Montessori trays are a great way to encourage independent play that is designed to nurture a child’s sensory development as well as their independence.

Montessori trays can be used for so many different activities and in so many ways. You can use Montessori trays in your child’s room or playroom, or even in each room of the house with trays designed to fit that room’s purpose.

Recommended age period

6 months and above.

How to introduce the activity to my child?

You can choose just about any game, lesson, task, or theme for your Montessori tray. The goal is to make sure there is a clear objective for each tray and that they are complete, meaning that everything the child needs to do the activity is on the tray.

When placing your trays out for the child make sure they are at an accessible height and clearly displayed. They should be easily accessible to the child so that he/she can access them all.

What will my child learn?

Montessori trays help teach order. When an activity is organized and presented in full to a child, they know where things are when they start and how to neatly put each item away. This also encourages your child to work on one activity entirely and then put it away before beginning another one.

Carrying a Montessori tray helps children develop focus, coordination, and balance. While carrying a tray might not seem like much for an adult, there are many critical motor skills this action helps develop in a small child.

Organizing activities and play with trays fosters independent thinking and choice in a child. A child is encouraged to choose the tray that interests him the most at the time. This leads to more engagement and focus as the child himself is deciding what to work on.

Montessori trays allow for curating toys and activities based on your child’s interest and skill level. Instead of bins and buckets filled with endless clutter, having fewer, more complete tasks, projects, and activities allows for more purposeful and focused play. As your child’s interests and skill levels change, you can swap out trays to introduce new things.

Montessori trays teach children to classify and group things that are alike. Sensory experience and learning are a tenement of the Montessori method. The organized trays help develop an understanding of how objects relate to each other and are grouped together in different ways.

What is included?

A child sized wooden tray with handles to keep activities or toys organized and accessible.

What is it made of?

The wooden tray is made of sturdy and lightweight birchply.

Dimensions

Care instructions

Wooden toys are beautiful and durable. Toys made of natural materials bring your little one a little closer to the nature by nourishing the child’s senses.

Wood has natural anti-bacterial properties, so keeping them clean is simple and you can even get your kids involved in the process. Here are some tips that can come handy while taking care of the wooden toys –

1. Wooden toys can be wiped with a dry cloth for daily maintenance and cleaning.
2. No Soaking. Never submerge wooden toys in the water; to clean or otherwise. The wood can soak up the water which can gradually lead to cracks.
3. Instead, a slightly damp cloth or sponge can be used to remove dirt or dust and then the toy should be air dried.
4. While drying the toys, do not leave them in a direct sunlight. Sunlight can cause the colors to fade and long exposure to the sunlight and air might damage the wood.
5. Every once in a while, you may want to moisturize wooden toys when it starts to look dry or dull. Coconut oil or olive oil can be applied sparingly with a washcloth. Then let it dry.

Note

Please ensure adult supervision at all times.