montessorimissemily on LTK

montessorimissemily

Toys babies actually play with.
No screens. No chaos.
Just simple, hands-on favorites that get used every day.

Built for concentration, movement, and real engagement.

#montessori #montessoriathome #montessoribaby #sensoryplay #montessorimom

#LTKmomlife #LTKKids #LTKBaby

Toys babies actually play with. No screens. No chaos. Just simple, hands-on favorites that get used every day. Built for concentration, movement, and real engagement. montessori montessoriathome montessoribaby sensoryplay montessorimom LTKmomlife LTKKids LTKBaby

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JoyCat Baby Toys 6-12 Months - Soft Baby Beehive with 5 Sensory Bees - Rattle, Crinkle Paper, Squeaker, Mirror, Busy Montessori Soft Toys for Toddlers 0-3 Years Old - Baby Christmas Birthday Gift | Amazon (US)

hahaland Baby Toys 6-12 Months - Montessori Toys for 6 Month Old Girl, My First Mushroom House with Stuffed Jungle Animals, Rattle, Crinkle Paper, Mirror, Sensory Toddler Toy for 1 Year Old Girl Gifts | Amazon (US)

hahaland Baby Tissue Box Toy - Baby Toys 6-12 Months Stocking Stuffers for Babies Montessori Toys for 6 Month Old Must Haves - Boy Girl Shower Gifts 6 9 12 18 Months Old Sensory Pulling Play Scarf Toy | Amazon (US)

hahaland Baby Sensory Toys - 16 PCS My First Fruit Vegetable Color Sorting Play Food with Crinkle, Rattle, Baby Toys 6-12 Months Montessori Toys for 1 Year Old Boy Girl Gifts Toddler Stocking Stuffers | Amazon (US)

These jumbo triangular crayons are the prewriting tool I wish every toddler had. They build the pincer grasp, strengthen fine motor control, and actually prepare the hand for handwriting. They’re sturdy, unbreakable, washable, and the colors glide on beautifully ✨

A perfect Christmas gift for little hands still developing control and needing materials that work with them, not against them 🎄🖍️

Comment CRAYONS and I’ll send you everything you need, including a way to save a bit ON TOP of the Black Friday savings that have already begun 😉

@joycat_official.us

#joycat #joycattoys #joycateducationaltoys #giftsforkids #christmasgiftideas #montessorimom #toddlermom #montessoriathome #toddleractivities #preschoolactivities

Holiday play does not have to be loud or chaotic to be meaningful. 🎄

This Melissa and Doug Christmas cookie set is a great example of hands on pretend play that supports real skill building. Children use a spatula to carefully separate the Velcro cookies from the baking tray, place them, and reset the work again and again.

That simple motion builds fine motor strength, wrist rotation, hand eye coordination, and focus. These are the same foundational skills children need for writing, food preparation, and independence.

No batteries. No noise. Just calm, hands on holiday play that fits beautifully into a child centered home.

If you want this on your holiday shelf or in your play kitchen right now, comment DECEMBER 🎄🍪

#montessoriathome #practicallife #woodentoys #montessorimom #learningthroughplay

The holidays are here and our shelves are filled with hands-on work that honors Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. Children explore culture through Practical Life, Sensorial invitations, and stories from around the world. This is how we celebrate the season the Montessori way with beauty, independence, and deep respect for every family’s traditions.

#LTKHoliday #LTKKids #LTKGiftGuide

Spring Montessori Shelves #montessori #montessorishelf #montessorimom #montessoriathome

#LTKKids #LTKSeasonal

Europe Culture, Science and Geography shelves/books 🏰🌍

#montessori #montessorishelf

#LTKBaby #LTKKids #LTKFamily

In my Montessori preschool classroom, we go around the world month by month to a different continent, and these are my Asia Culture, Science, and Geography Shelves 🍱🥡🥢🥠🧧 #montessori #montessorishelf #montessorimom #montessoriathome

#LTKFamily #LTKKids

Sanding a Wooden Heart Montessori Activity for Valentine’s Day #montessori #montessoriactivity

#LTKFamily #LTKKids #LTKSeasonal

Throwback to my old classroom in the for-profit setting and the most beautiful Valentine’s Day Practical Life shelves. I’ll always miss those gorgeous floor-length windows that filled the space with light. But my heart is even fuller now, working in a nonprofit preschool that exclusively serves children experiencing homelessness—the very children Montessori designed her method to serve: marginalized children and those in poverty.

Activities like setting a Valentine’s Day table, sanding a wooden heart, tonging chocolate kisses, and spooning conversation hearts might seem simple, but they offer so much to the preschooler or toddler. They build independence, focus, fine motor skills, and most importantly, a sense of pride and accomplishment.

The Montessori Practical Life curriculum isn’t just about developing life skills—it’s about giving children the confidence to see themselves as capable and worthy, no matter their circumstances. ❤️

What’s your favorite Valentine’s Day Practical Life activity to share with small children?

#montessori #montessorimom #montessoriathome #preschoolactivities #preschoolteacher #practicallife #montessorishelf #montessorishelfie #montessoriteacher #sensoryplay #toddlermom

#LTKSeasonal #LTKKids #LTKFamily

🧧Comment LUNAR NEW YEAR for everything you need to make these red envelopes and all of the materials on my Asia shelves.

Lunar New Year is just around the corner—January 29th! 🏮Let’s make this celebration extra special for your classroom or home!

Two years ago, we celebrated the Year of the Rabbit with these red envelopes featuring a rabbit stamp. Last year, it was the Year of the Dragon, and this year, we’re welcoming the Year of the Snake! 🐍

Making red envelopes is a meaningful way to bring cultural learning into your Montessori classroom. Introducing traditions like Lunar New Year fosters curiosity, empathy, and respect for others. Children develop global awareness, appreciate the beauty in diversity, and recognize the connections that unite us all.

🎨 Materials Needed:
• Red paper/envelopes
• Gold star stickers
• Gold pipe cleaners
• Play money
• Year of the Snake stamp
• Gold glitter pens
• Gold ink
• Gold ribbon

#preschoolteacher #montessorimom #toddlermom #preschoolactivities #montessoriteacher

🐧 NO Antarctica unit in the Montessori preschool classroom is complete without them!

Krill play a vital role in the Antarctic ecosystem, serving as the primary food source for animals like penguins, whales, and seals. Incorporating krill into our Montessori activities helps children connect with the natural world while engaging in hands-on learning.

In the Montessori preschool classroom, continent studies often reside on our Culture/Science/Geography shelves, but they are not limited to this subject matter, and hands-on learning should always be cross curricular! These Antarctica-inspired activities are part of our math shelves, combining hands-on learning with foundational math skills.

Throughout the years, my students have loved playing Krill Fill, a math game created by my Montessori mentor. Here’s how it works: Students roll wooden dice to determine whether they’ll add or subtract krill from the center. With every turn, they’re practicing early math skills like counting, addition, and subtraction—all while learning cooperation. There’s no competition in the Montessori preschool classroom—both players win when the krill are gone!

Another math shelf hit is our Krill Numbers and Counters, where children quantify numbers 1-10 using tiny krill, strengthening their number sense and fine motor skills.

What’s your favorite way to integrate continent studies across the curriculum? Let’s share ideas in the comments!

#montessoriactivities #montessorimom #montessoriteacher #preschoolteacher #montessoriathome

#LTKKids #LTKFamily

We are serving up creativity with a splash of adorable in our preschool Starbucks all winter long 💚

Thanks to our friends at Starbucks for the real cups and bags, our little baristas are feeling extra official! We even got the green child-sized costume with an apron and hat to match their uniforms.

Though dramatic play of this nature isn’t Montessori-aligned, it does offer a wealth of benefits for preschoolers:

☕️Creativity & Imagination: Children step into roles and scenarios, using their imagination to solve problems, create stories, and explore possibilities.
☕️Builds Social Skills: Collaborative play teaches teamwork, communication, and conflict resolution as children take turns and interact with peers.
☕️Encourages Language Development: Pretend play introduces new vocabulary and phrases, helping children practice expressive and receptive language skills.
☕️Develops Life Skills: Acting out real-world roles, like a barista, helps children build practical skills, such as following sequences, organizing, and customer service.
☕️Strengthens Cognitive Skills: Pretend scenarios require planning, problem-solving, and decision-making, which boost critical thinking.

With thoughtful setups, like our Starbucks dramatic play area, children engage in meaningful, joyful learning experiences that support their holistic development.

#preschoolactivities #learningthroughplaying #playbasedlearning #preschoolteacher #toddlermom #earlychildhoodeducation

#LTKHoliday #LTKKids #LTKSeasonal

Arctic/Antarctica zoology Montessori materials. #montessori #montessorishelf #montessorimom #montessoriathome

#LTKFamily #LTKKids #LTKSeasonal

January is rapidly approaching, and there is no better time to study Antarctica than the coldest month of the year for the majority of my audience. ❄️

Each month in my Montessori preschool, we journey to a new continent in our Culture/Science/Geography area, diving into four key categories:
🌍 Physical Geography
👫 Culture of the People Who Live There
🦭 Zoology
🌱 Botany

Antarctica is unique—it has no permanent residents, only scientists who work there temporarily. This makes it the perfect opportunity to introduce concepts like the scientific method and science tools!

While we study both the Arctic and Antarctica together, we always clearly differentiate between the two. For example, the Arctic is home to Indigenous people and polar bears, while Antarctica has no human inhabitants and is where penguins thrive. These distinctions help children build an accurate understanding of these icy regions.

Our Montessori shelf is full of hands-on materials to spark curiosity about the coldest continent on Earth. 🧊 What do you include on your Antarctica shelf?

#montessorishelf #montessorishelfie #preschoolteacher #montessorimom #montessoriathome

#LTKFamily #LTKKids #LTKSeasonal

Sorting Hot and Cold Objects

#LTKBaby #LTKKids #LTKFamily

As we say goodbye to Christmas, our Montessori classroom transforms into a winter wonderland, full of hands-on opportunities to explore the magic of the season through practical life! In Montessori, practical life activities are the foundation for developing independence, coordination, focus, and a sense of responsibility through purposeful, real-world tasks.

This month, our shelf rotation features winter-themed activities like shoveling snowflakes, transferring hats with mitten tongs, spooning ice, weaving icicles, sorting snowflakes, and building a snowman. These activities strengthen fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and problem-solving, while also introducing concepts like sequencing, classification, and patience—all essential for early learning success.

Practical life is where Montessori magic begins, offering children the chance to grow in confidence through hands-on learning. How do you bring winter into your classroom? ❄️⛄

#montessori #montessorishelf #toyrotation #preschoolteacher #montessorimom #montessoriathome

#LTKKids #LTKFamily #LTKSeasonal

Starbucks dramatic play in our preschool classroom

#LTKHoliday #LTKKids

Materials I use to study Hanukkah in my Montessori preschool classroom.

#montessori #preschoolteacher #montessorimom #montessoriathome

#LTKKids #LTKHoliday

My favorite books for studying Kwanzaa in my Montessori preschool classroom!

#childrensbooks #montessori #preschoolteacher #preschool #kwanzaa

#LTKHoliday #LTKSeasonal #LTKKids

Comment DECEMBER for all of my favorite items for the holiday season🎄

A few Christmas shelf favorites from over the years:

🎁Crushing cinnamon sticks with a mortar and pestle—an engaging way to build hand strength and enjoy seasonal scents.
🎁Opening and closing festive tins and containers—great for practicing coordination and independence.
🎁Christmas flower arranging—bringing a touch of beauty and creativity to the classroom.
🎁Clipping Christmas clothespins on a wire basket—strengthening little hands for future writing skills.

These festive Practical Life activities add a touch of holiday magic while supporting essential skill development. What’s your favorite holiday-themed Montessori activity? Share below!

#montessoriactivity #montessorimom #montessoriathome #practicallifeskills #preschoolteacher #preschoolactıvıtıes

#LTKHoliday #LTKKids #LTKSeasonal

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
This puzzle is such a high-quality piece, and I am beyond obsessed with everything I’ve ordered from this company.

#woodentoys #toddlertoys #montessorimom #montessoriathome #montessoriteacher

#LTKKids #LTKHoliday #LTKSeasonal

Holiday magic meets fine motor skills! 🎄✨ Our tonging activities include Christmas tree tongs for transferring peppermints, Christmas bulbs, and seasonal candies. These practical life exercises build focus, coordination, prewriting skills, and fine motor strength—all with a cheerful holiday twist.

What activities are on your shelves this season? 🎅

#montessorishelf #montessoriactivity #preschoolactivities #montessoriteacher #preschoolteacher #montessorimom #montessoriathome

#LTKSeasonal #LTKHoliday #LTKKids

🎄Our Christmas dramatic play area is ready for the season! Though dramatic play isn’t traditionally Montessori, it IS required by the state, so we’ve added a Montessori twist to make it extra meaningful:

🍪 Children can slice and serve wooden Christmas cookies, practicing coordination and hospitality.
🎁 They’re also rolling holiday napkins, building fine motor skills and practical life skills.
📚 Our featured book introduces Christmas cookie traditions from around the world, sparking curiosity and cultural appreciation.

Our dramatic play area is all about blending festive fun with practical life skills and global learning! What’s your favorite holiday tradition to explore with kids?

#montessoripreschool #handsonlearning #learnthroughplay #montessorimom #montessoriathome #preschoolteacher

#LTKSeasonal #LTKHoliday #LTKKids

Make counting down to Christmas more hands-on! This wooden Melissa & Doug Christmas tree with magnetic ornaments is perfect for circle time in your Montessori preschool classroom or as an advent calendar at home🎄

Decorating the tree strengthens fine motor skills, while the daily countdown builds excitement and supports early math concepts. A beautiful way to make the season meaningful and engaging!

#woodentoys #melissaanddoug #blackfriday #amazondeals #christmastoys

#LTKHoliday #LTKKids #LTKSeasonal