Why do Montessori use wooden toys for kids?

Do you ever wonder why some educators or parents prefer wooden toys over their counterparts? There is a whole different approach to learning in preschool early education for children called Montessori. Before you sign your child up for this form of learning, it is better to learn a few things about it, including why wooden toys are preferable.

What Is Montessori?

It is a method of education that promotes children’s creativity in their learning process based on hands-on learning, self-directed activity, and collaborative plays. This modern teaching approach employs highly trained teachers who can guide children in Montessori schools in Cypress, TX, to age-appropriate activities that foster individual creativity.

Top 5 Toddlers’ Activities Taught in Montessori School

1. Coloring – Sorting out and matching colors is a necessary activity for children as you introduce them to literacy. Some educators prefer to use translucent beeswax crayons that encourage the layering of colors to realize new shades of colors.
2. Matching and sorting patterns – Toddlers can find different shapes and match them accordingly, especially for puzzle games. They can sort toys from small to big and fit in shapes, among other activities.
3. Pouring and scooping – Although it may create a mess, pouring and scooping allows children to master their motor functions.
4. Math – Counting is a big part of early childhood learning. Introducing kids to numbers, sorting, and counting also stimulate cognitive function.
5. Gardening and science – Children can learn a lot from nature. They can grow vegetables, water them, monitor their growth, then eat them. Further, children can practice identifying animals in pictures, by names, and in person.

Types of Wooden Toys Given to Kids in Montessori School

1. Abacus is a hands-on toy that helps children learn math and master color and pattern recognition.
2. The wood stirring drum is a toy for sharpening a child’s musicality. It sounds similar to a xylophone but works in a circular motion, like stirring food in a pot.
3. The wooden Balance Board – is one of the most common Montessori wooden toys. It teaches children the essence of balance. It is a very simple yet versatile toy that can be used as a small slide, a table, a seesaw for two kids, or even a bridge.
4. The Pikler Triangle – is a climbing toy that encourages children to explore their motor functions. It comprises an arch, climber, and ramp.
5. Wooden Balance Beam Set – is a great toy that children can use together at a time. The toy encourages motor development, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.
6. Wooden Stepping Stones – contain letters and numbers that can help children master language and math when playing.
7. Wooden Puzzles – puzzles are perfect for cognitive sharpening, encouraging learning math, language, and even spelling. The puzzles facilitate pattern matching for sensory stimulation and brain development.
8. A wooden rainbow stacker – is a perfect toy for teaching children to master colors, shapes, and patterns.

What Are the Benefits of Using Wooden Toys?

One of the fundamental reasons educators at Lycee Montessori prefer using wooden toys is that they feature natural materials. The benefits of such materials as wood include:

1. Safety – There are fewer accidents and injuries during toddler activities in Cypress involving wooden toys than other materials like metal.
2. Healthy – Although plastic may also be safer than metal, wood is the healthier option.
3. Versatility – Wooden toys are very versatile, offering more uses to toddlers. The result is a need for fewer toys to keep children engaged.
4. Promote creative play – Wood is a rather simple selection of material for making toys, compared to the alternatives of flashing lights, vivid colors, and noises typical with alternative toys. However, due to the mundane and rather simple nature of wooden toys, children develop new ways to enjoy and interact with their toys. It becomes the perfect opportunity for imaginative play and even problem-solving.
5. Introducing children to math and physics – In efforts to solve problems and discover new ways to use their wooden toys, children subtly introduce themselves to math and physics.
6. Durability – Wooden toys last a long time. Children can grow up with the same toys yet still benefit from playing with them.