When it comes to buying toys for our children, we want to make sure we are getting toys that will stimulate learning and enjoyment. Montessori toys are great for doing just that!
Even at the young age of one, children’s fine motor skills need developing to provide stimulation and cognitive growth.
A toy that can be held and touched would qualify, such as Lego, not that we are suggesting you give a one-year-old child Lego!
Finding the best Montessori toys for one-year-olds can be challenging. There are so many on the market ranging in price; it can be challenging to know which is the better option.
That is where we come in to save you from your toy crisis! We have found the best Montessori toys for one-year-olds, thrown in a buyer’s guide to help you navigate the toy world, and an FAQ section for any queries you may have.
Toy shopping has never been easier!
In a hurry? Check out our top pick to grab your toys and go!
OUR TOP PICK
For those after a fantastic and engaging toy without spending a fortune, this Wooden Carrot Toy is the one for you!
With two toys in one, you are sure to get your money's worth and hours of play opportunities!
With this set, you get carrots to harvest, allowing your child to pick carrots from the ‘ground’ and place them back in the appropriate holes.
You also get a worm catcher toy that features five worms and a magnetic stick to catch them on. Think of the hours of fun and stimulation these will provide!
It is safe to use at a reasonable price, with smooth edges and non-toxic water-based paint so your child can play worry-free!
It is worth noting that care should be taken with the carrots’ point, just in case! The toy has excellent multi-play options and is sure to be a toy that can grow with your child beyond one’s age.
Both toys promote fantastic skill development for your children, not only for their hand-brain coordination and mind concentration but also their wrist flexibility too!
The worm catcher toy, in particular, is excellent for this and developing their visual ability to follow.
They are made from sturdy and durable wood and come with a lifetime warranty, so you can let your children play with this worry-free!
Customers were impressed with this toy and found that it helped broaden their child's thinking and development.
These are great for a one-year-old to use at such a reasonable price for two toys, especially the carrot toy that they can use independently!
For those after durable toys that your child is sure to love for a long time, these are the ones for you!
Pros
- Reasonably priced
- Non-toxic water-based paint
- Smooth polished edges
- Sturdy and durable
- Great for hand-brain coordination and mind concentration
Cons
- Children will need to be mindful of the point on the carrot.
More time to browse? Check out our other great options below.
EDITORS CHOICE
For those after a toy that will stimulate their child in multiple ways, the permanence box, and stacker toy is the one for you!
At a reasonable price, you get two toys and endless play options that are sure to aid in your child's development.
The object box is large and sturdy, made from high-quality wood. It’s colored with non-toxic acrylic paint, so you won’t need to worry about your child's safety when using it.
It is worth noting that the edges of the object permanence box are not as rounded as other toys available on the market, so it is best to keep an eye on your child as they use this toy.
Customers were impressed with the toys’ durability and found them to be long-lasting and stimulating for their children.
These are suitable for one-year-olds, but also older children will enjoy them so your child can grow with these toys.
The ball rolls well and allows your child’s vision to develop as they follow the ball on its journey.
The stacker toy is brightly colored and is very sturdy, with many customers' children enjoying the toy immensely.
It is an excellent option for stimulating sensory skills and helping cognitive development. The rings can be stacked in any order allowing your child to experiment and play independently.
What’s great about this toy is it also comes with a lifetime warranty, so you can rest easy as your child plays and develops!
These toys are excellent options for those who want to promote independent play and still join in and further aid their child's development.
Pros
- Reasonably priced
- Large and sturdy
- Non-toxic acrylic paint
- Stimulates sensory skills
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- Edges aren’t as rounded as other toys
BEST VALUE
For those looking to develop their children's fine motor skills and color recognition development, these cylinders with colored cards are an excellent option!
The toy features a range of cylinders in bright colors with a range of height and or diameter stored in a block at a reasonable price.
The cylinders can be placed in the block securely thanks to the knobs attached. They are all smooth with rounded edges to ensure they are safe for babies and toddlers.
The toy also features cards for knobless cylinders. These cards are brightly colored and great for enhancing color recognition development; you could even get your children to match the card to the colored cylinder, providing hours of play opportunities.
The card is lightweight and soft to use, printed on card stock paper. They are also great for visual stimulation, allowing your child's cognitive development to continue while they play as well as their sensory skills.
The card may seem a little thin for some customers, as it is not as thick as plastic, but it will still provide endless entertainment for your child!
The cylinder toy is made from sturdy and durable wood with smoothed edges to ensure safety while in use. The toy also comes with a lifetime warranty so your child can play worry-free!
Customers enjoyed the multi-play opportunities as they could be combined in lots of different ways to ensure endless playtime and enjoyment!
The bright colors also worked well, intriguing children and ensuring they are engaged!
If you are after a reasonably priced toy that will stimulate your child's development, this is the one for you!
Pros
- Reasonably priced
- Cards are great for recognition development.
- Smooth edges on blocks make this safe for babies too.
- Excellent quality
- Soft and light to use
Cons
- The card may seem a little thin.
RUNNER UP
For those after some great stacking blocks that will stimulate your children without breaking the bank, these are the ones for you!
Suitable for children six months and older, Infantino’s blocks are different from your usual blocks. Each side has a different texture and bright color, designed to stimulate a child’s development.
The set of 24 blocks are easy to connect and pull apart, resulting in minimal frustration from your child. The blocks push together but easily come apart, allowing your child to do this themselves.
What’s great about these blocks is that they can be stacked up and built sideways, allowing for lots of diverse educational fun.
Although designed for six months plus, many customers found these more than suitable for toddlers who can create and experiment with different textures as they continue to develop.
The blocks are easy to wipe clean and are BPA free, so you don’t need to worry about any harmful chemicals near your child.
Some customers did find that the blocks are made from hard plastic, with some people finding it difficult to use or dangerous if their child fell on them.
As with any toys and small children, it is best to watch them ensure their safety at all times. Those after blocks that are different from the usual are a great option to go for!
Pros
- Affordable
- Suitable for six months and over
- Blocks can be stacked up and built sideways.
- Textures allow for sensory play and development.
- Set of 24 bright colored blocks
Cons
- Some customers found the blocks a little hard for their children.
RUNNER UP
For those after a musical and diverse toy, Arkmiido’s Pound a Ball is an excellent option for you! It’s reasonably priced and acts as two toys in one!
The pound ball also has a slide-out xylophone allowing your child to create music and be stimulated visually and audibly.
The xylophone can be played individually, or the balls will play the sounds once knocked onto the below xylophone.
The bright colors will attract your child's attention and provide visual stimulation while they play. Their practical ability and sense of music will be stimulated while playing with this toy.
The wooden toy is made of natural wood and coated with water-based coatings. These coatings have been tested to ensure their safety around your child.
The wooden surface is smooth to ensure that there won’t be any splinters or hard edges that could hurt a child.
The surface is incredibly durable, able to withstand a few years of knocking from your child, great to know that the toy will stand the test of time!
Some customers did note that their toys arrived damaged or with the outer packaging damaged. This is most likely due to transit issues, but with customer support on hand to help with these issues, it is not a problem!
The toy is suitable for children aged 1-4 and is one that will grow with your child as they develop.
Customers found the toy worked well for a range of ages, from 10 months to 3-year-old children enjoying the toy.
For those who want a great toy that will stimulate your babies’ hearing, grasping, arm, and wrist training, this is a great option to go for!
Pros
- Reasonably priced
- Lots of multi-play opportunities
- Safe based water coatings on the wooden areas
- The toy is durable and can withstand years of knocking.
- A toy that can grow with the child
Cons
- Some customers had their orders damaged on arrival.
Best Montessori Toys For One Year Old Buying Guide
Not too sure what to look for? Let our buyer’s guide lead the way!
Materials
Most Montessori toys are wooden. These are usually made with smoothed edges and sides to ensure they are safe for children to use, although supervision, especially for young children, is strongly recommended.
Other toys are made from plastic, which is durable and easy to wipe clean. Again these edges will be smoothed to ensure they are safe for children.
When it comes to selecting the material for the toys, it is down to personal preference.
There is a wide range of Montessori toys available, so you are sure to find one that suits your needs!
Multi-play
When it comes to purchasing a new toy, there is nothing worse than selecting the perfect option only to be played with once and never touched again.
Purchasing a toy with lots of multi-play potentials will allow both you and your child to get lots of use out of the toy.
Toys with multiple outcomes or possibilities such as stacking and sorting can provide multi-play opportunities. These can continue to stimulate your child, as there are lots of possible outcomes to be made.
Activities like puzzles also provide excellent stimulation but are often neglected once completed. These can, of course, be used multiple times, especially for cognitive development and color recognition.
Toys that can grow with the child’s development are also excellent options that will guarantee multi-play opportunities.
Toys such as building blocks can teach young children the alphabet, and also be used to build structures, enhancing cognitive development without the need for purchasing multiple toys.
When purchasing your Montessori toys, consider how many times it could be played with and their potential for growth with your child as they develop.
Most Montessori toys are not battery operated to allow children endless play opportunities that can stimulate their minds.
For more information on this, head over to Montessori for kids! Their guide on toys for one-year-olds that promote their development will assure you that Montessori toys are the way forward!
Durability
Ensuring that the toy will last and not break after one use is another vital factor to consider.
Look for toys made of strong, durable materials such as hardwoods and plastic that can withstand some severe toddler bashing.
A handy tip is to check reviews from other parents to see how their children got on with the toy. Any toy that breaks easily can quickly become a safety hazard for your child, so opting for durable toys is best.
Safety
We all want to make sure that the toys we give our children are safe for them to use. A great deal of Montessori toys are made from wood these days, which is a safe material, but not without its concerns.
You will need to make sure that the edges are round and smooth to avoid injuries or splinters. For one-year-olds, it is best to go with chunky toys to reduce the risk of choking.
Smaller toys are more suited for older children who better understand the risks of choking.
If the toy is plastic, be sure to look for BPA free and non-toxic materials to ensure the child’s safety.
This information should be readily available on the toys label or product description, making it easy for you to narrow your search.
When your child is playing with the toy, it is best to engage with them as much as possible; this will not only help their cognitive development but ensure their safety at all times.
Age-appropriate?
When it comes to toys that are stimulating your child, you want to ensure that you are buying age-appropriate toys.
Most toys will come with a recommended age on the label or product description to help you make that choice.
A toy aimed at older children will be challenging for most one-year-olds to understand and will probably cause them to lose interest or become frustrated quickly.
On the other hand, understimulating children will have much of the same effect.
When looking at the recommended age, it is also essential to consider your child’s ability. Some children will be able to grasp and play with toys aimed at slightly older children, and others will not.
This judgment call is up to you to make as you know your child best.
If you want some more advice on what is age-appropriate for your child, check out the Montessori method for some tips!
How much?
The price of Montessori toys can range dramatically, leaving you wondering just how much you should be spending on toys for your one-year-old child.
Montessori toys do not have to be expensive purchases; many affordable options on the market will boost your child’s development.
Be sure to set a clear budget when looking for Montessori toys, and keep an eye out for sales or any lightning deals to get a bargain!
It is worth thinking about how much use your child will get out of the toy, too; there is no point spending a fortune if the toy will only be played with once.
Want to know more? Head over to babame for some excellent tips and tricks! Whether it is a gift for a friend's child or as a first-time parent, they are sure to put your mind to rest!
Frequently Asked Questions
Get your last-minute questions answered here!
Does my child need Montessori toys?
The toys you decide to give your child are personal choices, and only you can make them. Montessori toys will provide mental stimulation for your children that is crucial to their development.
While there is no setlist of the toys you must and must not give children, there is a reason why Montessori toys are popular.
Providing fun and educational toys is always a good idea to ensure your child continues to develop their cognitive ability. Any delays in this can impact them later in life.
However, you do not need to spend a fortune; any toy that children can touch, hold, or manipulate can be considered a Montessori toy.