a specific skillset. This means that a child might only use each one for a short amount of time - from first explorations to total mastery. They make sense in a classroom, because there are several children using them, year after year, and some materials really call to a child while others may not… but at home, getting these close-ended objects can be more of a gamble, especially if they’re only going to be used by a single child (a case could be made for having a larger set of materials to be handed down to younger siblings, or shared within a community - in fact, I think that’s a great idea!). With that in mind, there are a couple of materials that are often used for a slightly longer period of time, and are unique enough - in my opinion - to merit the extra expense and storage needs.
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As I was putting this list together, I went through my albums (reference guides you make in Montessori training) and thought of how, in contrast to the 3-6 set of materials which is very specific, including Maria Montessori’s original designs, most of the 0-3 range resembles household objects and common infant toys - designed in a thoughtful way that just makes the object that much more special and interesting to a child. There are also materials (looking at you, Practical Life sets) which are made to mimic household objects that a child would have at home, in a size that’s more suitable for them as they learn to use them - again, this is perfect for a school that aims to be a “home of the children”. In your home, however, you can offer your kid the real things (when safe) - with all the challenges and opportunities that entails. If you ask me, the real family kitchen made accessible beats a toddler-sized one, every time!
So, below are my favorite “official” Montessori materials - ones detailed in Montessori training: 5 for babies and 5 for toddlers (plus some honorable mentions). Most of these can only be bought from specialist retailers, although you could surely DIY them, or find close substitutions that are more widely available. Nowadays a lot of these are also popping up on amazon, etsy and more.
Okay, so my first material might not fit the exact definition of one (boo!), but I wanted to feature it anyway because it’s such an underrated, Montessori-specific item and I don’t know of anything else that serves the same purposes! The topponcino is a thin oval-shaped mattress or pillow that can be used to hold the baby in the first few weeks, preserving a familiar scent, temperature and feeling - baby’s points of reference, that help her feel safe - and that also works wonders for setting babies down without waking them up. The topponcino also helps babies be more comfortable in a movement area, and can be a good transitional piece between sleeping in a bassinet (or Montessori “cestina” with low sides) and a Montessori floor bed.
There is a scope and sequence of visual, then tactile mobiles for babies in the Montessori “repertoire”. This is typically the 4th visual mobile to be introduced, but in my experience it’s one of babies’ favorites, and the one that tends to stay up for the longest time. The dancers’ body parts move with a gentle breeze in the room, and captivate babies with their shiny colors and the way they reflect the light. The baby practices visual tracking as he follows the moving shapes with his eyes, and focusing on objects at different distances.
These are technically two, but I couldn’t add just one! They are so simple and so beautiful. The bell is the first tactile mobile that we present - as baby starts batting at the mobile with her hands, she gradually makes the connection between her movements and the sound, learning ****about cause and effect - which is rewarding and intriguing!! The ring is a bit more advanced, requiring the baby to open her hand and close the fingers around the ring in order to move it around, now that she is able to bring her hands to her midline. When babies start trying to grasp, a lot of effort and concentration is needed in order to coordinate the eyes and hands and successfully hold an object.
