I know, I know... we're a little early to talk about the holidays and I don't want you to feel any pressure!

We just had so many shipping issues last year with everyone shopping online that we want just give you a very gentle nudge not to wait until the very last minute if there's something special you'd like to order from us.

Our Top 8 Selling Toys of 2021

Some of our more traditional Montessori materials, although well loved by children, don't always make the best gift ideas.

Grandparents and other family members that are often open to gift suggestions, likely want it to be something that looks a little more exciting to open than a learning tower or toddler kitchen tools.

So, while you won’t find any of these toys in a traditional Montessori classroom, they were chosen for the site because they are still Montessori aligned - useful for developing independence, confidence, and critical thinking.

1. Magnatiles - https://themontessoriroom.com/collections/magna-tiles
   

Magnetic tiles have got to be one of the most popular toys among children of all ages. Truly, this is a toy your child will play with for 5-10 years.

Not only are MagnaTiles educationally beneficial but they are incredible for open-ended, imaginative play. 

Benefits: 

• They are open-ended and versatile; perfect for imaginative play
• They help to develop critical thinking skills, hand eye coordination, problem solving skills, perseverance, fine motor skills, language development, 2D and 3D shape recognition, patterning, spatial relationships, building skills, concentration and focus. 
  

This award winning toy is an amazing option to promote imaginative play that is based in reality. Children at a young age engage in play based on what they see in the world around them - like being at an ice cream shop or an ice cream truck! The best part is that the magnetic ice cream scoop magically picks up ice cream and places it on the cone.

Benefits:

• Encourages imaginative play based on real life experiences 
• Helps to develop hand eye coordination
• Social skills development - taking turns, negotiating, language skills (listening and talking), sharing
• Develops problem solving skills
• Role playing helps with emotional development

 

3. Holztiger Animals - https://themontessoriroom.com/collections/holtztiger 

These handcrafted wooden animals by Holztiger are beautiful, durable, large, and of the highest quality. They’re great for hours of open-ended play.

Benefits:

• Helps to develop language skills as they role play and verbalize their thoughts
• Helps children develop an understanding of nature and animals - use these as a springboard for learning about animals and their habitats
• Helps to develop emotional intelligence as children use empathy, kindness and respect to deal with different situations involving the animals
• Encourages movement as children try to reenact an animal's movements or sounds

4. Vilac Fruit and Veggie Cutting Set - https://themontessoriroom.com/collections/vilac/products/fruit-vegetable-cutting-set

This set offers a wonderful blend of Montessori and imaginative play benefits. It allows young children a safe way to practice their cutting skills while also engaging in imaginative play.

Benefits:

• Helps to develop practical skills 
• Encourages imaginative play based on real life experiences
• Helps to develop fine motor skills and dexterity
• Teaches knife skills
• Teaches about different foods and healthy eating 

5. 12-Tone Metal Xylophone - https://themontessoriroom.com/products/metallophone

• Develops hand-eye coordination
• Fine and gross motor development
• Enhances sensory development - movement, balance, hearing, touch
• Teaches patience, focus and perseverance
• Teaches about different tones and pitches
• As children get older, the coloured keys help them differentiate between the different notes and makes remembering notes a lot easier 

These are such a fun gift. Most of Peaceable Kingdoms games are award-winning, with a focus on cooperation. They’re great for families that love board games and want to introduce them early to their little ones.

Benefits:

• Designed to hand-eye coordination, vocabulary and social-emotional skills
• A great way to teach children how to follow instructions and work together
• The collaborative nature means that everyone wins, all without diminishing the fun