Why are Montessori toys good?
In line with the Maria Montessori method, toys promote the child’s development at the appropriate stages. Therefore, based on the method, different toys will be offered to a child depending on their age category. These toys serve as the tools for the child to build their personality.
Maria Montessori says the first six years of a child’s life are crucial for their future development. During this period, the brain can absorb an incredible amount of information and knowledge. Therefore, choosing suitable toys during this period is essential to ensure that learning is easy and beneficial.
Key Characteristics of Montessori Toys
1. Natural Materials
There is no approved list of Montessori toys, but the concept of Montessori-friendly toys exists. These are toys made from natural materials such as wood, metal, wool, cotton, clay, and even glass. Most people imagine wooden toys when they hear “Montessori toys”, while this is true, it’s not limited to that.
2. Simplicity
The toy should be without batteries, music, or 40 different functions. Just because a toy entertains doesn’t mean it helps a child develop. A Montessori toy encourages the development of imagination, creativity, and problem-solving skills.
3. Close to the Real World
Maria Montessori preferred books that describe actual events rather than fictional stories. In this context, if you give a child a cat figurine, it’s better if it resembles a real animal rather than a cartoon character. The same applies to musical instruments, which should be as close as possible to real ones. This could include the sound of metal bells, musical toy ruble, rhythm sticks, musical rattles, rhythmic claves sticks, or handle castanets.
4. Fewer Toys are Better
According to the method, a child should have only a few toys in their room. This makes it easier for them to concentrate on play and, at the end of playtime, put all the toys back in their place. It’s also essential to observe the child to determine which toys are most interesting to them during their current stage of development.
What toys should be avoided?
1. Multifunctional Toys
These are toys that have numbers, letters, different colors, clocks, and, of course, music. Such a variety of functions does not improve a child’s concentration and does not provide the benefits adults often believe it does.
2. Entertaining Toys
These are toys that, when a button is pressed, start talking, shining, singing, etc. Such toys kill a child’s motivation and often collect dust on a shelf, becoming uninteresting.
3. Musical Books
These toys do not help develop a child’s speech. Hearing live speech is essential for a child because the child also perceives facial expressions, intonation, and tone of voice. That’s why it’s so important to read to children personally.
4. Multi-Sorters for Children Under Three
These toys try to teach colors, animal names, numbers, etc., all at once. This approach only confuses the child. A better approach is to introduce things step by step: offer a sorter with just colors, animals, or shapes. Start with a sorter that has large holes, then medium-sized ones, and finally narrow holes. The number of objects should also be limited to 2-3 pieces at a time.
One of Maria Montessori’s principles was that you should not help a child with a task they can complete independently.
