I've been striving to live a more natural life with my family. For us, this means eating a cleaner diet and seeking out more natural products for our bodies. Something I've recently stumbled upon during my research is Montessori-style learning and I've been doing my research to learn more. Montessori in a nutshell means: a system of education that develops natural interests as opposed to formal teaching methods. As a mother, I have been most interested in the hundreds of unique toys because they look so different from what you see while browsing Toys-R-Us.
I put together a few "criteria" for these earthy toys based on what I have read thus far. There is so much more to Montessori living, but I'm going to keep it as short and sweet as possible.
Natural: Montessori toys are made of natural materials like wood, cotton, and wool. This totally makes sense for babies and toddlers because everything goes straight to their mouths. There are also toys made of porcelain and glass and, if I'm honest, I think that is strange. The purpose of these materials is to teach children to be delicate, which is a great concept, but I have two tough little boys that love to wrestle. The word "gentle" has been crossed out in my dictionary a couple of years now!
Simple: Less is more in the natural world so batteries are not necessary at all (imagine how much money you could save on all of those double A's!) Toys with sounds and voices do all the imaginative work for little ones which can hinder the process of children learning to speak and make the noises of animals and vehicles. Simplicity also eliminates the need for unrealistic colors like pink cats or purple dogs.
I agree to an extent with Montessori realism; I understand parents who want their children to grow up as realists instead of living in a fantasy world, but adults with artistic minds are some of the most intelligent, interesting, and successful people I've ever met.
Independent: These toys are intended to develop independence because no adult help is needed during assembly or play. Of course, parents can join their children during play time, but the overall goal is to develop their self-confidence.
After learning all of this, doesn't it makes sense why a child would rather play with a box, rather than the toy that came in the box? I thought it would be fun to include a few natural toys from Etsy sellers that I am obsessed with. Hope you enjoy!
T-Red & Tadpole
Their element stackers are amazing; they have water, fire, and air and they also make the cutest little wooden sheep and hedgehog!
Kat and Company
Kat and Company also has a baking set that I love, wooden teethers for babies, and adorable Waldorf style dolls.
Wooden Caterpillar
This shop has so many options for a lot of different ages which I love! They have balance toys, rattles, puzzles, and more.
Jacob's Wooden Toys
Jacob's Wooden Toys makes me want a baby girl so bad! They sell two and three story houses, along with sweet barns and extra furniture. You can even choose your upholstery fabric. You have to see the insides of these little homes for yourself.
A Summer Afternoon
As a mom of boys, we own a lot of cars and trucks, but this wooden dump truck and passenger bus are much cooler than anything we have now. This is a must-see shop purely for the creativity and talent that is clearly displayed in their toys.
Essential Montessori
I think any Montessori momma would be ecstatic receive this as a gift at her baby shower!
A Toymaker's Daughter
What child doesn't love knights and castles? The geeky side of me would have loved to have this fantasy set as a child. The seller also makes child sized kitchen sets and so much more! You
have to see the hand carved woodland critters.
Dendrik Eco Toys
I couldn't leave this shop out because they have one of the best wooden trains I've ever seen. There are lots of boyish options and some great learning toys.
Des Choses En Bois
I want to get every single animal figurine from this shop. They also sell an arctic set, an African set, and more. Also, be sure to check out their wooden names with your choice of animal attached!
As I mentioned before, I am only starting to learn about the Montessori style of learning and I'm very interested in incorporating a lot of the style into our lives. I know I won't be able to resist purchasing a few of these toys for my boys and do reviews on the shops and their creations later! I love Etsy and I love supporting small businesses because it helps individuals and families support themselves. Their income really depends on your support!
What do you think of Montessori style learning?
