The Montessori Toddler

As an educator, I am always seeking to create fun learning experiences for my children. Creating a Montessori environment for our toddler at home and making it part of our daily routine is important to me. I was thrilled to find a Montessori toy curriculum that could be delivered every three months right to our doorstep. When Bennett was a few months old, I started researching my options to purchase Montessori toddler materials.  I was thrilled when Monti Kids reached out and wanted to partner with me. Thrilled!

 When I started teaching, I worked in a private Montessori school and completely fell in love with the Montessori method. I was an assistant teacher in a three to five year old classroom and to say that I learned a lot is an understatement. Those kids blew me away with their abilities and academic growth. When I left to teach in a public school, following the child was drilled into my mind and it completely transformed the teacher I became. 

Maria Montessori shared, “We discovered that education is not something which the teacher does, but that it is a natural process which develops spontaneously in the human being.”  You may think that this does not apply to you as a parent, but let me tell you, YOU are your child’s first and most important teacher but you are not in this alone.

Monti Kids recognizes that parents need support and provides an amazing guide with each box so we know the order in which we should use the resources and why they are important. I have a degree in Early Childhood Education and I am still learning every day. 

Understanding the Brain

Monti Kids has created a box delivery system for children from birth through age three.  Did you know that 85% of your child’s core structure of their brain is developed by age three so it is super important to provide early multi-sensory experiences. These opportunities help young learners successfully achieve their developmental milestones while creating a strong foundation for future learning. 

Our Box

We chose to order Level 5, which is for 14-17.5 months old. Bennett wasn’t quite 14 months but he is ahead developmentally so I felt it was the best choice for him. He started walking at nine months so there’s that. Ha. Of course, he was thrilled when this big box was delivered. It took a few minutes to get him to open the box because what toddler doesn’t love climbing on a box? 

Once I showed him that it opened, he was ready to dive in. 

I love the organization of the box. Each activity was individually boxed and it came with a great parent’s guide tell me what activity to start with and how to introduce them. 

We actually received our box a few weeks ago and have been working through the different toys. We haven’t opened all of the boxes yet, but once I introduce a toy to him, it gets added to our Montessori shelf (also known as a cube shelf I purchased second hand).

Monti Kids teaches you how to introduce one toy at a time and how to teach your child to use them. Montessori is all about choices and individual growth. You should follow your child and let them choose what they will play with but also know that whatever their choice is, it’s a good one. All of these Montessori toddler toys are properly engaging their brain and providing multi sensory experiences. Basically, you are winning mama! 

You can see from these images, the drawers are his favorite.  I introduced the circles one color at a time. This is also the same way I introduced the shape puzzles on the left (one peg at a time). Your parent guide is super easy to understand and it helps you know exactly what to do. The boxes of toys that are not introduced will remain in his closet until its time. 

For this activity, he is sorting the colored wooden circles into the correct colored drawer.  Another cool thing about  Monti Kids is that they send me emails with explicit instructions and videos so I know how to support my little love.  

His first toy was the duck pull and it immediately became his new friend.  He pulls that thing around all over the place. I also love how durable these wooden tools are. 

This toy is called Pull Down. He likes to put the rings on and take them off. Right now we are still working on leaving the rings on the base and not putting them in his pockets. Ha. 

Why I Love Monti Kids

• I don’t have to be an expert in anything. The box & Montessori toys are designed and created by internationally-certified Montessori educators.
• They deliver to your doorstep every three months. 
• You get free access to online classes, one-on-one support and a private
  community moderated by child development experts.
• The guide in each box is amazing. It doesn’t matter what your education level is, any parent can easily learn how to use the toys with their child.
• They have an AMAZING facebook group that provides additional support if you need it. I have learned so much from these parents. 
• You don’t have to be a parent to purchase a box. This is great for grandparents, caregivers, etc. This also makes a great gift!
• I know that Bennett is learning and that his brain is engaged in these multi sensory experiences which are so important for his brain’s development.
• These toys are manufactured at an award-winning factory that uses only sustainable-forested wood, non-toxic paint, and 100% recyclable packaging.

Choosing to work with Monti Kids is a no brainer for me. I don’t have to read boxes at the store to see how a toy will help my child learn. I can trust that each activity Bennett does is purposeful which is important to me and FUN, which is important to him. Since they are wooden, they are very durable and easy to clean. Also, my little dogs have yet to try and chew on them, which is a first. I can’t tell you how many plastic and cloth things I have had to throw away because of our furry friends.

Honestly, I could go on and on about why Montessori toddler toys are important. I can tell you as an educator with a degree in Early Childhood Education, this company has my complete stamp of approval and I can’t wait to see watch Bennett grow with the help of Monti Kids. 

 

**This is a sponsored post but all opinions are 100% my own.