Explore Our Montessori Activities

FEW EXAMPLE ACTIVITIES FOR BABIES, TODDLERS AND PRESCHOOLERS

Ages are to give an indication only. Follow your child. See which activiites keep their attention, remove those that are too hard or too easy.

BABIES UP TO 6 MONTHS
Age	Activity name	Description	Area of development
All ages	Music/dance/movement/singing	Playing musical instruments Listening to beautiful music (preferably not as background music but turn on to listen) Dance - for example, held by adult Movement - from birth on a mat with mirror lengthways; time to move, stretch, explore the body Singing - from birth	Music and movement
All ages	Rhythmic Language	Poetry, songs, rhyming ditties Need to be simple Should not be too long – if it is too long, it is overwhelming for the child Be fairly realistic Finger and body movements that go along with them or can create your own Can make a poem that is basically a song Examples: action rhymes, finger rhymes, Haiku (Japan), pat-a-cake Can continue as the child gets older and older	Language
From shortly after birth	Self expression	Odd moments during the day, when the child wants to share something with the adult For a non-verbal child it can be making sounds, expressions or poking out their tongue A verbal child will use words, then phrases and sentences The adult needs to get down to his eye level, maintain eye contact (if culturally appropriate) and be present We can restate what he has said; sometimes all she can say is “really. oh my goodness. wow. amazing.” Through body language and language the adult transmits that she is very interested in what he is sharing.	Language
Newborn	Munari mobile	black and white mobile hang at baby’s focussing distance, not more than 30cm away (from birth they can generally focus the distance to their parent’s face when held)	Visual development	See image here
From 2 or 3+ weeks old	Music box	A music box that hangs and adult/child pulls string to activate (or with a crank suitable for an older child) Plays classical piece of music Initially adult starts music box for baby; once the child is sitting, the music box can be attached to a wall and child can be shown how to pull cord to make it play Can also become a post natal point of reference if used as part of a routine, eg, nappy changing	Auditory materials
Around 2+ months	Octahedron mobile	3 different colours, light reflects on reflective paper introducing primary colours	Visual development	See image here
Around 2 to 3 months	Gobbi mobile	a colour gradation of 5 or 7 balls may use any colour, eg, purple, orange, green arranged from lightest to darkest in increasing lengths of cotton or coming to lowest point in the middle Thread used for hanging each ball is the same colour thread as used for the ball	Visual development	See image here
Around 3+ months	Stylised paper figures, eg, reflective paper dancers	Some kind of figure made of reflective paper which would realistically move, eg, dancers, fish, pinwheels	Visual development	See image here
Around 3+ months	Sphere or toy with little balls	Place within baby’s reach for reaching, grasping, manipulating	Grasping materials
Around 3 to 3½+ months	Three coloured spheres – red, blue, yellow	Three coloured balls suspended at an angle or in a triangle with the longest thread in the middle The three colours may be red, blue, yellow or another colour combination; darkest colour hangs lowest Size of ball should allow the baby to place hand around it but not too small to be a choking hazard	Visual development offer a stimulation for reaching and grasping and batting	See image here
Between 3 and 4+ months	Grasping beads	Five wooden beads threaded and knotted onto raw hide Baby holds, manipulates and mouths	Grasping materials
Around 4+ months	Bell on a ribbon	Hanging a bell threaded onto a ribbon with elastic on top to allow baby to pull bell to him	auditory development Visual development offer a stimulation for reaching and grasping and batting	See image here
Around 4+ months	Ring/bangle on a ribbon	Ring/bangle can be made from bamboo, metal, wood and suspended on a ribbon with elastic at the top The ring should be big enough for baby’s hand to fit through and grasp	Visual development offer a stimulation for reaching and grasping and batting	See image here
Around 4+ months (or earlier with reflexive grasp)	Cylinder rattle with bells	Piece of doweling sanded smooth and a bell attached to each end or hollow with wire to hold bell at each end Check for sharp bits which may cut the baby The baby holds it, shakes it and experiences the sound it makes	Auditory materials tactile experiences
Around 5+ months	Other - for example, musical instruments and gourds	For shaking and experiencing sound	Auditory materials tactile experiences

OLDER BABY FROM 6 MONTHS TO 14/16 MONTHS
Activity name	Age	Description	Area of development
Toy on a suction cup base	Around 5+ months or once sitting	Material on a suction cup base that will rock when it is hit eg, a clear ball filled with lots of tiny balls on a rubber suction stand Child bats, reaches and attempts intentional grasping without material moving away	Activities for eye hand coordination
Basket with Known Objects	5 or 6 months +	2 or 3 of the child’s toys which are very familiar to him, in a small soft basket Change objects as favourite ones change Baby lies or sits and chooses one of the aids To offer a beginning choice	Activities for eye hand coordination
Knitted or crocheted ball	5 to 7 months +	Pliable soft knitted or crocheted ball When child grabs it, can get fingers into it Placed near baby to encourage movement	Activities for gross motor movement
Cylinder with Bell	Around 6 to 8 months +	Placed near baby to encourage movement	Activities for gross motor movement Auditory stimulation is used as an incentive stimulus
Ottoman	Once baby starts to pull up, from 7 months +	Heavy, stable ottoman so it does not tip when baby pulls to standing The height of the ottoman should be stomach height for the baby	Activities for gross motor movement Offers independent means for pulling to standing and cruising
Egg in an egg cup/Cup with ball	Between 7 and 9 months +	Wooden egg cup with a wooden egg inside OR a large egg in a cup To practice removing and releasing an object into a container	Activities for eye hand coordination
Box with Tray and Ball	Around 8 months +	Rectangular shape box with tray attached with a hole in the top of the box for posting the ball Ball may be made of various materials – should have a nice sound to it, eg, wood, table tennis ball To practise posting and to intentionally release an object To help child understand object permanence You can observe grasp on ball, eg, whole hand, four finger grasp, two finger grasp	Activities for eye hand coordination
Basket of balls	Once child is creeping, around 8/9 months +	A collection of balls of different size and texture Examples, rattan ball, nipple ball, mini football Can kick the balls, roll them, chase them, manipulate them, feel them with hands	Activities for gross motor movement
Stair	From creeping until walking well, around 8/9 months +	Three stairs up to bridge and three stairs down from bridge with railing to hold onto Stairs are broad but not very high	Activities for gross motor movement
Tracker	From creeping, around 8 to 10 months +	A series of ramps in a frame with a small ball A hole at top left for posting the ball and there is a hole at the end of each ramp for the ball to drop onto the next ramp	Activities for gross motor movement Visual tracking Auditory tracking from sound of ball in tracker
Low Heavy Table	When child pulls to standing, around 8 to 10 months +	Low table made of very heavy wood	Activities for gross motor movement
Low Heavy Table	When child pulls to standing, around 8 to 10 months +	Low table made of very heavy wood	Activities for gross motor movement
Rings and Peg on Rocking Base	Once child is able to sit stable, around 8 - 11 months	Old fisher-price toy, smaller 5 ring model, with rocking base Initially use with the largest ring only A rocking base is used so that the base rocks rather than falls over	Activities for eye hand coordination
Rings/Peg on Stable Base	8 to 12 months + (depends on skill level of previous activity)	A wooden base with a peg and a ring Initially the ring should have a very large opening	Activities for eye-hand coordination
Top	Around 8 to 12 months +	A spinning top which moves	Activities for gross motor movement
Box with Drawer and Ball	Between 9 and 11 months +	Box with drawer that opens with a hole on top for posting ball To practise posting and to intentionally release an object To help child understand object permanence	Activities for eye hand coordination
Box with Knitted Ball	Between 9 to 12 months +	Square shaped box with drawer that opens with knitted ball slightly bigger than hole To practise posting and to intentionally release an object To help child understand object permanence	Activities for eye hand coordination
Box with Balls to Push	Around 10 months +	Closed rectangular shape box with three holes and balls on top To practise posting and to intentionally release an object To help child understand object permanence	Activities for eye hand coordination
Furniture with Keys	From 10 months +	Any piece of furniture with a lock and key that the child could work to open Attach key with string	Activities for eyehand coordination
The wagon	10 to 12 months +	A wagon that is weighted with either a sandbag or in its construction – needs to be heavy enough so it does not tip as child pulls up on it	Activities for gross motor movement
Cabinet Doors and Drawers	10 to 12 months +	Cabinet doors and drawers in the kitchen, bathroom vanity cupboards, drawers in vanity The adult places things for the child to find, eg, plastic items and pots and pans in kitchen cupboard or a drawer in bathroom with hairbrushes, clips etc	Activities for gross motor movement
Scribbling	12 months +	A block crayon or think chunky pencil (like Stabilo 3-in-1 pencil) Paper – different sizes, colours, textures An underlay – protects table, either covering whole table or small table mat size	Art/Self expression
Easel - paint	Able to stand unaided	An easel Paper cut to completely cover surface of easel Start with one colour of (quite thick) paint in a paint pot. Gradually introduce other colours one by one. Can use two or more pots for an older child. A chunky paint brush with short handle A painting smock/apron A cup hook to hang smock/apron Paper rolled in bin A wet cloth to wipe up spills	Art/Self expression
Nuts and bolts	12 months +	One or two bolts with a shape for their end and a corresponding nut of the same shape Have the nut on the bolt to start	Activities for eyehand coordination
Puzzles	12 to 14 months +	A collection of puzzles starting with one piece knobbed puzzles progressing through greater and greater difficulty Kinds of subject matter depicted on puzzle need to be realistic and appealing, eg, animals, construction vehicles	Refinement of eye hand coordination and pincer grasp Develops the ability to recognise a background shape
Locks and Keys	Around 13 months +	A lock and key with the key strongly attached to a string	Activities for eye hand coordination
Table wiping	Once a child can walk	A tray or basket with a sponge/drying mitt A supply of replacement drying mitts	Care of environment

TODDLER 14/16 MONTHS TO 3 YEARS
Age	Activity name	Description	Area of development
14 months +	Objects with Identical Cards for matching	Classified sets of objects that have matching cards Identical pictures where the object can be put on top and completely cover it, identical in size and colour if possible	Aids language development Helps a child move from 3D object to a 2D representation
14 months +	Mail box	Boxes for posting different shapes and sizes Basic set with a single shape, eg, one lid with a circle, one with a square, one with a triangle, and one with a rectangle More challenging, eg, two shapes cut out of one lid then even more challenging, eg, four shapes cut out of lid	Refinement of eye hand coordination and grasp Introduction to, and naming of, geometric solids
14 Months+, walking steadily	Watering plants	Tray (to protect shelf) Small watering can A small container with a small piece of sponge A plant	Care of environment
14/16 months	Climbing	Eg, climbing frames, poles, climbing wall, obstacle courses, trees	Activities for gross motor movement
14/16 months	Balancing	Initially walking holding onto a wall in front of them; then walking forward on beam holding onto wall with one hand; then one foot on beam, one foot on ground (and then alternate feet so other foot is on beam etc); then can alter height or move beam away from wall; can also crawl on a wide balance beam	Activities for gross motor movement
14 to 16 months +	Discs on Serpentine Dowel	Serpentine dowel made of metal on a wooden base with one to three discs	Refinement of eyehand coordination and grasp To test crossing the midline To work on wrist movements
Around 15/16 months +	Washing leaves	A little (leaf-shaped) dish with sponge cut to size inside dish A tray to protect shelf from water	Care of environment
Around 15 to 18 months +	Hair brushing	Mirror A tray on the table, to carry hairbrush A dish with hair clips and hair bands	Care of self
Around 16 to 18 months +	Clay	Plastic mat or special table with canvas covering for clay work A lump of real mud clay (white/terracotta) wrapped in a damp cloth in a container OR white DAS clay OR playdough OR kinetic sand Tools to sculpt with and cut	Art/Self expression
16-18 months	Sweeping	Broom You can use a sweeping guide to show where to collect the dirt Dust pan and brush	Care of environment
16-18 months	Dusting plants	A handmade plant duster made out of wool Container to hold duster	Care of environment
16 to 18 months +	Bead Stringing	A piece of plastic tubing used as thread – easier to use initially as it allows the child to push a bit of thread through the bead 5 or 6 wooden beads – can build to more beads More challenging: a thicker string; bigger beads; a shoe string with small beads	Refinement of eye hand coordination and grasp
18 months +	Flower arranging	Collection of different vases Doilies Flowers – cut to length to be used A tray with a lip A small jug A small funnel A sponge The child can pour water into the vase using the funnel and arrange on a table or shelf with the doily underneath	Care of environment
18 months + (able to carry a jug)	Handwashing	Small basin for washing hands Jug Soap dish with small piece of soap Apron Washcloth – for drying hands Mitt – to dry table Discard bucket Suitable for child wanting to repeat handwashing at sink	Care of self
18 months - 22 months (depending on fine motor dexterity)	Dressing frame: buttons	A wooden frame, two pieces of fabric attached with three large buttons Buttonhole is vertical To practise buttoning	Care of self
18 months - 22 months	Dressing frame: press studs	A wooden frame, two pieces of fabric fastened with press studs	Care of self
18 months – 2 years	Table washing	A tray with a bowl, soap, brush and sponge for scrubbing table	Care of self
18 months – 2 years +	Mirror polishing	A little container of non toxic polish A rectangular sponge as an applicator A finger mitt An underlay to place items on	Care of environment
Around 2 years +	Washing dishes	Some kind of table with two tubs A dish brush with small handle or a small sponge A small travel sized bottle of dishwashing detergent with small amount of liquid A jug – plastic and transparent; can put strip on jug to show desired water level Apron A drying mitt A hand drying cloth	Food
Around 2 years +	General Stereognostic Bags	As above with unrelated objects	To aid in the development of the stereognostic sense To increase vocabulary
Around 2 years - the child needs some language	The Questioning Exercise	Kinds of conversations that occurs any moment throughout the day, eg, when folding laundry, preparing food An example: “Do you remember when we planted the basil and then it started growing?” “Where did we plant the basil seeds?” “What did we have to use to pick the basil?” Done very naturally and conversationally	To use vocabulary he is developing To broaden child’s thinking, help them abstract information from his experiences, and verbalise it Builds self confidence Allows the adult to model language usage
2.5 years +	Dressing frame: buckles	A wooden frame, two pieces of leather fastened with three or four buckles To practise buckles	Care of self

3+ YEARS - ACTIVITIES FOR AT HOME
Age	Activity name	Description	Area of development
3 years +	Help to unpack dishwasher	Assist in unpacking the dishwasher	Daily life
3 years +	Feeding pets	A small amount of fish food can be placed in an egg cup Getting a dog water Giving food to cat, hamster etc	Daily life
3 years +	Exploration of world around us	eg, nature collections, birds, animals, plants and trees	Botany Cultural studies Life sciences
3 years +	Prick work	Felt underlay Prick pen Shape to prick The child follows along the line until the shape can be removed	Refinement of eye hand coordination and grasp
4 years +	More difficult board games	Animal Yahtzee Sleeping Queens Stratego Junior	Turn taking Understanding simple rules Fun
5 years +	More difficult board games	Cluedo Junior, who ate the chocolate cake Mastermind Connect Four	Turn taking Understanding simple rules Fun