Holiday Gift Giving Guide
Believe it or not, the holiday season israpidly approaching! We thought it might be fun to share some of ourfavorite Montessori-friendly gift ideas.
Montessori infant environmentstraditionally use mobiles for newborns. There are different types, buttheir purpose remains the same: they aid babies in the development of theirvisual tracking, and they also bring the babies a sense of joy. Sinceinfants cannot perceive a lot of color variation early on, it is best to findhigh-contrast colors such as black, white, and red, and bold patterns orfaces. Etsy is a great source forfinding beautiful handmade versions. To learn more about Montessorimobiles, take a look at thisarticle .
Small silk scarves are an excellentoption for open-ended play. Children use their imaginations andcreativity as they think of ways to incorporate them into their play. Thescarves will be used for hiding, covering, waving, dancing, and as a dress-upoption. We have even seen them worn bypatient and willing family pets. This particular scarf is a bit smallerand colored with nontoxic dyes, making it perfect for babies andtoddlers.
Art supplies are a must for anychild. Keep it simple; children are happy to use paper from the recyclebin and whatever else you have around. If you’re looking for something alittle more special, check out these crayon rocks. Comfortable for tiny hands to grasp, they aremade with soy wax and colored with mineral powders. They lay downgorgeous color and are appreciated by children of all ages.
Young children love to do whatever thebeloved adults in their lives are doing. The tasks we often view asmonotonous or even tedious are exciting for little ones. Giving childrenreal tools that are sized down for them makes this important workpossible. This cooking set will allow you to cook with your child whilebonding time with you.
Much like the cooking set listed above,this toolbelt, hammer, and safety glasses set will allow aspiring youngcarpenters to work alongside the adults they admire. Montessori Servicesoffers many different child-sized tools, depending on your child’s level ofinterest and what types of projects you have envisioned!
Children are collectors. Especially when they spend time outdoors, their natural fascination with theworld spurs them to gather tiny objects. We are all familiar with pocketsfull of rocks and crushed dandelions found in the back seat of the car. As children get a little older, this leaf andflower press can allow them to preserve their botanical finds. Onceleaves and flowers are dried and pressed, they can be used in many differentways. Presses and project kits can befound at most craft stores, or you can make your own by drilling holes in twopieces of flat wood and adding butterfly screws for the child to tighten. Add in some colored paper, clear contact paper, stamps or stickers, or otherembellishments to complete a card-making kit.
If your child loves to build, marbleruns are a great way to encourage independent development of a wide range ofskills. Kids will experience trial and error, general engineeringconcepts, creativity, and more. Thereare endless possibilities for configurations, and children can enjoy using thetoy by themselves or with a friend or adult.
Puzzles are a classic way to pass thetime together. We really appreciate this particular brand because theyare well-made and have many great designs for children. The beauty ofpuzzles is that they don’t need to be completed in one setting. Designate a tabletop and have one out for thefamily to work on together a little bit each day. Rather than linking toone particular puzzle, we decided to just share the page for children’s puzzlesso you can find one that would be appealing to your child.
There’s nothing quite like cozying upwith a warm drink on a chilly winter day. These 4-ounce ceramic mugs werecreated with kids in mind. They areadorned with pictures of wild animals, and a portion of each sale is donated toconservation efforts.
Kites are a classic children’stoy. They encourage children to run around outside and to pay attentionto keeping the kite afloat. Teaching your child how to fly one can be afun and rewarding experience, and there are so many different places to takethem. Some families like to keep one in the trunk of their car, just incase!
We hope this list has provided you withsome helpful inspiration. Do you have other ideas to share? Let us know!
