For Aiden, 14 months has brought a pretty even balance of interest in fine motor work and gross motor work. He still spends a lot of time right now crawling, throwing and chasing after balls, and pushing his walker. He also has developed more fine motor control and more interest in posting and peg activities in the past couple of months, so he’s spent a good deal of time engaged in those activities. Here’s a glance at some of the Montessori-inspired activities that have rotated on and off his shelf from 13-15 months.
Discovery Bag with Self-Care Items
Aiden really enjoys taking things in and out of bags right now, so started putting together some Montessori-inspired discovery bags for him. I’m calling them discovery bags instead of mystery or Stereognostic bags because the purpose of them isn’t for him to be able to identify the objects based on senses other than sight. It’s really just an opportunity for him to explore items of interest, build language exposure, and work on taking the objects out and putting them back in. The most recent one I set up for him was filled with some self-care items. I used an old cloth gift bag I had and filled it with objects from around the house that he was showing interest in.
Montessori Shape Puzzles
We started with just one basic circle puzzle a few months ago, so at 14 months I added the other Montessori-inspired shape puzzles to Aiden’s work. I present the puzzle pieces together in a basket, with the puzzle frames on a tray next to them. These puzzles are simple enough that they have not been too frustrating, but still offer an appropriate challenge.
Pop-Up Toy
This pop-up toy is an all-time favorite toy at our house. Aiden has so much fun with pressing his finger down on the peg people and then watching them pop out. He doesn’t match the colors and I don’t mention or focus on this at all; he just enjoys the work of putting the people back in. This toy is such a win- it brings lots of laughs, both of my boys enjoy playing with it together, and it encourages fine motor control and planning.
DIY Peg Work Activity
When I saw how much Aiden was enjoying the pop-up toy, I decided to make a few other peg work activities for him. This DIY peg work has been one of his favorites this past month. We used a scrap piece of wood, Asher helped to drill the holes, and I sanded it a bit. Because the circumference of the wooden dowels we used for it is much smaller than the peg people, this activity offered a little more challenge.
DIY Posting Work
For this Montessori-inspired posting work, I used an empty bottle and large craft sticks. I presented these together in a basket (with the craft sticks next to the bottle) so that the work was more inviting. Aiden loved this work from 13-14 months and is probably ready for a greater challenge with posting activities now.
Farm Animal “Matching”
Aiden is not really matching with this activity. We just look at the animal figures and the cards and I name them so that he can begin to build an association between the 3D figures and the 2D pictures. He likes to make the sounds that the animals make and pretend to “walk” them around. I started with just a few farm animals using our cow, pig, and horse figures and made the cards using my home laminator.
Opening & Closing Boxes
This was seriously the easiest shelf work to put together! Aiden has been opening up boxes that he finds in the pantry and Asher’s board game boxes, so I knew from those observations that he was craving that kind of work. I put a variety of cardboard boxes I had out on his shelf and he loved it!
Construction Trucks
Trucks have become a growing interest in the past month (probably because they are one of Asher’s favorite subjects and he’s exposed to them so much). When I saw how much he was liking pointing out construction trucks, I added the set of mini CAT trucks we have to a basket. Aiden likes to “vroom” these across the floor and spin their wheels.
Taste-Safe DIY Play Dough
To be honest, the natural worrier in me was hesitant to try this out! Aiden has been showing so much interest in Asher’s play dough, but sometimes he still mouths things. He is at the end of that stage, but I was nevertheless worried that he would just stuff gobs of play dough into his mouth the whole time if I let him try it. We used a taste-safe DIY recipe and I presented it with some of our wooden play dough tools. It actually went much better than I was imagining!
He did try to put it in his mouth a few different times, and I said, “Play dough isn’t for our mouths, it’s for squishing (rolling, etc).” and then I would model. After a few times of that, he became more interested in playing with it than trying to eat it. If continued to put it in his mouth then I would put the play dough away for that time and offer him a healthy snack/water instead. I’m glad we tried it because it has been one of his favorite activities this past month and it’s an excellent activity for building finger strength and dexterity.
Pushing his Walker
Pushing his walker, crawling, and cruising were still Aiden’s ways of getting around at 14 months. He loved pushing (running with) this wooden walker around the house. I’m always amazed to see how babies learn to steer these walkers around curves and turns! This one was a birthday gift and it’s been sturdy and perfect for this little guy as he wants to do gross motor activity but isn’t quite walking.
What activities has your older baby/younger toddler loved?
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Erin says
I love the Montessori method and this article has so many great ideas! Thanks for sharing.
KMenko says
Glad you liked the ideas! The Montessori method is definitely amazing!
Cynthia Brandel says
These are some really great ideas. Thank you for sharing. Child development is extremely important but sometimes overlooked if the parent(s) both work. Being a parent myself, these ideas for motor and sensory development would have been nice to try when my boys were young. Anyway, thank you for sharing.
KMenko says
It is important but you’re so right- not always easy to focus on with busy life. I like that I can reuse a lot of ideas and materials that I used with my older son!
Sandra Tanner says
I do not have kids this age anymore butI have lots of friends who do. I will definitely share this with them.
KMenko says
Thanks so much for sharing!
Mallie Miller says
Lots of awesome ideas for development! Love that simple opening and closing boxes, important fine motor skills to do! Thank you for this 🙂
KMenko says
The boxes one was one of his favorites! You’re right- so simple, but great fine motor work!
Annie says
I love that walker! Also I like the discovery bag idea with self-care items. I might try that one. Thanks for the ideas!
KMenko says
Glad the ideas were helpful! I love that discovery bags can be used in so many ways.
Annie says
I tried it this weekend 🙂 Will be doing it more!
Eliza says
I LOVE these ideas. So versatile and so practical! Definitely putting them on my list.
KMenko says
Thanks, Eliza! I’m glad you got some ideas you could use!
Lorena | www.lorenaylennox.com says
These are awesome Montessori Toys. I particularly like the pop-up toy. Perfect for fine-motor skills.
KMenko says
I love that pop-up toy too! So fun!
Lenee says
These all look so simple and educational. I just purchased a book on the Montessori Method! Thanks for the post.
KMenko says
There’s so many great books about it! Montessori from the Start and The Montessori Toddler are some of my favorites for babies-toddlers.
Jacquie says
I am a big fan on Montessori and found these activities to be great! Especially liked the safe play dough…I will be using some of these ideas with my little one.
KMenko says
That’s awesome! I’m gad you liked the activities! The taste safe play dough has definitely been a big hit here. Hope your little one likes them!
Katharina says
Hi there, Im the one who asked you for the summer books recommendations on Facebook. Thanks so much, I ordered a couple. 🙂 Anyways, I stumbled across this one as my lo is 15 mo. We have similar things on our shelf only she hardly uses the shelf, she basically follows me around the house when I have things to do and starts working on whatever is closest, like pulling things out of drawers/the dryer/shelves, reading nearby books, etc. I always see these nice Montessori shelves online and wonder if kids really stay by the shelf for a while and do these prepared activities because my little one only occupies herself with the shelf when Im in the same room.. which actually rarely happens. Busy mom, I hardly spend any time in the living room when toddler is awake. We take classes, go outside, other than that it´s food prep or eating, potty, laundry, minor cleaning tasks. Sorry for the long-ish comment. Just wanted to know, how long does your lo actually work on his shelf when you are not around?
KMenko says
Hi Katharina! I’m so glad the book post was helpful! I totally understand what you mean- my oldest was very much the same way at 15 months. Our main shelf area is in our living room too, which I’m not usually in during the day. My youngest will engage in and work with things from his shelf on his own for 5-10 minutes without me in the room. My oldest (who is 3 now) would do that for 1-2 minutes if at all unless it was something he was super interested in like water pouring. I feel like a lot of it just depends on the toddler and their personality. My youngest is a lot more comfortable to not be directly by my side in the house, and I think a lot of that has to do with having an older sibling too. Sometimes when he’s working in the living room, my oldest is in there with him too which I think makes him less likely to follow me. Either way, I think the things you are doing with your little sound amazing! Many “Montessori experts” say all of that practical life work alongside you is exactly what toddlers should be mostly doing at this age. I’ve found that now that we have nice weather here, we spend most of our time out and about and not much time on shelf work. Thanks for your comment! Hope all my blabbering gave some insight. 🙂
Adrianne says
Loved your post! I completely agree with your comment on every child is different. The great thing about montessori is it’s not rigid and it follows the interests of the child. My first was very much more into movement and following me, and not much into all the great stuff I put on his shelves, but my second can work a lot more independently on his work…I definitely think his big brother (now 3) helps him to not follow me around too and keeps him more interested in his shelf work and other toys. I’d love to know where you printed out your object cards! I will definitely be trying out the opening boxes tray too!
KMenko says
Hi Adrianne! I’m glad you liked it. Your first and second sound much like my boys. 🙂 I made the object cards and printed them at home. I believe they’re saved in the free resource library here on my site (along with lots of others too!). Hope your youngest likes the opening boxes work! It was a favorite around here for awhile.