Montessori at Home

What to put on the shelf, when a child is ready for it, and what the research does and does not show. Written by the people who pick the toys.

A wooden shape sorter box with a round, square and triangular hole cut in its lid, and the three matching wooden blocks lying beside it on a cream linen cloth.
Choosing toysMilestones 9 min read
What age is a shape sorter for?

The circle goes in months before the triangle does, and the gap between them is not impatience. It is the skill arriving in order.

A wooden peg board with loose pegs on a cream cloth beside a wooden stacking ring toy with large rings, in natural window light.
Choosing toysSafety 10 min read
Can a 2-year-old play with toys labeled 3+?

The 3+ on the box is not a difficulty rating. Once you know what it is actually measuring, you can tell which ones are a real no.

A half-full wicker laundry basket of folded oatmeal-coloured cloths on a pale wooden floor beside a small wooden step stool, lit by soft window light.
Milestones 8 min read
How much activity does a toddler actually need? (180 minutes, and what counts)

Very little of the three hours has to look like exercise. There is also a second limit in the same guideline that almost nobody quotes.

A small chalkboard on a wooden tray with a circle, a cross and a square drawn in white chalk, a stick of chalk beside it, on a cream tablecloth
Milestones 10 min read
Should a 4-year-old be able to write their name before kindergarten?

Kindergarten teachers ask for something quieter than a written name, and it is not on any milestone poster. You can check for it at the kitchen table tonight.

A loose pile of small identical wooden counting discs on a cream tabletop, with four discs set apart from the pile in a short row.
Milestones 9 min read
When should a child be able to count objects, not just recite numbers?

A child can count to twenty and still not tell you how many buttons are in her hand. Only one of those is counting.

A thick wax crayon and a wooden pencil lying on a sheet of plain cream paper on a light oak table, next to a small wooden tray of coloured wooden pegs.
The shelf 9 min read
Are worksheets developmentally appropriate for a 3-year-old?

About half of three-year-olds do not yet have the grip a pencil needs. What tracing teaches at that age is not the letter.

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The Ultimate Guide to Montessori at Home

Shelf setup, choosing toys, and knowing when your child is ready for the next thing.

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