In the world of parenting and early childhood education, the term "Montessori" has become a popular marketing buzzword and can be found labeled on so-called montessori toys. Anyone can label a product as "Montessori" regardless of whether it adheres to authentic Montessori principles or methodology.
Many products labeled as "Montessori" may bear little resemblance to what Maria Montessori actually developed. Part of this confusion stems from the fact that the term "Montessori" itself is not trademarked or protected.
Let's explore some common toys that might not align with authentic Montessori principles.
Montessori Toys that are Not Really Montessori
1. Electronic Learning Toys
Those flashy tablets and "educational" electronic toys with lights and sounds might be marketed as learning tools (such as this), but they contradict Montessori's emphasis on concrete, hands-on learning experiences. Maria Montessori advocated for children to explore the physical world through their senses, not through screens and artificial stimulation.
2. Synthetic Materials (like Plastic) Overload
Authentic Montessori materials are typically made from natural materials like wood, metal, glass, and fabric. The brightly colored plastic toys flooding the market labeled as "Montessori" would likely make Maria Montessori cringe. She believed children should connect with natural elements and experience different textures, weights, and properties that synthetic materials simply cannot provide.
Not only do plastic toys contradict Montessori's preference for natural materials, but they're also typically lightweight and prone to breaking. This fragility creates frustration for children who are still developing their motor skills and fails to provide the sensory feedback that heavier, more substantial natural materials offer. When plastic toys break, they often become unusable, unlike wooden toys which might still be functional even when scratched or dented.
The child will benefit more when exploring real objects or real experiences (like cutting vegetables) than playing with plastic materials like this.
3. Fantasy-Based Playsets
While imaginative play is valuable, Montessori education emphasizes reality-based activities for young children. Those elaborate fantasy playsets with unicorns, superheroes, or magical creatures wouldn't align with Montessori's philosophy of connecting children to the real world first. She believed young children need to understand reality before delving into fantasy.
There are also wooden toys often seen in Waldorf environments that promote fantasy play and imaginative thinking through non-specific, open-ended objects like rainbow stackers, wooden "tree blocks," and silk play cloths. While Waldorf and Montessori educational philosophies share some similarities like an emphasis on natural materials, they differ significantly in their approach. Montessori focuses on reality-based materials that connect to children's real experiences and have specific learning purposes.
Maria Montessori would likely question the use of abstract, non-representational toys without clear learning objectives that are sometimes marketed under the Montessori name. While these toys certainly have value in child development, they align more with Waldorf principles than with Montessori's purposeful, reality-oriented approach.
4. Toys That "Do Everything"
Many so-called toys (like this) try to pack multiple activities into one item. However, authentic Montessori materials typically isolate one skill or concept at a time. The busy boards and activity centers that claim to develop ten skills at once create confusion rather than the focused learning experience Montessori advocated for.
5. Toys that Lack a Clear Purpose
Despite the popularity of building toys such as Legos and magnetic tiles, these construction sets lack the defined purpose and clear learning objectives central to Montessori philosophy. Their open-ended nature, while valuable for certain kinds of creative thinking, doesn't guide children toward specific skill development or concept mastery.
Additionally, many children require significant adult support to use these toys meaningfully, contradicting Montessori's emphasis on independent engagement.
Maria Montessori believed in purposeful activities that build skills and concentration. Many toys marketed as "open-ended" lack the thoughtful design and progression of difficulty that true Montessori materials provide (i.e., clear purpose, built-in control of error, and appropriate challenge level).
6. Alphabet and Number Flashcards
Despite being marketed as educational, flashcards represent the opposite of Montessori's hands-on, sensorial approach to learning. Montessori introduced letters through sandpaper letters that children could trace with their fingers and numbers through concrete materials like number rods and beads. Abstract symbols on cards bypass the crucial sensory experience Montessori emphasized.
7. Battery-Operated Moving Toys
Toys that move on their own rob children of the cause-and-effect learning that comes from making things move themselves. Montessori believed in empowering children through direct manipulation of their environment. Pull toys, push toys, and items children can directly control align with Montessori principles, while battery-operated vehicles and animals that move independently do not.
⚠️ This isn’t meant to make you a purist, friend.
It's important to note that just because these toys don't align with authentic Montessori principles doesn't mean they have no value or shouldn't be in your home. Every family has different priorities and many of these toys and products can still support various aspects of child development and provide enjoyment.
What's important is to be informed about what is genuinely Montessori and what is simply marketed that way, allowing you to make conscious choices about the learning environment you create for your child.
You can create a balanced play space that might include both authentic Montessori materials and other carefully selected toys that your child enjoys. Being intentional about your selections rather than being misled by marketing claims is what matters.
Questions to ask yourself
When shopping for authentic Montessori materials, look beyond marketing labels.
IF you’re looking for what is truly Montessori, consider these questions:
- Does it connect to reality?
- Does it isolate one concept?
- Does it allow for independent exploration and appropriate challenge?
- Most importantly, does it respect the child as a capable, hands-on learner?
These questions will guide you toward truly Montessori-aligned choices for your child's environment.
We're writing more articles related to this under the series Sorry, Not Montessori. Find more posts there that are about Montessori-related myths and false advertisements.
