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.

Wooden tongs resting across the rim of a small ceramic bowl of pompoms on a wooden tray, with a second empty bowl beside it.
Doing it themselvesMilestones 10 min read
Can a 3-year-old use scissors? What has to work before the scissors do

The scissors are rarely the problem. It is the other hand, the one holding the paper, that decides whether the cut works.

A low wooden tray on a pale oak floor holding a small glass jug, two ceramic cups, a sponge and a folded oatmeal cloth, with morning light falling from a window on the left.
Choosing toysThe shelf 10 min read
What to do instead of screen time, when your toddler won't play with toys

A good toy loses to a tablet for a reason that has nothing to do with the toy. Watch when the crying actually starts.

A small wooden tray on a table holding four large wooden beads and a short stiff lace with a wooden tip, one bead already threaded onto it.
Doing it themselvesThe shelf 10 min read
Threading beads with a toddler: the setup that stops the dumping

When the beads end up on the floor, look at the lace before you decide she is too young for it.

A small wooden jar with its screw lid half off, next to a shallow oatmeal ceramic dish holding large natural wood beads and a short stiff lace, on a pale cream tabletop.
Is this normal?Milestones 11 min read
Is my 2-year-old's fine motor behind? What an OT checks that the toy aisle doesn't

The CDC asks two things of the hands at two. Pediatric OTs watch something else entirely, and it is not sold in the toy aisle.

A plain wooden posting box with one round hole and a single wooden ball resting beside it on a pale oak shelf.
Choosing toysGetting started 9 min read
What is a Montessori toy? Nobody certifies the word, so here is the test

Nobody owns the word, so any seller can use it. Here is the test we run on the toy in your hand.

A small round wooden tray on a pale wooden table holding a miniature cream ceramic pitcher, a small glass bowl of dry white rice, and a folded linen cloth.
Doing it themselvesMilestones 9 min read
When can a toddler pour their own water? (Rice first, and why)

Rice comes before water, and not for the reason most people give. The jug matters more than the age does.

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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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