Best 18 Must-Have Montessori Toys For 2-Year-Olds

Wondering what fun, educational gifts to get a toddler? Here are 18 of the very BEST Montessori toys for 2-year-olds to give for birthdays, Christmas, or ANY occasion! When you pick one of these options, you can’t go wrong!

The Montessori Method was developed by Maria Montessori, MD, in 1897. Dr. Montessori created a child-centered approach to education and development that embraces hands-on, multi-sensory activities that kids can engage in at their own pace.

What Are Montessori Toys?

The Montessori approach is becoming more and more popular, and many families are choosing to adopt the lifestyle of their children. But, if you don’t know much about Montessori, it can be difficult to know if you are choosing good Montessori toys or 2- and 3-year-olds.

What qualifies as a Montessori toy?

Not every toy qualifies as a Montessori-based learning toy. In fact, most of them don’t.

If you’re searching for toys for 2-year-olds (or 3-year-olds!) that follow Montessori principles, it’s important to learn what distinguishes Montessori-style toys from everything else!

There is much to Montessori, but sticking to some very basic guidelines will ensure you’re able to find great Montessori-inspired toys for 2-year-olds that suit your child and your home.

According to The Bump, Montessori educational toys for toddlers are:

• Toys that are made from natural materials when possible – wood is most common.
• Focused on teaching one thing at a time – materials should be aimed at a specific milestone (ex: fine motor development, language development, etc)
• Practical life tasks are a cornerstone of Montessori education – think chopping, sweeping, etc.
• No Bells and whistles – choose passive toys that require kids to manipulate them.
• Realistic – Montessori toys tend to be lifelike, providing an opportunity to learn about the world around them
• Problem-solving skills – life constantly through us curveballs, so it’s important to show kids that they can figure out a solution when a problem arises.
• Screen-free!

Top Montessori Toys For 2-Year-Olds

Don’t worry if you are still a little lacking in inspiration because I’ve done all the hard work for you and compiled this great list of Montessori educational toys for toddlers.

If you’re wondering where to buy classic Montessori toys for 2-year-olds, Amazon has a terrific selection! Here’s my ultimate Montessori gift guide for young children!

1. Wooden Rainbow Blocks Set Montessori Toys For 2-Year-Olds

Young toddlers, in particular, will love this colorful, wooden rainbow stacking toy that can be used in many different ways to create shapes and patterns.

Wooden toys like this one are really great for young toddlers to help them learn all about colors and pattern recognition when trying to rebuild the rainbow, as well as refining hand-eye coordination.

2. Early Learning Basic Life Skills

Dressing boards are great for teaching toddlers practical life skills like using zippers and buttons or even typing laces.

These are commonly found in curriculums and used to prepare young children for all the challenges that they can face when dressing themselves.

3. Wavy River Stepping Stones

They are durable enough to use outside and non-slip. These stepping stones are also great for teaching balance (like a balance beam but more fun!) and coordination skills.

This version has variations in both color and shape to provide endless hours of entertainment and learning! A balance board could be another great option to help improve your child’s ability to balance (and SO MUCH FUN).

4. Safari Animal Match Miniature

Matching cards and figurines are a staple in any Montessori environment and kids can use them from a much younger age than some people realize.

When children are very young let them hold the card and the figurine while you say the word out loud. Soon you can ask them to “point to the ____” and watch and see how much information they may have soaked up.

Later move on to matching skills and have them match the items themselves, then finally use them for letter identification.

5. Color Resemblance Sorting Task Montessori Toys For 2-Year-Olds

Color matching is something that kids learn from a young age in Montessori. These colored pegs provide a great chance for toddlers to recognize the differences and similarities in colors.

It’s simple and engaging, making it one of the best Montessori toys for 2-year-olds.

6. Child Standing Tower

Ok, so this is not technically a “toy” but I just had to include it on the list!

If you’re looking for a gift for a friend or loved one who practices Montessori at home with their toddler, a standing tower is an absolute must-have item!

Thie method is all about teaching children independence, and this commonly used item in Montessori homes allows them the freedom to reach things and help parents in the kitchen. If they don’t already have one, this gift will be one of the best gifts you could give.

7. Classic Wooden Building Set

Montessori-friendly toys encourage imaginative play – what’s more simple but creative than playing with wooden blocks?

This wooden building block set teaches all about different sizes and shapes and how to recognize similarities in materials. The variety of shapes and colors makes this set interesting and fun for 2 year olds.

8. Coogam Wooden Sorting Stacking Montessori Toys

This set is another great way of teaching color recognition as well as developing fine motor skills in little hands and learning different shapes. Wooden puzzles like this will provide endless hours of learning fun!

9. 4 In 1 Pikler Triangle Gym

This is one of those great Montessori toys that provides endless fun and benefits! Turn this climbing structure into a castle, a car garage, a teepee, or anything else your kids can dream up.

Climbing sets encourage children to work independently on brain development by improving their gross motor skills (exploring their body limits safely). Plus, it wears them out in a fun way!

10. Wooden Movable Alphabet Montessori Toys For 2-Year-Olds

My kids LOVE open-ended toys like this peg board! Although young children can use it, this is particularly great for older children because it will engage them more effectively than some of the ideas on this list.

The simple toy set includes cards with simple puzzles to encourage creative play – and your child’s imagination is their only limit once they get the hang of it!

11. Kids Cleaning Set

This child-sized cleaning set is a perfect example of practical life activities kids learn with the Montessori method. Having cleaning equipment that toddlers can use is essential in any Montessori home.

Young children love helping to clean up their messes, and a simple task like washing a chair can occupy them for a very long time! A child cleaning up their own mess – what better Montessori toys for 2 year olds can you find?

12. Lower and Capital Case Sandpaper Letters

Another great language material is the sandpaper letters found in most Montessori classrooms. These are only suitable for older toddlers, but they’re HIGHLY effective!

And they’re a staple – so definitely a useful Montessori tool!

13. Wooden Play Food And Slicing Kit

You may not like the idea of knives being in a toddler toy gift guide (ha!). However, slicing is another essential life skill that kids learn at a young age (18+ months).

This wooden food set allows young children to learn this skill slowly and carefully with all of the right tools. First, use a blunt knife to chop soft items like bananas and work their way up to using the crinkle cutter.

   

14. Sound Cylinders Sound Boxes

One of the sensitive periods in Montessori is “refinement of the senses” and these sound cylinders are great for that period.

Each cylinder has a slightly different level of sound from soft to loud and kids need to listen intently to match the sounds so it’s also a great way to build concentration.

15. Practical Life Simulated Tooth Toy Brushing Tooth

This practical life teeth brushing activity works wonders for young children in helping them learn how to correctly brush their teeth.

Self-care is a big part of Montessori living. Young children learn to wash themselves, brush their teeth and comb their own hair from an early age.

16. Stoie’s International Wooden Music Set

Musical instruments are another thing you will see in pretty much all Montessori schools. This form of sensory play helps encourage a child’s development of creativity. 

Toddlers love making noise and music – that makes this set of different instruments one of my favorite Montessori toys for 2-year-olds!

17. Montessori Busy Board

This busy board makes my list of one of the Montessori Toys for 2-year-olds because it has 10 activities (using real-world challenges) that help kids to develop their fine motor skills.

Lightweight and sturdy, this busy board is a great screen-free alternative gift idea for toddlers. It has varying difficulty levels and is also a suitable toy for autistic children.

18. Clamp Bee to Hive Matching Game

This non-toxic, eco-friendly wood toy teaches several crucial skills that toddlers need, including fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, counting, and color sorting.

All wrapped up in an adorable package that kids are naturally drawn to, they’ll learn without even realizing they’re “working.”

More Toy Gifts And Ideas

• 27 Best Subscription Boxes For Kids (that are worth the cost)
• 10 STEM Gift Ideas Kids Love
• Kid Gifts For Horse Lovers: The Ultimate List
• 17 Dragon Toys & Gift Ideas for Kids
• 25 Best Unicorn Toys for Girls: Gift Guide for Unicorn Lovers
• 25 Awesome Any-Occasion Gifts for Kids Who Love Animals
• 15 Best Board Games For Family Game Night (Updated)

I hope this list of the best Montessori gifts for 2-year-olds helps you choose a gift he loves!

PIN FOR LATER: