Montessori Toys For 2 Year Olds: 6 Must Have Toys
Finding the best toys for 2 year olds can be challenging. Many parents are interested in Montessori toys for their children because of the specific approach to learning. Montessori toys focus on hands on learning, and encourage a child to learn through play. Here are some great learning toys for 2 year olds that will help you educate your little one, while also having some fun.
Montessori type learning toys for 2 year olds:
This puzzle is one of the best toys for 2 year olds because it focuses on combining a variety of their skills. They need to master their grip and matching, but also can enhance their learning of shapes and colors. This toy is a great way for your 2 year old to practice their hand-eye and wrist coordination. The sleek wooden design makes it a colorful addition to any playroom, and ensures that it will last for your next baby, if you have one.
A writing tablet is an absolute must-have when it comes to Montessori toys for 2 year olds. There are so many choices out there, it can be hard to pick the best one. This tablet is great because it not only allows your child to practice scribbling lines, circles and other shapes, but it also allows them to do it colorfully. This allows your 2 year old to continue their learning of colors as they learn to write. The size is compact enough for travel and there are a variety of colors to choose from.
A puzzle that helps your child learn how to count is very helpful at 2 years old. Your little one is gaining confidence in their ability to say numbers, and now it is time to help them understand what the numbers mean. This unique puzzle focuses on counting and on fine motor skills. You can also use this puzzle as your child gets older to help them understand addition and subtraction.
Your little one may love to imitate adults doing tasks. A play cleaning set can help keep them busy and help them to understand the importance of keeping things clean. This toddler cleaning set is really great because it also has a stand where all the pretend toys can be hung up after your little one is done "cleaning."
You will see lots of letter puzzles in your online searches. But, very few of these puzzles have both the upper and lower case alphabet. It is important to remind your baby that there is a big letter and a little letter. This puzzle is one of the few that have both the uppercase and lower case alphabet listed side by side for easy teaching. This is one of the more advanced learning toys for 2 year olds, so don't be surprised if it takes your 2 year old several months to master this one.
Stacking and arranging objects by size is a stable in Montessori education for toddlers. This sleek set not only helps your 2 year old understand big, bigger, biggest, but it also looks great in the playroom. This can be used younger than 2 as well, so they make a great gift for someone who is expecting a child.
Montessori Toys For 2 Year Olds: Take Home Points
Montessori toys for 2 year olds are those that focus on learning through play and cognitive thinking. Often times these toys will combine different skills to engage your toddler. For example, a toddler may need to match both the shape and the color of an object as well as use their fine motor skills to play with a certain toy. If you plan to have multiple children, the beauty of these learning toys is that they stand the test of time. There is growing evidence to Montessori based methods and new research is emerging to show possible benefits of using Montessori based activities for persons with dementia. There is limited evidence to choosing or not choosing a Montessori education for your child. There may be some language benefits over traditional schooling methods, but the evidence supporting this theory is limited.
Sources:
Courtier P, Gardes ML, Van der Henst JB, Noveck IA, Croset MC, Epinat-Duclos J, Léone J, Prado J. Effects of Montessori Education on the Academic, Cognitive, and Social Development of Disadvantaged Preschoolers: A Randomized Controlled Study in the French Public-School System. Child Dev. 2021 Sep;92(5):2069-2088. doi: 10.1111/cdev.13575. Epub 2021 May 1. PMID: 33932226; PMCID: PMC8518750.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8518750/
Sheppard CL, McArthur C, Hitzig SL. A Systematic Review of Montessori-Based Activities for Persons With Dementia. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2016 Feb;17(2):117-22. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2015.10.006. Epub 2015 Nov 14. PMID: 26589532.