Why Buy Montessori Games?

The Montessori method has grown in popularity over the years. And for good reason, there are many teachers and early childhood professionals who praise the merits of this learning method.

In reality, Montessori learning is nothing new. This method comes from the observations of Maria Montessori, an Italian pedagogue who will then develop a whole pedagogy centered on the development of the skills and personality of each child.

If the Montessori method is applied today in many schools, it also extends to toys.

What is a Montessori game?

Historically, there are no “Montessori toys or games”. Maria Montessori has never included the word toy in her vocabulary but preferred to use the word “material”.

However, there are many toys that lend themselves to the development of certain concepts, much like the materials in a Montessori learning environment.

So, what makes one so-called Montessori game different from another? Well, it all lies in the design of the toy and how it is used.

Parents are spoiled for choice when it comes to toys and it has to be said that toy manufacturers do some pretty awesome stuff. Toys that light up, play music and even teach your child the alphabet, colors, numbers… impressive! Toys talk, walk, flip, fly, how can a wooden Montessori matching game compare to that?

Here are 4 good reasons to return to Montessori toys

1. They don't break easily which means they will survive heavy use and still be in good enough condition to pass down to the next generation or to donate/sell.

2. Montessori toys are much more visually appealing, inviting the child to play with them. Wood, especially when left unpolished/unpainted, is also pleasant to the touch. Each wooden toy has a unique texture; something the brain can feel, as well as the hands. In addition, let's not forget that the Montessori method is based on child development and this involves sensory exploration. Sight and touch are therefore to be preferred.

3. Montessori toys provide more opportunities for open-ended play. This type of play allows children to make discoveries, test hypotheses and develop crucial developmental skills, especially if your child is playing independently.

4. Many Montessori toys invite the child to build, expanding their spatial and mathematical intuition. Open-ended toys (which most Montessori toys are) require the child to learn by doing. This is not to say that no plastic toy requires a child's creativity and concentration. Our educational construction game is an example of plastic toys that encourage concentration and creativity.