50+ Montessori Toys For Babies, Toddlers & Big Kids: Tot Gift Guide
Looking for an educational toy for your little one? Early Learning Educator, Christina Clemer, shares her list of the best Montessori toys for kids of all ages – babies, toddlers, and big kids.
Did you know that Montessori is so much more than just a type of school? For some, it’s also a way of life.
The Montessori school philosophy, created by Maria Montessori, focuses on how to best support a child’s independence and learning in preparation for life. A big part of this philosophy centers on creating a beautiful environment full of well-made objects that will spark a child’s desire to learn.
There are many ways for parents and caregivers to create the same environment at home that helps to encourage independence right from the beginning.
In this guide, I’ll go over:
- What Montessori toys are
- The best types of Montessori toys for babies, toddlers & kids
- My favorite Montessori-inspired gift picks
Scroll down to learn more!
What are Montessori toys?
Montessori toys are designed to help parents and educators use the Montessori Method.
What is the Montessori Method?
Dr. Maria Montessori (1870-1952) was one of the first women in Italy to be granted a diploma as a physician. She devoted her life to studying the physical, social, cognitive and emotional development of children around the world. From her observations, she developed the Montessori Method of education, which encourages natural curiosity, self-directed activity and hands-on learning in a supportive, nurturing environment. Her method has been used around the world for over 100 years.
What makes a toy fall into the Montessori category?
- It is made with natural materials.
- It allows for open-ended play.
- It has simple features. (Avoid flashing lights and sounds.)
- It demonstrates control of error. (e.g. a puzzle)
Essentially, Montessori toys are any type of toy or material that encourages curiosity and learning in children — an integral part of child development.
The best Montessori toys for babies
The best Montessori baby toys are simple with a calm aesthetic. They are designed to ignite a baby’s curiosity without overwhelming them.
Here are a few examples:
- High contrast black and white illustrations
- Interlocking discs
- Sensory tumblers
- Rainbow stackers
- Shape sorters
- Mobiles
- Playmat
- Baby walker
- Hammer & ball toy
Scroll down to see my product picks for each.
The Tot Play & Learn Sets
Designed to help your baby reach important developmental milestones, The Tot Play & Learn Sets come with a booklet of activities, advice and tips! They also include six toys that can be played with in a variety of ways!
The Tot Play & Learn Set 0 – 3 Months
$120
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The Tot Play & Learn Set 3 – 6 Months
$120
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The Tot Play & Learn Set 6 – 12 Months
$120
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The Tot Play & Learn Set 12 – 18 Months
$150
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The Tot Play & Learn Set 18 – 24 Months
$120
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PlanToys Mobile
PlanToys Mobile
$25
Wee Gallery Explore Organic Playmat
Playmats are a soft and safe place for babies to practice tummy time or simply play. Made from organic cotton, which is farmed without the use of chemicals like pesticides, the Wee Gallery Explore Organic Playmat takes the educational fun further with high contrast black and white illustrations which will help strengthen your tot’s eyesight.
Wee Gallery Explore Organic Playmat
$89.95
Lovevery Play Gym
So many activity gyms are completely overstimulating, crowded with different toys and bright colors that overexcite.
The Lovevery Play Gym presents a more calming alternative that grows with your child. It includes everything you need – from batting to teething to learning to focus – for your baby’s first year of play.
The best part: it transitions into a toddler tent!
Lovevery Play Gym
$140
Lily & River Birch Wood Climber
Lily & River’s minimalist triangular climbing structure was designed to encourage babies and toddlers to gain confidence, stability and strength at their own pace by using their natural instinct to climb.
Available in white and natural wood, it includes a ramp that doubles as a slide for added fun!
Lily & River Birch Wood Climber
$369.95 – $578.95
Available in more colors
Wonder & Wise Baby Activity Walker
The Wonder & Wise Baby Activity Walker is just the thing babies need to get steady on their feet! Perfect for pre-walkers and those already steady on their feet – it can be played with while standing or sitting and makes a delightful noise when on the go!
Wonder & Wise Baby Activity Walker
$99
by ASTRUP Ball Pounding Toy
When it comes to honing hand-eye coordination, kids love the classic ball-pounding game from by Astrup! Made of FSC-certified Teawood and plywood, it’s a must-have for demonstrating cause and effect.
by ASTRUP Ball Pounding Toy
$37
The Best Montessori Toys For Toddlers
When a child hits toddlerhood, they’re in an intense period of gross motor skill and language development, and they feel a need for order in their world. You’ll want to choose toys that will help them to master these new skills.
Here are the top Montessori toys for toddlers:
- Mud kitchen
- Stepping stone game
- Fine motor toys
- Board books
- Blocks
- Puzzle stools
- Threading sets
- Puzzles
- Balance bike
- Small part play
- Indoor ball pit
- Balance beam
- Household role play toys
- Kitchen role play toys
- Grocery & cash register play set
- Shapes stacking tower
- Wooden puzzle
- Toddler tower
Learn more about these gift ideas for preschoolers below.
Jupiduu Slide
Available in a variety of fresh hues, the Jupiduu Slide is great for indoor or outdoor use!
Jupiduu Slide
$299.90
Available in more colors
Lily & River Little Steps
Lily & River’s Little Steps make playing ‘Don’t Touch the Hot Lava’ even more fun! Great for teaching colors and coordination, they’re made from premium, FSC-certified hardwood and have a non-toxic, VOC-free finish.
Lily & River Little Steps
$99.95
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The Tot Play & Learn Sets
As your tot gets more advanced, so do The Tot Play & Learn Sets. Now that we’ve mastered milestones like reaching and grasping, it’s time to work on shapes, cause and effects, colors and more!
The Tot Play & Learn Sets 2 -3 years
$150
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The Tot Play & Learn Set 3 – 4 Years
$150
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Rock Blocks Building Blocks
Blocks are one of the best gifts you can give a toddler because they encourage creativity, problem-solving skills and dexterity and they will play with them for years to come.
These wooden blocks from Rock Blocks are particularly beautiful. They are made from a variety of wood and just the right size for little hands.
Rock Blocks Terra Set of 16
$64
Plum Toys Discovery Mud Pie Kitchen
Perfect for messy, sensory-driven outdoor play this mud kitchen will be the source of many hours of fun. It also features a built-in planter for your budding little gardener.
Plum Discovery Mud Pie Kitchen
$429.99
Raduga Grez Sand Small Arch Stacker
Fun to stack and nest on its own, the Raduga Grez Sand Small Arch Stacker can also be used to set the scene for loads of imaginative play!
Raduga Grez Sand Small Arch Stacker
$30
Banwood First Go! Balance Bike
A balance bike challenges toddlers’ coordination and gross motor skills and can be a great way for your budding cyclist to join in on a family ride. You can purchase a helmet here.
Banwood Bikes First Go! Balance Bike
$189
Available in more colors
Tender Leaf Toys Table Top Tool Bench + Moulin Roty Wooden Tool Set
When paired together, the Tender Leaf Toys Table Top Tool Bench and Moulin Roty Wooden Tool Set is a fabulous station for strengthening fine motor skills, honing hand-eye coordination and arming kids with the tools they need to develop important life skills and independence.
Tender Leaf Toys Table Top Tool Bench
$109.99
Moulin Roty ‘I am working’ Wooden Tool Set
$52
Balu Organics Indoor Ball Pit
The fun thing about the Balu Organic Ball Pit is that it can be used from birth as a soft place to do tummy time, learn to sit up or play. Once strong enough, throw the balls in and that’s where the active and/or imaginative play begins!
Balu Organics Large Premium Ball Pit w/ 400 Balls
$289
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Available in more colors
Wiwiurka Wooden Balance Beam
If you know a kid who loves building obstacle courses, then you’re going to want to get them the Lily & River Little Gymnast! Fun to play on solo or with friends, it’s great for encouraging balancing and critical thinking.
Wiwiurka Wooden Balance Beam
$145
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PlanToys Washing Machine
Household role play toys like the PlanToys Washing Machine are important because they help children gain life skills and independence! (They also make playing “House” way more realistic!!)
PlanToys Washing Machine
$190
Janod Toys Cleaning Set
Made from solid wood and stainless steel, the Janod Toys Cleaning Set is designed for 3 – 8 year olds and includes a broom, mop, dustpan, brush and bucket. Fun to play with solo or with a friend, it helps hone hand-eye coordination while instilling important life skills.
Janod Toys Cleaning Set
$38.99
Milton & Goose Play Kitchen + Food Toys
Play kitchen and food toys are some of the best ways to expand a child’s vocabulary, encourage independence and establish healthy eating habits. They’re also a fun way to develop social skills.
Milton & Goose Essential Play Kitchen – Natural
$649
Available in more colors and configurations
Milton & Goose Veggies Play Food Set
$58
Janod Toys Green Market Grocery
If you’re looking for ways to teach your kids about choosing healthy foods, independence and the fundamentals of personal finance, the Janod Toys Green Market Grocery is just the thing for play-based learning.
Janod Toys Green Market Grocery
$120.99
by ASTRUP Shapes Stacking Tower
Made of FSC-certified Beechwood, plywood, and Teakwood, the by ASTRUP Shapes and Stacking Tower set includes 25 shapes and 6 activity cards that help children develop cognitive skills, concentration, memory, problem-solving, recognition, coordination, and imagination.
by ASTRUP Shapes Stacking Tower
$52
Stuka Puka Solar System Wooden Puzzle
This true heirloom quality solar system puzzle from Stuka Puka is a fun way to teach kids the names of planets and Earth’s proximity.
Stuka Puka Solar System Wooden Puzzle
$50
Franklin + Emily Toddler Tower
Once your tot is ready to take on a real kitchen, having the Franklin + Emily Toddler Tower on hand will be just the thing they need to help you wash fruit, vegetables or stir a delicious bowl of cookie dough!
Franklin + Emily Toddler Tower
$185
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The best Montessori toys for kids
Montessori-friendly toys for young children should encourage creativity and exploration while helping them to learn about the real world and how to engage in it.
Here are my top Montessori picks for your growing child:
- Dollhouse
- Wooden cars
- Eco-friendly toy trucks
- Letter boards
- Weather/time board
- Shapes and fractions game
- Flash cards
- Sets that encourage role play
- Wooden Balance Board
- Large blocks
- Arts & crafts supplies
- Play teepee
- Music toys
Shop these toys below.
PlanToys Victorian Dollhouse
Doll play with the PlanToys Victorian Dollhouse is one way kids can practice manners, work through emotions, think critically and ultimately develop a sense of self!
PlanToys Victorian Dollhouse
$359
Q Toys Vehicle Play Set
For lovers of things that go, the Q Toys Vehicle Play Set has everything they need to get on the road. The solid and sustainably-sourced plantation timber set includes:
- 7 x different vehicles
- 1 x bump gate
- 2 x traffic signs
- 1 x bridge
- 1 x storage box
Q Toys Vehicle Play Set
$56.99
Luke’s Tot Factory Educational Truck – 4 Pack
Made in the USA from 30% sawdust and 70% safe, certified, clean plastic, Luke Toy Factory’s trucks are fun both inside and out!
Luke’s Toy Factory Educational Truck – 4 Pack
$69.95
PlanToys Ramp Racer
Made from sustainable rubberwood, the ramp racer is great for teaching about cause and effect while having fun!
PlanToys Ramp Racer
$60
The Tot Play & Learn Sets
From the age of four, many kids are at preschool or gearing up for more formal education.
As an advocate of play-based learning, I worked with The Tot to create these play and learn sets for 4 to 6-year-olds. Designed with a focus on developing literacy, numeracy, science and life skills, they come with a booklet packed with activities, advice and tips!
The Tot Play & Learn Set 4 – 5 Years
$150
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The Tot Play & Learn Set 5 – 6 Years
$100
EXCLUSIVE
Tender Leaf Toys Weather Watch
The Tender Leaf Toys Weather Watch allows kids to expand their vocabulary while learning all about the weather. By making it part of your tot’s daily routine, it can aid in helping them choose weather-appropriate clothing, which encourages independence.
Tender Leaf Toys Weather Watch
$59.99
by ASTRUP Shapes and Fraction Game
Looking for a fun way to introduce the concept of fractions while honing hand-eye coordination? The by ASTRUP Shapes and Fraction Game is the answer. Made of FSC-certified Teakwood and plywood, this 20 piece set is great for developing cognitive skills, concentration, memory, problem-solving, number recognition, and understanding quantities.
by ASTRUP Shapes and Fractions Game
$37
Make Me Iconic Role Play Sets
Make Me Iconic Role Play sets are made from high-quality wood and child-safe paints. Sure to be heirloom toys passed on from generation to generation, your children will love learning about their bodies, health and empathy!
Make Me Iconic Surgeon/Pharmacist Kit
$64.99
Make Me Iconic Dentist Kit
$64.99
Make Me Iconic Doctor Kit
$64.99
Wobbel Balance Board
The Wobbel gives children an outlet for their boundless energy even on the coldest winter days. Not only is it fun, but it also helps children develop balance and strong muscles. This versatile wooden toy is great for babies and toddlers too!
Wobbel The Original
$159
Wobbel Original with Felt
$199
Guidecraft Outdoor Hollow Blocks
Block play will be at a whole new level (literally) with Guidecraft’s Hollow Blocks! While they offer the same developmental benefits of classic block play, they can also act as a set for imaginative play!
Guidecraft Outdoor Wooden Hollow Blocks
$999.95
Kid Made Modern Craft Library
While it may not look as cute as a perfectly planned Pinterest activity, creating a work of art from open-ended art supplies gives children an entirely different experience. Let your kid lead the way with this set of materials that will inspire creativity and hours of child-led art exploration.
Kid Made Modern Arts & Crafts Library
$49.99
Twee Sidewalk Chalk
Take the fun outside with Twee Sidewalk Chalk! From creating a hopscotch course to free-styling a masterpiece to writing a welcome home message to Mom, kids will love the uniquely shaped chalk!
Twee Dragon Egg and Scales Sidewalk Chalk
$27
Twee Mason’s Planets Sidewalk Chalk
$42
Dough Parlour Non-Toxic Scented Play Dough
Handmade in small batches, Dough Parlour’s non-toxic scented playdough is the ultimate sensory experience for kids! Available in a range of sets and scents, it’s both a calming and creative activity.
Dough Parlour Citrus Set – 3 Pack
$22
Dough Parlour Fruit Set – 3 Pack
$22
Dough Parlour Collector Set
$80
Babai Play Tent
Children love hideaways — a cozy nook that’s just for them. This teepee makes a perfect spot to keep a few beautiful picture books that encourage a love of reading.
Babai Play Tent
$129.99
Available in more colors
BabyNoise + Green Tones Musical Instruments
Musical play is important for developing rhythm and coordination. It can also be calming, empowering and all sorts of fun! I love these options from BabyNoise & Green Tones because they’re made of child-safe wood and non-toxic finishes.
Green Tones Tone Drum
$32
BabyNoise Hand Held Drum
$32
BabyNoise Double Maraca
$19
Available in more colors
Green Tones Melody Glockenspiel
$40
Continue exploring
- Interested in learning more about the Montessori Method? Check out The Best Montessori Toys That Grow With Your Child.
- When it comes to a child’s education, the idea that “earlier is better” isn’t supported by developmental psychology research. In fact, play forms a necessary foundation for competencies in school and beyond. Read a psychologist’s argument to ditch traditional academics.
