Setting up a Montessori Toddler Shelf at Home
Creating a Montessori-inspired shelf for your toddler at home can be a fantastic way to support their developing independence and curiosity. With just a few containers and household items, you can organise engaging activities that promote sensory exploration, fine motor skills, and problem-solving. This guide offers easy steps for setting up a Montessori toddler shelf that aligns with their natural drive for learning.
To set up a simple Montessori toddler shelf at home, all you need are a few baskets or containers, the supplied resources, and some objects from around the house.
For toddlers aged 2 – 3 you may choose to include:
- Rolling a rug or fabric napkin
- Spooning activities
- Pouring activities
- Pegging
- Sorting activities
- Threading
- Velcro, zipper, snap and buttoning activities
- Juicing activities
- Chopping a banana
- Mortar and pestle
- Pink Tower puzzle
- Binomial Cube Puzzle
- Language Cards
- Alphabet Cards
- Number Cards
- Matching Games
- Memory Games
- Colour Box Two resource
- Shapes resource
Take your cues from your child’s interests and don’t forget to look at the toddler resources section for additional activities.
Toddler Resource Pack
- Colour Cards & Colour Box 2
- Pink Tower & Brown Stairs
- Red Rods & Binomial Puzzle
- Russian Nesting Dolls
- Numbers & Alphabet Cards
- Language Cards
Russian Matryoshka or Nesting Dolls
Use the supplied Russian Matryoshka Nesting Doll printable to create a simple seriation and language activity at home.
Colour Matching
Use the supplied resources for Colour Box Two to practice colour identification and colour matching with your child. Colour Box Two introduces children to an extended range of colours.
Binomial Puzzle
Create your own Binomial Puzzle at home using the supplied resources. This is a matching activity that also prepares children for mathematics.
Matching Cards
Use the supplied matching cards to create a matching activity for your toddler. Remember to define the work space with a rug, fabric napkin, or a towel.
Language Cards
Use the supplied two part cards to assist your toddler with matching and language development.
Whole Hand Transfer
Whole hand transfer is a great activity for children aged 18 months – 3 years to develop their fine motor skills and coordination. All you need is an old tea caddy and pom poms.
Imbucare or Posting Box
Create your own Imbucare Box using found objects to explore the concept of object permanence with your toddler. Extend on the activity by adding counting and sorting.
Pink Tower Puzzle
Use the supplied Pink Tower Puzzle resource to assist with refining your child’s visual sense by discriminating differences in size.
Counting with Russian Matryoshka Dolls
Practice counting with the supplied Russian Matryoshka Dolls printable and lesson instructions.
Open and Close
Create your own opening and closing activities from containers and bags found at home.
Counting Grid
Use the supplied counting grid to assist your child with identifying and quantifying numerals. This is also a great activity to practice counting!
Scooping, Spooning and Pouring
Create your own scooping, spooning and pouring activities at home by using found objects in your kitchen drawers.
Additional Toddler Resources
Hands-on learning opportunities that explore the five areas of the Montessori Curriculum.