Montessori Toys Benefits – Are They Better?

We all want what’s best for our children. Setting them on the right path during their formative years is critical if they’re to achieve the life we want for them. For many, the solution for this goal is Montessori toys. When used correctly, they really can help your child thrive. In this article, we’ll dive into the key Montessori toys' benefits. 

Montessori toys and the educational framework surrounding them are trusted by parents around the world. For many, the results speak for themselves. Some of the world’s most successful people went through a Montessori education. 

Jeff Bezos, for example, is vocal about the importance of early education and his love for Montessori. There are many more such examples to be found too. If you want to give your child the best possible head start in life, Montessori may just be the answer.

Right, let’s explore the benefits of Montessori toys! 

Montessori Toys – An Introduction

The Italian physician and educator, Maria Montessori, is responsible for the Montessori pedagogy and toys we know today. After completing her medical training and taking several courses in education, she first began formalizing her thoughts on child development in 1897.

The result is an approach to early-years education that: 

• Utilizes children’s natural strengths and interests. 
• Prioritizes hands-on learning.
• Develops real-world skills. 
• Fosters independence. 
• Supports and nourishes a child's curiosity. 
• Much more. 

The headline here is that Montessori toys are fantastic for cognitive development and help develop inquisitive, intelligent, independent and confident children. 

The Evidence Speaks for Itself

While no approach to education is perfect, there’s a growing body of evidence to suggest that the benefits of a Montessori education are tough to ignore. 

Evidence:

• This evaluation of the Montessori method found that its students displayed significantly greater cognitive performance than their non-Montessori counterparts. 
• This 2021 study indicates better test performance, cognitive functioning, and overall well being in Montessori students. 

These papers really are just the tip of the iceberg. For many parents around the world, the results of this kind of education speak for themselves.

 

The Key Features of Montessori Toys

To understand Montessori toys, we first need to touch on the guiding philosophy that influences their design. Check out this quote from the American Montessori Society: 

 

“Montessori is an education philosophy and practice that fosters rigorous, self-motivated growth for children and adolescents in all areas of their development, with a goal of nurturing each child’s natural desire for knowledge, understanding, and respect.”

 

At their core, Montessori toys are designed to stay true to the philosophy outlined above. In brief, these spectacular toys are:

• Simple in design. 
• Made from natural or simple materials. 
• Rooted in reality (real-world shapes, focused on problem solving.
• Functional and geared toward construction. 
• Designed to limit play outcomes to encourage creative thinking.

Montessori Toys Benefits

We explore just some of the benefits of Montessori toys below. 

Fantastic for Cognitive Development 

During their formative years, our children’s minds are like sponges – they soak up every drop of information that’s sent their way. Montessori toys are designed to lay down essential frameworks and catalyze remarkable cognitive development. 

Exploration and Discovery 

Montessori children are insatiably curious. Their toys are full of puzzles, explorations, and new discoveries. With a combination of simple shapes and mechanisms, a surprisingly diverse range of possibilities emerges. These toys help your child explore independently and thus encourage critical cognitive growth. 

A Montessori child is fueled by curiosity. 

 

Boosts Problem-Solving Skills 

Should that shape go here, or here? How do I connect these points together? How do I get these colors to match? These are the types of questions that Montessori toys encourage. Problem solving is arguably one of life’s most important skills. Montessori toys make your kid a problem-solving aficionado! 

 

Most importantly, they make this process fun. Each puzzle that’s faced – each challenge that a Montessori toy presents – is satisfying to resolve. This makes learning in this way feel effortless. 

A Montessori kid is used to solving problems.

 

Stimulates Imagination and Creativity 

Many modern toys are limitless in their scope. Video games present endless possibilities, electronic toys allow children to stimulate their brains immediately “on demand”. With a Montessori toy, these options have been limited. 

 

While this may seem counter-intuitive, the result is actually an increase in creativity and imagination. When you reduce play options down to a healthy set of key components, your child is “forced” to get creative. 

 A Montessori child is remarkably creative. 

 

Develops Faculties of Critical Thinking 

Practically every Montessori toy is built to encourage critical thinking. Shapes are matched, colors are aligned, and problems are presented in a challenging-yet-satisfying way. 

A Montessori child is great at thinking critically. 

Fundamental Physical Development

We all want our children to have the coordination and motor skills they need. Montessori toys may be the support you’re looking for. 

 

Montessori kinds have advanced motor skills and excellent hand-eye coordination. 

Improved Dexterity and Coordination 

The natural materials used to make Montessori toys aren’t just wonderful to look at – they’re also highly functional. These toys are tactile at their very core. The colors, shapes, and materials used are all crying out to be touched and handled. Interacting with challenging-yet-engaging objects in this way from a young age can work wonders for your child’s dexterity and overall control with their hands. 

Gross and Fine Motor Skills Development 

The smaller, more complex elements of Montessori toys are designed to develop your child’s fine motor skills. The larger scale, physical challenges they present are a boon for the gross motor skills that are so critical in a child’s development.

Enhanced Hand-Eye Coordination 

The same is true of your child’s hand-eye coordination. All of these skills further compound your little one’s ability to engage with and learn from educational tasks.

Supports Emotional Development 

The best educational framework in the world will fall short if its students don’t believe in themselves. Reports from parents around the world – as well as emerging evidence – suggests that a Montessori upbringing is one of the best ways to foster wellbeing and confidence in your child. 

 

Montessori kids are independent and confident. 

Encourages Independence and Self-Direction

Many Montessori toys are entirely or almost entirely self-led. Introducing this kind of play to your kids at an early age is a fantastic way to get them thinking for themselves. Self-led play leads to independence and individual problem solving. 

Builds Self-Esteem and Confidence 

When your child has a robust sense of independence, they’re far more likely to believe in their own capabilities. Confidence plays a significant role in learning outcomes at all ages.  

Instills a Love of Learning 

Montessori toys make learning satisfying. Exploring tasks and puzzles independently makes them all the more satisfying when you solve them – the achievement is yours alone! When implemented correctly, this can instill a deep love of learning that stays with your child for their entire lives.

 

Montessori kids love to learn. 

 

Try Montessori Toys Yourself 

Want to reap the benefits of Montessori toys for your child? Check out the options below: 

Silicone Stacking Building Block Set Toy for Kids

• Builds fundamental arithmetic skills. 
• Intuitive, self-led learning. 
• Hand-eye coordination training. 
• Improves fine motor skills.
• Helps body control and balance. 

Shape Matching and Stacking Wooden Educational Toy for Kids

• Durable, natural materials. 
• Supports your child’s coordination. 
• Interactive, self-led play. 
• Develops focus and curiosity. 

Montessori Toys Benefits – Last Word 

So, are Montessori toys better? There’s no simple answer that can explain why so many people prefer Montessori toys VS regular toys, and maybe that’s a good thing. Childhood development is far from a simple thing and it takes a holistic approach to get things right. 

 

What does seem clear, however, is how popular this approach to education has become. There are countless successful people out there who can trace their education back to a Montessori academy. 

 

The Montessori toys benefits that are tough to ignore include: 

• More confident, independent children. 
• Strong support for cognitive development. 
• Better coordination and motor skills. 
• Kids who are problem solvers. 
• So much more. 

 

We strongly recommend incorporating Montessori toys into your child’s weekly routine. Check out our range today – you’ll be glad you did.