I've been putting off this post for a little while because I felt a little disappointed that I didn't have more to share. See, Teddy just isn't that into materials, especially those on the shelf. He tends to return to a couple of favorites over and over again and ignore all other attempts at shelf work. But, really that's my own adult feelings getting in the way of Teddy's own interests, and developmental path.
It's also me subconsciously valuing fine motor skills and stillness as more important than gross motor play and movement. I working hard not to do that, and want to normalize that all toddlers are different. All children have different interests and that concentration doesn't have to mean sitting still for long stretches of time.
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With all that said, here are some of Teddy's favorites over the last couple of months.
Favorite Montessori Toys 18 to 20 Months
I'm listing the toys that have been out, you'll notice that many have been out even since my last update because he has continued to return to them. Those marked with a * were favorites, the others were probably not used a ton! Even his favorites, I'm talking a maximum of 5 to 10 minutes of his day is actually using toys.
Monti Kids Peg Drop (Similar)*
Goki Shape Sorter (similar)
Kid-O Color Steps Puzzle (size sequencing puzzle, it's retired and I can't find a similar version)
Lakeshore Learning Tower (similar)*
Basket of animals
Nesting Doll* (Similar)
Object to Object Matching (DIY) with small toys
3 Piece large Knobbed Puzzles (similar)
Favorite Montessori Activities 18 to 20 Months
These are all the non-shelf work that Teddy engages in frequently to fill his time! This is honestly what he is spending the bulk of his day doing. These are the things that fill his time.
Riding his tiny trike (similar to this) everywhere
Walking through different textures (bumpy part of the road, through thick grass, or through mulch) outside
Reading Books
Singing our airplane song and searching for airplanes in the sky
Throwing things in the garbage
Gathering laundry and pushing the button to start it (but not loading it, ha, he won't touch the laundry right now)
Putting on random pairs of shoes
Pushing his walker wagon or filling it up
Pushing or carrying his broom around the house
Learning to use the toilet
Swinging outside on our low swing
Unloading groceries
Eating food from my plate
Throwing toys from the shelves across the room
Talking about, thinking about, looking for worker trucks or garbage trucks
Wiping up spills
I hope this gives you a sort of idea of some of the things that Teddy really has enjoyed over the last couple months. You'll notice that his day is mostly maximum effort seeking work and practical life. The toys really just sort of fill in here and there, but the really important learning just happens living life and opening up practical opportunities.
What is your 18 to 20 month old enjoying?
