Montessori at 2-Years-Old: Activities and Toys 25 to 27 months

Two-year-olds get all my love. They are just the most interesting, passionate, funny, and loving little people. And when they are put in an environment that is created just for them, it is incredible how capable they are. Our days at 2-years-old follow a pretty predictable rhythm of activity that allow our toddler to focus on the activities that call to her. Through her chosen activities she is able to meet her developmental needs. And, its really a joy to watch.

Remember, that each two-year-old is going to be unique. And, every family is unique. So the exact materials that my child is working with may not meet the ones that your's is interested in. Make sure your observations of your child's needs drive your shelf choices. 

I've broken Penelope's skills, activities, and favorite toys by general category, but at this age there aren't clear lines between activities. So while art activities work on fine motor skills, remember that they also work on language and practical skills too. 

During these months, Penelope was engaging quite a bit with shelf work. Art was particularly interesting for her.  This list is not inclusive of every toy she used during these months.  Her favorites included: 

Lock and key: supported by large lock and key 

Paper Cutting: lots of interest in taking paper apart supported by art punches (similar), first scissors  

Puzzles with fewer visual support: These are puzzles that don't have the exact picture below to match the piece too. These included layer puzzle, construction puzzle and some vintage choices

Gluing: art glue box (similar)

She was still into most of the toys from the 23 and 24 month update as well. 

I find that 2-year-old are in a real "golden age" of practical life. They really really enjoy most practical experiences and are physically capable of carrying many of them out in a successful way. A lot of the exploration and mess that accompanies practical life at 1-year fades to really helpful helpers at 2. Here are some of Penelope's favorites from 25 to 27 months: 

Simple Meals: supported by making lunch most days, favorites include pizza, sandwiches, and eggs  

Zipping: supported by small coin purse (similar), taking time with coats/jackets/sweaters

Spraying to Clean: supported by small spray bottle, windows, and wiping shelves/counters

Climbing: supported by a larger interest in playgrounds, climbing up ramp with Pikler Triangle

Kicking: supported by balance blocks and large foam blocks (really liked kicking over towers)

Hauling: supported by loose parts in the garden, toddler sized wheelbarrow 

Gymnastics: supported by local class, learned to bear crawl and do summersaults 

I think sometimes we can forget how important it is for small children to be learning through their senses. Sensory learning often happens naturally, but it can be good to think about if your child is getting enough exposure to a variety of experiences that help them learn through their senses. Penelope's favorites these months include: 

Lotions: applying lotion and sunscreen, supported by a simple tray with a small amount of lotion and mirror

Play dough: supported by our play dough bins and seasonal accessories  

Soft, gentle touches: supported by loving on all our friends pets (kittens and guinea pigs) 

Finally there is language. Penelope has always been super drawn to language work and has had a lot of mouth words. She spends large amounts of her day chatting with older kids, and adults. Here are her favorite ways to practice language: 

Pretend play: baby dolls, schliech animals, mini cars, playmobil 123

Naming Objects: supported by her brother's language objects, instead of focusing on sounds she just likes to name them

Colors: supported by color sorting work including Colorino and Pegs and Rings

And that's a good summary of what these three months looked like for our toddler. Montessori toddlers vary in their interests and skills so make sure you keep that in mind when you choosing activities and materials for your child. Young two-year-olds are so much fun, and I can't wait to keep sharing all the fun we get up to.