Toddler Montessori Gifts

 

“The absorbent mind is indeed a marvelous gift to humanity! By merely 'living' and without conscious effort the individual absorbs from the environment even a complex cultural achievement like language. If this essential mental form existed in the adult, how much easier would our studies be!” Maria Montessori The Formation of Man, p. 64 Because the best gift is their absorbent mind, we don't need to stress too much about getting holiday gifts that our children will love. Less is more, too many items on the toy shelf makes concentration difficult. Instead, focus their gifts on ways that you can involve them in family life. What can enable them to help you in the kitchen? The yard? From the For Small Hands website (a Montessori store at https://www.forsmallhands.com/) I would recommend: D460: Pizza Making Tools D312: Fruit Wedger / Corer with Push Plate D108: Mini Masher D349: Mini Bamboo Cutting Board D317: Red Mini Whisk D104: Wavy Chopper D327: Wood Handled Spreader D316: Swiss Vegetable Peeler D350: Mini Colander Set D234: Mini Cupcake Set G274: Glass Pitcher with Lid D513: First Glass Set PL451: Window Washing Activity Q25: Children's Corn Broom W42: Hardwood Clothesline Stand Q70: Lamb's wool Duster Q56: Whisk Broom and Dustpan Set Q86: Natural Sweep Carpet Sweeper SC616: Metal Leaf Rake Q40: Child Size Snow Shovel SC813: Lil' True Temper Wheelbarrow SC403: Lil' Gardener Tool Set SC679: Mini Galvanized Watering Can SC561: Plastic Compost Bin SC211: Terra Kids Beaker Magnifier A275: Crayon Rocks R294: Unplugged Play-Toddler

Use This! Not That!

 

USE THIS...NOT THAT!

USE THIS! Young children are working hard on hand eye coordination and using utensils with proper manners. Eating from a cup or bowl with a spoon provides a multitude of benefits.  Pouches are certainly easy, but do not provides any skills for the child. Save these for road trip snacks. NOT THAT!

USE THIS! Young children play hard outside running and climbing, and  sturdy, fastened shoes are a must to enable us to play like we need to. Plus, they get really annoyed when mulch or gravel gets into our open shoes. It cuts down on their playtime getting mulch out! Sandals and croc-type shoes are easy to slip on and off, but are best left to the beaches (croc-type shoes are perfectly servicable for indoor slippers). NOT THAT!

USE THIS! You can use absorbent pads on furniture in case of accidents, this allows children to feel wet and understand when they should have gone to the bathroom. These are also a great choice for the car rides to and from school. Pull-ups do not allow children to feel wet, and teaches them to ignore their body's signals. It is also confusing to a child that sometimes when they release they feel wet, and other times they do not. Save pull-ups for nighttime sleep, which requires the hormone ADH (antidiurectic hormone) to be fully developed in order to wake up dry.  NOT THAT!