Have you noticed that most Montessori toys are wooden? If you walk into a Montessori classroom, you will find that the majority of the toys and learning materials are made of wood. Wood seems to be the theme for Montessori toys.
Why are Montessori toys wooden? Wood provides a multi-sensory experience which is important in learning and development. Wood offers different textures, shapes, sizes, and weights. Montessori believes that children learn better with the sensorial value of wooden toys.
Wooden Toys are Versatile
Wooden Montessori toys are open-ended that allow children to create their own ways of playing. Children get to use the toys as intended or in any creative way they can imagine.
For example, children can turn a wooden balance board into a rocking chair or a see-saw. They can use it as a bridge, a tunnel, or whatever they can dream of.
The more uses the toy has the fewer toys children need. Giving children fewer toys helps them focus and concentrate. They have fewer distractions. Montessori believes in the saying, fewer toys more play.
Wooden Toys Help Children Focus
Wooden toys have different textures that feel good to a child’s touch. Aside from the texture, the size, shape, and weight also keep them engaged and focused on the activity.
Research shows that playing with toys with natural elements like wood help children focus, concentrate, and calm down.
Touching wood has a neurological impact on a child’s brain because touching wood has a calming effect.
Wooden Toys are Great Introduction to Math
Wooden toys teach young children important skills for learning mathematics like pattern matching and pattern recognition. Wooden building blocks also teach numbers and counting.
Wooden toys like building blocks, puzzles, stackers, and pegs help with dexterity, hand-eye coordination, balance, and fine motor precision.
Wooden Toys Allow Children to Relate to the Real World
Young children cannot distinguish fantasy from reality. Montessori believes that it is important to introduce toys that are realistic and will connect them to the real world.
Montessori wooden toys are realistic in appearance, feel, taste, smell, and sound. They are in sync with what children experience with their surroundings.
Wooden Toys Teach Independence
Wooden toys teach young children independence. It promotes confidence in their abilities and encourages them to do things on their own.
For example:
- A wooden step stool gives children the confidence to help with simple kitchen chores like washing fruits and vegetables.
- Vegetable cutting puzzles help children practice their chopping skills to encourage them to help their parents in preparing food.
- A wooden push toy helps toddlers to practice crawling and walking.
Wooden Toys Teach Practical Life Skills
Wooden Montessori toys are purposeful. They are designed to teach a child a lesson or a skill or achieve a milestone. They are designed to teach young children practical life skills that will prepare them to become independent and responsible individuals.
For example, kiddie wardrobes encourage toddlers to dress themselves. Wooden utensils encourage independent feeding and kid-sized cleaning sets allow them to clean after themselves.
Wooden Toys are Beautiful and Durable
Wood makes beautiful toys and they are durable too. Different kinds of wood have different textures and their natural grains are beautiful. Their aesthetics catch their attention and engage toddlers.
Wooden toys can withstand a beating. Young children play rough because they are not in full control of their movements and they have a lot of energy. Wood can take a beating – smashing, dropping, bumping, throwing, etc.
Wooden Toys are Simple and Encourage Creative Play
Wooden toys are simple. The simplicity of design offers endless opportunities for creative play.
Simple toys can be reimagined into different creative games. For example, building blocks can be used for stacking, building castles, and other games your children can think of.
Wooden Toys are Eco-Friendly
Wood is a natural material that is biodegradable, reusable, and recyclable. They don’t fill up landfills like plastic and other synthetic toys.
Wooden Montessori toys are not factory-made so they have very low to zero carbon footprints.
Wooden Toys Develop Social Skills
Because wooden toys are simple and open-ended, they encourage children to express their thoughts and feelings.
Wooden toys are also fun to play with others, especially with family members. It teaches children social interaction skills and other positive character traits.