I can hardly believe it, but Asher is technically 2 years and 9 months old now. Or can I say 33 months still? Something about still saying a toddler’s age in months make them seem like they’re still holding onto some aspect of babyhood, even though practically all traces of those baby days have disappeared from my sweet and independent little guy. I still try to switch out general shelf work options for him every now and then, but most of his focus these days is on practical life. These are some of the Montessori-inspired shelf activities that have been rotating on and off his shelves for a few months:
HABA Brain Builder Set
This building set was a Christmas gift and has been a fun challenge for Asher. It includes cards at three different difficulty levels with peg designs to build. This set has been great for pattern matching and problem solving. At two years, Asher has worked on the level one cards on his own and we’ve done the level two cards together. I think this set will continue to hold his interest for awhile.
Rainforest Animals
Asher has been ready to expand his animal vocabulary and exposure, so I had some fun creating these rainforest animal matching cards for him. He’s using them for object to picture matching with some Schleich and Safari Ltd. animals- jaguar, toucan, anaconda, sloth, macaw, armadillo, Howler monkey, Red-eyed tree frog, orangutan, piranha, blue morpho butterfly, and caiman. To get a free download of the rainforest animal matching cards he’s been using, head on over to the free resource library to get access to my Google Drive folder. There are so many free, Montessori-inspired resources there for different developmental stages, interests, and themes.
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Toddler Sewing
One of my favorite things about Montessori parenting and education is following the child’s interests. Asher has been interested in sewing the past few times he’s seen me stitching something up, so I put this beginning sewing work together for him. I’ve seen others put this together in different ways, but I used an embroidery hoop, these large plastic needles, and yarn. It’s been working out well for a beginning sewing experience!
Grimm’s Large Rainbow
At over two and a half years, I’ve been adding in more open-ended play options to Asher’s shelves lately. This Grimm’s rainbow has really expanded his creativity! Roads, animal pens, mountains, garages…they have already become so many things! He got this as a Christmas gift and it honestly took him a few weeks to really figure out “how” to play with it, but now he loves it.
Grimm’s Semicircles and People
These have also been fun for open-ended play! Asher loves using these semicircles and people in combination with his rainbow to try out different stacking challenges! They also become part of his zoos, gas stations, etc. when he is creating.
Natural Block Set
My dad made this beautiful set of natural blocks for Asher for his last birthday. They are consistently out in a basket by his shelves right now, so that he can play with them when he’d like. Lately, he’s been really interested in building things with symmetry, which I love to observe. I need to find some symmetry-based work for his next shelf rotation!
“Pink” Tower
My dad gets credit again for this beautiful “Pink” Tower that he left in a natural wood. Asher used this for the first time at 2 years and could master stacking the cubes up in the correct sizing order after watching me model. Now that he’s a bit older, he’s been working on precision with his placement and I think we will be trying some of these printable Pink Tower extensions from Montessori En Casa.
Language Work
I am just starting some “official” sound learning with Asher. We’ve been playing beginning sound games for a few months, but haven’t associated anything with letters until now. I made the choice to follow Montessori philosophy and introduce letter sounds with him before letter names. After a decade of working with students with reading disabilities and difficulties, I truly feel that learning sounds first will have a greater connection to learning to read down the road. We are starting with these initial sounds: s, m, a, t (some of the most commonly used sounds). Asher has the sandpaper letters out for each of these and there is a container of small language objects that start with those sounds. We have this beginning language miniatures set and Asher has been fascinated with them so far! We’re currently working on tracing the letter while saying the sound, and matching the miniature objects to their sound.
Toy Remote to Unscrew
I recently found Asher using his screwdriver to remove the screws and take apart one of Aiden’s toys. So, I decided to follow his lead and interests! I put this shelf activity together for him using a toy remote (batteries removed) and his screwdriver. He loves removing all of the screws, taking the remote apart, and putting it all back together again. It has been his favorite work at 2.5 years by far!
Kwik Stix Tray
Asher recently got these Kwik Stix as a gift and they have been perfect for a new Montessori-inspired art tray! These paint sticks are easy for toddlers to grasp, dry super quickly, and can be used on so many surfaces! I have the paint sticks out on a tray with a few sheets of paper and a few pieces of cardboard. He always comes up with fun creations when working with this tray!
Scissor Skills
Preschool scissors made their first appearance onto Asher’s shelf right around the time he turned two. He’s enjoyed using these so much and his skills with them have really improved as he’s gained more fine motor control. For this shelf activity, he has access to his scissors and these cutting pattern strips from Royal Baloo blog. This has been a good challenge for him as he has to use more precision to cut on the pattern lines.
Lacing Set
This lacing work has been another recent favorite on Asher’s shelves. He mostly uses the wooden beads and the laces to make necklaces for himself and the rest of us. I leave a few of the laces out with knots already made in the end so that he can just begin lacing when he picks this tray out.
Instruments
Some of Asher’s shelf activities are starting to becoming shared work with Aiden as they are beginning to have interest in playing together. These instruments are available to both of them. Asher usually sets each of them up with some jingle bells or a shaker. Then he dances around the room singing a song for them while Aiden just shakes and “helps make the music.”
Truck Matching Cards
Trucks continue to be a strong interest for Asher. He could watch and talk about excavators, dump trucks, skid steer loaders, and snowplows all day. He has used these truck matching cards for language work with a three-period lesson, classic matching, “memory” games, and matching scavenger hunts! A free download of these cards is also available in my resource library.
Watercolors Tray
This watercolors tray never fails to be a calming shelf activity. I leave his watercolors, a brush, paper, and a small bowl for water out on his tray. He can get water himself and clean it up when he’s done. We’ve also worked on the skill of wiping up any mess on the table with a sponge.
Bible Story Felt Tray
I’m not sure how Montessori-inspired this shelf activity is, but it is one Asher has been enjoying. This book tells the story of the young boy who gave his lunch to Jesus to help him feed 5,000 (or likely, much more than that). The story is written in rhyme and flows so easily for reading with children. Asher likes using the felt pieces to act out the story!
Shape Tracing
Asher’s has been working on trying to draw different shapes, so I put together this shape tracing tray for him a couple of weeks ago. This is the first tracing work he has done and it was a challenge. His still enjoyed attempting and liked matching the colored crayons to the colored shape puzzle pieces.
Tool Building Set
This tool set fits Asher’s interests well. He loves working with tools of all kinds and working on fine motor challenges, so he’s really enjoyed this activity. This is a great STEM activity for fine motor skills, creativity, and problem solving.
Shell Sorting Tray
Shells are such a beautiful part of nature for toddlers to explore. This shelf activity is pretty simple. Asher can explore the shells and work on sorting them using this shell sorting mat from The Crafty Classroom.
I’m sure the next few months will fly by and I will be setting up shelf activities for a three year-old before I know it! Until then, I’ll just be trying to soak up the rest of these two year-old days. What are some of the Montessori-inspired activities that your toddler enjoyed at 2.5 years?
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Ashley Allen says
Great ideas! I am planning on starting a shelf like this for my youngest when she is old enough so she can stay busy while I homeschool her siblings. I’m pinning this so I can remember this!
KMenko says
I’m glad it was helpful! I think the tray activities are a great way to give toddlers some independence. Good luck and thanks for pinning!
Lorena says
I love, love, love this! I am in the process of transitioning my one year old’s room to a Montessori room. I am definitely saving this for future reference!
KMenko says
Oh, awesome! Asher has a Montessori-inspired room with a floor bed and we all have loved it- one of the best things we’ve ever done! Thanks for reading and good luck with the room transition!
Trish ~ Habibi House says
I love this! I have been looking into more Montessori ideas for my toddler. Thank you!!
KMenko says
Thanks for reading and I’m glad it gave you some ideas!