Parenting and teaching during the early years can feel like a delicate balancing act. You want to give your child the right tools to grow, explore, and thrive—without overwhelming them with options. However, with a focused approach, you can buy toys in alignment with your child’s developmental stage. This makes playtime fun and purposeful at the same time.
While many parents search for “Montessori toys,” educators often use the word materials—referring to hands-on learning tools with a clear developmental purpose. We’ll use the term “toys” where appropriate for clarity and searchability, but rest assured: every item mentioned reflects authentic Montessori principles and materials.
Montessori toys (materials) are thoughtfully selected, encouraging independence, problem-solving, and creative thinking. So what are the best Montessori choices for each age group?
Montessori Toys (Materials) for Infants (0-6 Months)
During the first months of life, your baby absorbs their surroundings. They will likely be naturally drawn to high-contrast visuals, sounds, and textures. The early stages are all about building basic sensory awareness.
These materials promote mental and sensory stimulation. With these, you can nurture your baby’s natural curiosity and create opportunities for early learning.
Sensory Materials
Sensory development is crucial for infants. Materials like black-and-white contrast cards, soft rattles, and textured fabrics help engage your baby’s developing senses. These materials encourage visual tracking, auditory recognition, and tactile exploration, laying the groundwork for more complex skills later.
Grasping Materials
Simple wooden grasping beads or rings are perfect for this age group. They encourage tiny hands to build strength and coordination. The smooth, softer materials often used in Montessori materials are also safe for teething babies.
Montessori Toys (Materials) for 6-12 Months
At this stage, children are on the move. They begin to understand cause-and-effect relationships and develop their gross motor skills. Try to prioritize materials that suit this age, as they help your baby refine their growing abilities, both mentally and physically.
Cause-&-Effect Materials
Materials like object permanence boxes and pop-up materials are an excellent fit for this age. These allow children to discover that actions have consequences, helping them understand consistency and improving their problem-solving skills.
Motor Development Materials
Simple tools such as stacking cups, rolling cylinders, and crawling aids support physical development. These materials encourage movement, balance, and coordination while fostering discovery and play.
Montessori Toys (Materials) for Toddlers (12-24 Months)
Toddlers are full of energy and eager to explore their independence. Montessori materials for this group focus on practical life skills, problem-solving, and creative opportunities.
Practical Life Materials
Child-sized utensils, cleaning tools like mini brooms, and water pouring sets help toddlers mimic real-life activities. This allows them to explore independence and build fine motor skills. These activities also foster a sense of responsibility and belonging in the household.
Building & Sorting Materials
Wooden puzzles, shape sorters, and stacking rings encourage critical thinking and spatial awareness. Engaging in these activities helps strengthen hand-eye coordination and provides them with a sense of accomplishment.
Open-Ended Play Opportunities
At this age, creativity blossoms through materials like simple blocks. These allow your toddler to build, stack, and imagine endless possibilities, creating unique experiences each time they play.
Montessori Toys (Materials) for Preschoolers (2-4 Years)
Preschoolers are busy mastering more complex skills. Montessori materials for this age support early literacy, mathematical exploration, and social play.
Early Literacy Materials
Tools such as sandpaper letters and movable alphabets are excellent at this stage. They make learning the connection between sounds and symbols a tactile, hands-on experience. With these, your child can naturally and joyfully begin practicing pre-writing and phonetic skills.
Mathematical Exploration Materials
Montessori counting beads, number rods, and abacus tools concretely introduce mathematical concepts. By physically manipulating materials, children can better understand concepts such as counting, addition, and patterns, which helps lay a strong foundation for future math skills.
Pretend Play Materials
Materials like child-sized kitchen sets or dramatic play shops support social development. Pretend play fosters creativity while also allowing preschoolers to role-play real-life scenarios. Play helps children build friendships and fine motor skills at the same time.
Montessori Toys (Materials) for Early Learners (4-6 Years)
Early learners are ready for materials that challenge their concentration and encourage complex thought processes. Montessori materials for this group focus on developing patience, perseverance, and creativity.
Advanced Practical Life Materials
Pouring sets, lacing activities, and flower-arranging kits provide hands-on opportunities for children to improve their coordination. These materials help foster independence and help children maintain focus over longer periods of play. They’re stimulating and engaging, making playtime more productive and enjoyable for children.
Problem-Solving & Construction Materials
Puzzles and construction sets encourage both logical thinking and persistence. Children can explore new solutions and refine their skills with every attempt. These materials challenge the mind, promote creativity, and ultimately lay a solid foundation for children’s problem-solving abilities.
Artistic Expression Materials
Wooden crayons, sculpting clay, and watercolour kits allow children the freedom to express themselves creatively. Artistic activities during this stage also improve fine motor skills and encourage self-expression.
See the Mosaic Montessori Difference
At Mosaic Montessori Academy, we nurture every child as they develop. With thoughtful and child-centred learning techniques, we work closely with your family to help your child build lifelong skills. And it all begins with the right materials—that’s the Mosaic Montessori difference.
Contact our team today to learn how we can work together. Your child deserves a chance to succeed, and we’re ready to help.
