The best Montessori toys for 2-year-olds, according to an expert

These geometric blocks are perfect for refining those fine motor skills as your two-year-old carefully fits the colorful shape blocks into their matching natural wood holders. This shape sorting activity is preferable because you can present only one or two shapes at a time on a tray, then offer more as your toddler becomes increasingly proficient.

This classic Montessori work is perfect for practicing hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills, a gentle first experience in stringing beads. Threading across the body’s midline also prepares the child for writing, dressing themselves and other important life skills. The large natural wood slices, thick rope and sturdy lacing tool at the end make this ideal for little hands.

Self-expression and musicality are emerging in your two-year-old’s development, making instruments like this adorable wooden rainmaker a great addition to your child’s environment. This Montessori toy for 2-year-olds will help your child experiment with cause and effect as they make music by turning the instrument upside-down. For little ones with big emotions, this can also serve as a calming tool for self-regulation.

Two-year-olds are eager to mimic the tasks they see the adults in their lives modeling. Maria Montessori encouraged toddlers to engage in what she called practical life activities, building skills to help them care for themselves, others and the environment. This lovely wooden fruit set gives toddlers an opportunity to practice slicing fruit in a safe, realistic way. This toy will grow with your child as their imaginative play skills emerge over time.

No collection of Montessori toys for 2-year-olds would be complete without at least one wooden puzzle. Puzzles like this safari peg puzzle by Melissa and Doug offer the right challenge for little hands to perfect their pincer grasp, practice picture-to-picture matching and expand their vocabulary as they learn the names of the animals in the puzzle.

This wooden balance beam for kids is designed with young children in mind. Montessori classrooms often include a balance activity, sometimes as simple as a line of painter’s tape on the floor, where children can practice “walking the line.” Around two-years-old children are working on balance and gross motor coordination, making this balance beam a beautiful addition to your Montessori playroom.

Not only is this activity helpful in encouraging interest in nutritious food choices at an age when children might become picky about what’s on their plate, but it also meets a child’s natural need to begin organizing the world around them through sorting. Sitting down with your child to introduce the names of the fruits, vegetables and colors in this activity can also offer them the language boost they’re looking for at this stage in their development. Receptive language is often far ahead of expressive language, so even if your toddler isn’t repeating the words back to you just yet, their absorbent mind is taking it all in.

This practical life toy not only provides an opportunity for toddlers to imitate the adults in the home through play, but is realistic enough to offer a brief lesson on how to sweep up crumbs after snack! At this age, toddlers respond best to brief instruction using only a few words followed by a silent, slow demonstration of the action.

Two-year-olds love matching activities as a way of vocabulary-building and gaining a deeper understanding of the world around them. Matching an object to a picture, like a miniature musical instrument to its matching picture card, is a common activity you’ll find in any Montessori toddler environment. This is easy to switch out with different objects to continue building on your child’s knowledge. These free Montessori language card printables are perfect to accompany the TOOB miniature objects. Take note: TOOB miniatures may present a choking hazard and should be used only with adult supervision.

If there is only one item you can invest in to make your home more Montessori-aligned, it is a kitchen learning tower. Toddlers gain vocabulary exposure, fine motor practice, independence and self-esteem all by working beside their grown-ups in the kitchen. It also encourages healthy, adventurous eating and provides a practice that will build special memories with your little one for years to come.