Looking to create a stimulating environment for your curious toddler? The Montessori approach emphasizes learning through play, and you can bring those principles home without breaking the bank! Here are some DIY Montessori activities perfect for 12-18 month olds, all made with everyday items:
Sensory Exploration:
Texture Basket:Â Fill a basket with different textured fabrics like felt, fleece, and corduroy. Babies will love exploring the various sensations.
Pom-Pom Posting:Â Cut a hole in a lid (recycled container!) just big enough for pom-poms. Let your little one practice their hand-eye coordination by posting the pom-poms through the hole.
Fine Motor Skills:
Q-tip Posting:Â Repurpose an empty tissue box! Poke holes in the top and provide q-tips for your toddler to post inside. This builds finger strength and coordination.
Egg Carton Sorting:Â Crack open the creativity! Paint an egg carton with different colors. Cut out matching construction paper circles and let your child sort them into the corresponding carton slots.
Practical Life Skills:
Spoon Transferring:Â Cut up paper towel rolls and pair them with a wooden spoon. This simple activity helps develop hand-eye coordination and scooping skills.
Water Transferring:Â Fill two containers, one with warm water and another with ice cubes (supervised activity). Provide cups or spoons for your toddler to experiment with transferring the water and observing the ice melting.