I homeschooled my now-adult children through high school, so I’ve had the fun of shopping for kids’ gifts, both educational and simply recreational, for all ages and levels. But preschool-age children really are my specialty. I started as a daycare preschool teacher, then was trained and taught as a Montessori preschool teacher, owned a Montessori preschool, and got my master’s degree in early childhood studies. My 3-year-old granddaughter, Zoey, is now a preschooler, so I get to have lots of fun with that age group again!
Previously, I published Best Gifts for Kids: Montessori-Friendly Baby and Toddler Toys and Best Gifts for Kids: Montessori-Friendly Toys for Toddlers.. Today, I’m focusing mainly on Montessori-friendly toys for preschoolers, although a number of the toys on my toddler gift list are still great for preschoolers, too.
As I said in my earlier gift guides, Montessori-friendly toys allow for natural, open-ended learning. They aren’t easily breakable, battery-operated toys. They are typically made of wood and other natural materials. I will include some special plastic toys for preschoolers, like LEGO bricks, that are just too good to miss simply because they’re plastic. Of course, there really is no such thing as a Montessori toy. These are basically toys that work well for families using Montessori principles at home.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links at no cost to you.
Montessori-Friendly Toys for Preschoolers
Wooden puzzles are great for young preschoolers, and many of them work well for older preschoolers, too. Puzzles are wonderful for problem-solving skills, and many can be used for creative play as well. I recommend buying puzzles that fit your preschooler’s interests. For older preschoolers and young preschoolers with advanced puzzle skills, a jigsaw puzzle can be perfect even if it isn’t wooden. Just choose the topic according to your child’s interests and the number of pieces according to your child’s skill level.
A puzzle like the BeginAgain Animal Parade A-Z Puzzle can be used to reinforce a number of concepts, such as alphabetical order, uppercase and lowercase letters (uppercase letters are on one side and lowercase on the other), and phonetic sounds (consistent with Montessori phonics except u for unicorn). The puzzle pieces can also be used as a balancing puzzle or playset. There’s a jumbo size of the puzzle, too. I love many of the BeginAgain educational toys!
Preschoolers with very advanced puzzle skills might like something like the IQ Challenge Set by GamieUSA.
HABA Tap & Tack Imaginative Design Play Set with Corkboard, Hammer, Templates and 100 Wooden Tiles is one of my favorite toys for preschoolers. It combines creative design, fine-motor skills, and child-size tools. And kids love it! My now-adult children had a similar set when they were preschoolers. If you prefer, there’s a large set.
I love Safari Ltd. TOOBs. They’re fabulous and come in an amazing variety of themes. I even have free TOOB keys available for many of the TOOBs. Safari Ltd. TOOBS are wonderful for free play, sensory bins, and Montessori-inspired learning activities of all kinds.
Preschoolers often love to bake. You can get your preschooler his or her own baking set. (By the way, Curious Chef nylon knives are awesome for preschooler food preparation in general.) If you’d like to get some traditional Montessori practical life activities for your child (which are wonderful for home or classroom), I highly recommend For Small Hands or Montessori Services (partner companies).
I’ve loved sharing music with young children as a teacher, parent, and now grandmother. I always make sure we have some musical instruments available. Check out my Montessori-friendly toddler gift list for the rhythm band instruments Zoey still uses a lot. I recently put out the Rhythm Band 8 Note Metal Hand Bells, which Zoey absolutely loves. Watch for my post next Tuesday with ideas using these bells. If you want a more advanced set for homeschooling, you can get 13-note chromatic handbells. Since the Montessori bells are too expensive for home use, I’ve always used handbells at home that are similar to these.
A playdough (play clay) or art set can also be a wonderful way to encourage your preschooler’s creativity and fine-motor skills at the same time.
If your preschooler doesn’t already have a natural wood block set, consider getting one. Wooden blocks can be used for years in a variety of ways. They’re also a favorite toys of dads.
It’s fun to add some interesting pieces to the set. (See more in my toddler post.)
I like to have multicultural people available for block play. You can find all sorts of Pretend and Play figures from professionals to to people with differing abilities. Vehicles and traffic signs are important in many children’s block play as well.
A Magnification Blocks Set can be a fun way to add nature exploration to block play.
Does your preschooler have a LEGO set yet? Yes DUPLO and LEGO are plastic, but they’re so useful for creativity, engineering skills, and many other purposes that they’re more than worth it. And they can grow with your child for years. After children are comfortable with DUPLO, I like to start with a LEGO education set.
Or, you might prefer a classic LEGO set.
Magna-Tiles allow for lots of problem solving and creativity. They’re a favorite of many preschoolers.
Blocks and Marbles are fabulous for older preschoolers. This is a toy that can encourage both engineering skills and creativity. And it can grow with your child. If you don’t believe me, check out some of these blocks and marbles YouTube videos.
Spielgaben Version 4
If you can afford it, Spielgaben is an amazing educational toy set for home or school. Even though the toys aren’t inexpensive, they’re definitely worth the price because of the high quality of materials and number of years your children or students can use them.
Special deal for my readers
All My Gift Guides
You’ll find some of my favorite Montessori toys for babies and toddlers, featuring a number of toys from For Small Hands in my Best Gifts for Kids: Montessori-Friendly Baby and Toddler Toys.
You can find some of my favorite books for babies … available on Amazon here: Montessori-Friendly Books for Babies {Gift Guide}
You can find some of my favorite CDs for babies and toddlers here: Favorite CDs for Babies and Toddlers {Gift Guide}
If you’re looking for Montessori-friendly toys that will be appealing to toddlers 15-36 months old, they’re in my Best Gifts for Kids: Montessori-Friendly Toys for Toddlers.
If you have a preschooler, don’t miss this: Best Gifts for Kids: Montessori-Friendly Toys for Preschoolers.
Gift Guide: The Best Classic Children’s Books for Preschoolers has some of my favorite books.
You’ll find lots of ideas for Montessori homeschoolers here: Gift Guide for Montessori Homeschoolers
Favorite Shelves, Trays, Baskets and More for Montessori Homeschoolers {Gift Guide} has more ideas for Montessori homeschoolers.
Favorite Handmade Learning Materials for Preschoolers from Etsy {Gift Guide} has lots of absolutely gorgeous materials.
You’ll find lots of Montessori-friendly Advent calendars here: Favorite Montessori-Friendly Advent Calendars {Gift Guide}.
You’ll find lots of special gift ideas in The Best Gifts for Montessori Teachers.
PREPARING MONTESSORI SPACES IN YOUR HOME
See “How to Create a Montessori-Friendly Home” for ideas for a number of levels. Here are some of my main home environment posts here:
- How to Prepare a Montessori Baby Room at Home (roundup post)
- How to Prepare a Montessori Toddler Environment at Home (roundup post)
- Preparing a Montessori Newborn Baby Space at Home
- How to Use Montessori Mobiles to Encourage a Newborn Baby’s Development and Delight
- Preparing a Montessori Baby Space with Shelves at Home
- Preparing a Montessori Baby Space in Your Living Room
- Preparing a Montessori Baby-Toddler Space at Home
- Preparing Montessori Toddler Spaces at Home (includes my Montessori toilet learning setup)
- How to Prepare Montessori Shelves for a 2 Year Old
- How to Prepare Montessori Shelves for a 2½ Year Old
- How to Prepare Montessori Shelves for a 3 Year Old
- How to Prepare Montessori Shelves for a 3½ Year Old
- How to Prepare Montessori Shelves for a 4 Year Old
- How to Prepare Montessori Shelves for a 4½ Year Old
- How to Prepare Montessori Shelves for a 5 Year Old
- How to Prepare Themed Montessori Shelves
- How to Prepare a Montessori Home Environment for Afterschooling
- Create an Attractive Home Environment from Montessori at Home!
- How to Set Up a Montessori Homeschool Classroom
- How to Prepare Montessori Homeschool Spaces for Babies through First Graders
- How to Prepare a Montessori Space in Your Living Room for Toddlers Through Early Elementary
Learn more about my eBook Montessori at Home or School: How to. Teach Grace and Courtesy!
The Montessori at Home! eBook and Montessori at Home! eBook and Materials Bundle are AMAZING resources! You can learn more about them here. Buy them in the Living Montessori Now shop.
If this is your first time visiting Living Montessori Now, welcome! If you haven’t already, please join us on our Living Montessori Now Facebook page where you’ll find a Free Printable of the Day and lots of inspiration and ideas for parenting and teaching! And please follow me on Pinterest (lots of Montessori-, holiday-, and theme-related boards), Instagram, and YouTube. You can find me on bloglovin’ and Twitter, too.
And don’t forget one of the best ways to follow me by signing up for my weekly newsletter. You’ll receive some awesome freebies in the process!
Oh my goodness, so many wonderful ideas! Thank you for sharing 🙂
So many fun toys! I really like the building sets and play dough kit.
I’m loving the magnification block set! That is awesome! #MMBH
some great toys for kids here