Montessori Definitions - for the Infant/Toddler Years
Montessori Puzzles - Where to Start?

Beautifully Organised - Montessori Shelves

Beautifully organised shelves at How we Montessori  Montessori baby shelves

"Toys should be kept in the area where the family lives, not only in the child's room. Shelves are much more satisfying than toy boxes. Having order in the environment creates a feeling of security in the child, and trust in the environment. Baskets, trays, or small boxes neatly arranged on low shelves can be very helpful in creating this order."

Beautifully organised shelves at How we Montessori  Montessori baby shelves

"If you watch a child you will see which toys he plays with most and which ones just get dropped and forgotten. Try to keep only as many toys available to the child as can be kept neat, and uncrowded, in baskets on a shelf."

Beautifully organised shelves at How we Montessori  Montessori baby shelves

"Limiting the number of toys available at any one moment, and having a place for every toy, helps with the task of teaching the child to put toys away. But most important is the example set by the others in the environment. If the adult carefully and continually puts the pieces of puzzles or toys back in the basket in front of the child, she will eventually imitate and join in the activity. Sometimes the "putting away" into baskets is the most enjoyable part of play at this age." - Susan Mayclin Stephenson, Montessori Philosophy & Practice, Age 1-3 Years - Toys.  

If you have older children or want further reading you might also like my previous article Why Shelves Work Better Than A Toy Box.

Materials on Shelves at 11 Months: Middle Shelf L-R Three Circle Puzzle, Thick & Thin Cylinders, Wooden Pop Up Toy, Rainbow Nesting Bowls, Nesting Cylinders, Interlocking Cubes, Three Shapes Puzzle. Bottom Shelf L-R Basket of Wooden Cars, Music Basket, Object Permanence Box with Tray, Coin Box, My First Body Board Book, Summer Board Book.

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