• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

The Montessori Notebook

The place to learn everything about Montessori at home in easy-to-follow, simple steps for busy parents and caregivers. Whether you are new to Montessori or have been using Montessori for a while, you will come away with practical ideas you can try today and use in your daily life.

  • The Montessori Notebook
  • Home
  • Books
  • Podcast
  • Online courses
    • 4-WEEK E-COURSE Setting up your home Montessori-style
    • 2-HOUR ONLINE WORKSHOPS
    • 2-WEEK BOOTCAMP Setting up a Montessori playgroup
    • Which course should I follow?
  • Free resources
  • Blog
  • About
    • Giving Back
    • Contact
  • Login
    • Login
    • Support

Hunting for Montessori materials for home

What a busy couple of weeks. My youngest has just turned 12. So we have been busy celebrating as well as applying for a high school(!). It isn’t just a cliche when they say how time flies. I still have such vivid memories of holding her in my arms and her gorgeous giggle. Well, I can still enjoy the latter at least 😉

I hope you have all had a great week. Today’s post is a guide to where to find some bits and pieces to set up some fun Montessori inspired activities for your child. I spend a lot of time hunting for activities, baskets, jugs, and materials that are just right for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. So I hope these pointers help you in locating some treasures for home.

If there are any other items from class that I have not specifically covered, jump over to our Facebook page and I’ll see if I can find a source for you.

hunting for Montessori materials for home

Hunting for Montessori materials for home

1. Activities
To find a wide selection of wooden puzzles, sorting, stacking, posting, threading activities and musical instruments, you can’t go past the wooden toy shops here in Amsterdam. I drop past these stores frequently and the stock is always changing: https://themontessorinotebook.com/our-favourite-toy-shops-in-amsterdam/

Our favourite coin box can be found at stationery shops like Gebroeder Winter or specialist lock shops.

Another activity that is easy to set up at home is a basket full of purses with hidden treasures inside. To find such purses, take a look down at the Albert Cuypmarkt or in Ta Hwa Oriental Art & Gifts (Singel 514). And I find those little treasures hidden inside often on key rings at Blokker and just remove the keyring.

I also love Schleich animals – they are more expensive but great for gifts from doting grandparents. These are available at Intertoys or good wooden toy shops.

2. Craft supplies

For small scissors, painting supplies, Staedtler 3-in1 woody pencils and water colour paints, I love:

* Knutsel & Frutsel – Hoofddorpweg 19-21
* V&D – Kalverstraat
* Gebroeder Winter – various locations
* De Vlieger, near Muntplein

For paper and paint brushes in various sizes, I visit Action, Hema or Van Beek Art Supplies.

3. Baskets & Trays

Baskets and trays are perfect for organising the activities on your shelves at home. Again you will need to drop by a few shops to get a good selection but I often have success at Hema, Action, Xenos, Zara home, or Blokker.

4. Snack area

It can be fun to set up a cupboard for your child to help themselves at mealtime, for example, with their own bowl, plate, cutlery and glasses.

Some suggestions:
* I find the small Duralex glasses at Hema or Blokker
* You can find nice enamel bowls at De Emaillekeizer off the Albert Cuypstraat or small metal bowls at Ikea
* Handmitts are handy to have at the ready, available at Hema and Ikea
* You can also find cute tin boxes for crackers at Ikea or Xenos

5. Cleaning

You can also include small cleaning items in your kitchen area, for example, a mop, broom or dustpan with brush. You can generally find these at good wooden toy shops.

6. Furniture

A small table and chair creates a lovely space for your child to sit at with an activity or to eat a snack. Most of ours are from Ikea but we have cut 10cm off the legs.

There is also a detailed post of my Ikea picks here.

Happy hunting all!

I found that once I had small children in the house, I never looked at things in shops quite the same. I still find myself picking up random objects and seeing if their little hands will be able to manage the clasps, locks, etc. I hope I have inspired you a little too in your hunt for some fun materials for your home.

Do let me know where you have found your favourite Montessori-inspired activities over on our Facebook page. Or let me know what you are looking for and hopefully someone will be able to help you.

Most popular posts

1. Get your free Montessori routine cards
2. Free 44-page PDF of Montessori activities for babies, toddlers and preschoolers
3. A Montessori approach to toilet training
4. My top Ikea picks for Montessori children
5. Dealing with tantrums

Most recent posts

  • Getting kids to help at home
  • How to help a dysregulated child
  • My favourite Montessori colour activities 🌈✨
  • Montessori and screens
  • Redefining peace education

Primary Sidebar

Follow me

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Receive lots of Montessori inspiration to your inbox

Search this site

Easy to follow + affordable online workshops

 

The Montessori Toddler book, by Simone Davies


– NOW AVAILABLE IN AMAZON AND ANY BOOKSELLER –
* Learn to understand your toddler better
* Find alternatives to time out and help them become responsible humans
* Get rid of the chaos and set up cosy spaces at home
* Create beautiful Montessori activities for their age
* And more…
<<< MORE INFO HERE >>>

The Montessori Baby book, by Simone Davies and Junnifa Uzodike


– NOW AVAILABLE IN AMAZON AND ANY BOOKSELLER –

* Help you bring Montessori into your home from conception, birth and the first year
* Learn how to show your baby respect the Montessori way
* Set up your home for your baby with a lot less than you think
* See how capable your baby is and learn to follow their interests and timeline
* And more…
<<< MORE INFO HERE >>>

© 2015–2023 The Montessori Notebook for Jacaranda Tree Montessori B.V.

kvk no. 87544784 btw NL827166898B01