Activities for my Infant Toddler Montessori Classroom

Following  our sold out CPD course on Infant Toddler Training held on Friday 29^th September we decided to publish a blog solely aimed at informing delegates of the activities they can do in their Infant Toddler Montessori Classroom.

Here are some Montessori-inspired activities suitable for toddlers:

Practical Life Skills:

1. Pouring and Transferring: Provide small pitchers, cups, and containers filled with water or dry beans. Toddlers can practice pouring and transferring between containers, enhancing fine motor skills and concentration.
2. Dressing Themselves: Encourage toddlers to dress themselves, starting with simple clothing like elastic waistbands, flip coat activity and velcro shoes.

Sensorial Activities:

1. Texture Exploration: Offer a variety of textured materials like fabrics, sandpaper, and natural objects for tactile exploration.
2. Matching Games: Use objects or cards with matching pairs to develop visual discrimination skills.

Language Development:

1. Read Aloud: Share age-appropriate books and read to your toddlers daily. Encourage them to repeat words and phrases.
2. Labelling Objects: Label items with simple words or pictures to introduce vocabulary.

Math Activities:

1. Counting: Use objects like buttons or beads for counting practice.
2. Shape Sorting: Provide shape sorting toys to help toddlers recognise and match shapes.

Art and Creativity:

1. Drawing and Painting: Offer crayons, coloured pencils, and washable paints for artistic expression.
2. Nature Art: Collect natural objects like leaves and flowers to create art projects.

Practical Activities:

1. Setting the Table: Allow toddlers to help set the table for meals, teaching them about order and organisation.
2. Gardening: If you have a garden, involve them in planting and caring for plants.

Sensory Bins:

1. Sensory bins filled with rice, beans, or sand: Provide tools like scoops, funnels, and containers for sensory exploration and imaginative play.

Montessori Toys:

1. Wooden Puzzles: Offer puzzles with knobs to promote hand-eye coordination.
2. Stacking and Nesting Toys: Toys that can be stacked or nested are excellent for developing fine motor skills and spatial awareness.

Nature Exploration:

1. Nature Walks: Take nature walks and let toddlers observe and collect natural items like leaves, rocks, and pinecones.
2. Outdoor Play: Encourage unstructured outdoor play in a safe environment, allowing them to explore and be active.

Practical Cleaning:

1. Child-sized Broom and Dustpan: Teach them to clean up spills and messes with child-sized cleaning tools.

Remember that Montessori is about allowing children to choose activities that interest them and work at their own pace. Create a prepared environment with easily accessible materials and be patient, allowing toddlers the time they need to explore and learn independently.