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One of my absolute favorite things to build is DIY toys or activities for my kids. I am always searching for new DIY toy ideas (In fact my favorite build ever is probably this DIY Indoor Playground, check it out if you’re interested!).
This love of DIY Toys has led me to compile this list of 25 fun DIY Montessori Toys that you can make for your kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews, or whoever your heart desires!
In this post You’ll Find:
25 DIY Montessori Toys
Below you will find 25 ideas for DIY Montessori Toys. Some are super simple and some require a little more work/supplies. So there are options for every level of DIY! Scroll through to find a DIY toy that will not only be fun to make but perfect for your child.
1: DIY Candy Stacker Toy
First, we have this Candy Stacker toy by Chelsea at Lovely Indeed. This DIY Toy is so cute and you could totally get creative and add your own personal touch to it.
Plus, the only supplies you need to make it are a dowel, wood beads, and a piece of wood! Head over to https://lovelyindeed.com/make-a-wooden-toy-for-kids/ for the full instructions.
2: DIY Montessori Busy Board Toy
Busy Boards are an awesome way to keep your little ones entertained! Plus, they can be made with a lot of the random stuff you might have laying around the garage.
Tricia at CraftHerWay has an awesome example of a busy board on her site. Head over there for all the details!
3: DIY Fruit Stacking Toy
Lexy at the proper blog made these ADORABLE fruit stacking toys. They are fairly simple to make as long as you are comfortable using a jigsaw. If you want to learn more about using jigsaws head over to this post for some great jigsaw tips.
4: DIY Stackable Dollhouse
How fun is this stackable dollhouse?! Jaime Costiglio is the mastermind behind this DIY toy.
Dollhouses are great open-ended toys, but this dollhouse takes it to a whole new level by having the option of new house designs each time you play. The doll house is made up of several stackable rooms you can rearrange.
This DIY toy obviously takes a little more work, but if you have it in you, it is totally worth it!
Make sure you don’t miss the scrap wood dollhouse furniture she makes!
5: DIY Wooden Building Blocks
Wooden blocks are so simple, yet they can hold a kid’s attention for WAY longer than you’d think!
This is a great DIY Montessori toy for a wide age range. Plus, if you’re looking to use up some scrap wood, this is the perfect project. Head over to the Created Home for all the instructions and a handy template!
6: DIY Peg People Board
Anna at the Imagination Tree is behind these adorable Rainbow Peg People.
This is a great DIY Montessori Toy because it doesn’t require any power tools! Just a little paint and little wooden people. I especially like that she made big and little people to allow kids to use their imagination to create little families.
7: DIY Play Barn
This DIY Play Barn is totally the toy of my childhood dreams! Jaime does a great job at breaking down this project to make it totally doable for even a beginner DIYer!
8: DIY Color Sorting Bowls
These DIY Color Sorting Bowls don’t require any power tools, just some wooden bowls, wooden acorns, and paint. And voila, you have these adorable Montessori color sorting bowls!
Head over to Wee Folk Art for the full instructions and links to the supplies.
9: DIY Block Stacker
Check out this adorable wooden block stacker by WeeFolkArt! It is adorable, and really simple to make. Plus it is a great educational toy for little ones.
10: Color Matching Pegs
Matching colors is a great mental exercise for kids! Nicole at The Kavanaugh Report came up with this adorable DIY Color Matching Pegs toy. It is another DIY Montessori toy that doesn’t require power tools. Just a little paint and glue! Check out the full project here.
11: Flower Insert Toy
Making this Flower Insert Toy is so simple! Just a wood block with some holes screwed into it. Grab some flowers from the dollar store and voila, you have an adorable open-ended toy!
Head over to the Artful Parent for more details on this adorable project.
12: Threading Straws Toy
This straw threading toy is a perfect way to give a second life to those toilet paper rolls!
I made a toy similar to this one (I used pipe cleaners instead of straws). I gave them to my wiggly two-year-old during a long road trip and he LOVED it.
Head over to Laughing Kids Learn to get all the details on this project.
13: Lacing Toy
I absolutely loved lacing toys as a child. So this one really speaks to my heart.
This cute idea came from Hester at Hester Handmade Home. She simply used a jigsaw to cut out the dinosaur, drilled some holes, and added a little detail.
Such a simple DIY Wooden Montessori toy! Head over to this post to learn how to make it yourself.
14: Tugging Box
This tugging box is so simple to make, and can be made what ever box you have on hand and old craft supplies.
I made one of these for my daughter when she was just starting to learn to grasp things. I loved watching her little chubby fingers grasp at the ribbons.
Head over to the Nanny Gunna Blog to get the details.
15: Object Permanence Box
This object permanence box requires a little more work with tools, but it is so great for little developing brains! If you don’t have the tools to make it out of wood, I’m sure you could make something similar to it with a cardboard box!
Head over to OurMeaningfulExperiences to learn how to make your own.
16: Fabric Tissue Box
Amo at French Family Montessori came up with this cute tissue fabric box idea. If you’ve left a child unattended with a tissue box, you know how much fun babies and toddlers can have with these! It’s nice to have one that is designed to be pulled out and made a mess.
Plus, she found a wooden tissue box so you don’t even have to build your own. Super simple! Get the full instructions here.
17: Coin Box
This DIY Coin Box is great for toddlers and babies developing their fine motor skills!
Casey at Little Life Long Learnesr designed this one all from Dollar Store items. So the whole thing only costs $5 to make!
18: Nuts and Bolts Toy
This DIY Nuts and Bolts Toy is another great fine motor skills toy. The different bolt sizes require your child to problem solve to find the right size for the right bolt.
Head over to Momtessori for the full instructions to make your own.
19: DIY Color Tablets
I love how open ended these color tablets are! So fun for kids to be creative with.
Megan at MamaMeganAllysa gives some great tips and tricks to make these DIY Color Tablets successful! Head over to this DIY Color Tablets blog post to learn how to make your own.
20: Ball Drop
This Baby Ball Drop toy is a fantastic upcycle for your wipes containers! Quick and easy to make, and totally holds a busy toddlers attention! Win win!
Also, I’m totally obessed with Busy Toddler, so make sure to check out her other resources while your on her blog!
21: DIY Stacking Rocks
How cute and simple is this DIY Stacking Rocks idea? You can get your kids involved in painting the rocks, or have fun painting them yourself!
Lily at CraftLearnPlay is the mastermind behind this awesome DIY Montessori Toy. Head over to her post to learn all the tips to make your own set of DIY Stacking Rocks.
22: DIY Montessori Spindle Box
This DIY Montessori Spindle Box is awesome! It’s essentially free to make and is a great teaching tool!
Head over to the Chalk Academy to learn how to make and use your own DIY Spindle Box.
23: Pikler Triangle
Lindsay at AButterflyHouse has a fantastic tutorial on how to make your own DIY Pikler Triangle.
This DIY Montessori Toy requires a little more work, but it is obviously so worth it! What a fun gross motor skills toy for your kids!
24: Loose Parts
Loose parts are such a unique open-ended toy! Kid’s imagination can run wild with these little pieces. They can be people, money, food, villages, anything! Plus, the colors make it a great tool to learn sorting or colors.
Head over to MamaMeganAllysa for the full instruction on how to make your own DIY Loose Parts.
25: DIY Montessori Mobile
Emily at Rhyme and Reason Academy has some really adorable DIY Montessori Mobile ideas! Head over to this post to get patterns for four DIY Montessori mobiles that help newborn vision and development!
These DIY Mobiles require minimal power tools and can be made with supplies you likely have around the house!
Montessori Toys By Age
Montessori toys are designed to cater to the developmental needs and interests of children at different ages. Here’s a breakdown of ideal Montessori toys by age range:
Infants (0-6 months):
- Montessori mobiles with simple, contrasting shapes and colors.
- Grasping toys, such as wooden rattles or rings.
- Sensory toys, like textured balls or fabric squares.
Young Toddlers (6-18 months):
- Object permanence boxes with a removable lid and a small object inside.
- Nesting and stacking toys to develop hand-eye coordination.
- Shape sorters with large, simple shapes.
- Sensory exploration toys, such as wooden sensory balls or fabric touch-and-feel boards.
Older Toddlers (18-36 months):
- Puzzles with large, chunky pieces.
- Building blocks for open-ended construction play.
- Simple wooden lacing toys for fine motor skill development.
- Pretend play sets, such as play kitchen or tool sets.
Preschoolers (3-5 years):
- Montessori sandpaper letters and numbers for early literacy and numeracy skills.
- Threading beads for fine motor skill development.
- Montessori sensorial materials, like color tablets or knobbed cylinders.
- Nature exploration kits for outdoor exploration and learning.
Remember that these age ranges are general guidelines, and children may have different interests and developmental timelines. It’s important to observe and understand your child’s individual needs and abilities when selecting Montessori toys.
Why are Montessori toys wooden?
While not all the DIY Montessori toys on this list are wooden, traditionally Montessori toys are wooden! Here are some reasons why:
- Natural and sensory appeal: Wood is a natural material that appeals to children’s senses. It has a warm and inviting texture, pleasant scent, and natural variations in color and grain, which enhance the sensory experience of play.
- Durability: Wood is known for its durability and strength, making it suitable for withstanding the rigors of play. Montessori toys are often designed to last and be passed down through generations, and wood provides the sturdiness required for longevity.
- Safety: Wood is a non-toxic and safe material for children. Unlike some plastics or metals, wooden toys typically do not contain harmful chemicals or toxins, ensuring a safer play environment for children.
- Eco-friendly and sustainable: Montessori education emphasizes respect for the environment. Wood is a renewable resource, and choosing wooden toys aligns with the principles of sustainability and reducing ecological impact.
- Open-ended play possibilities: Wooden toys are often simple in design and encourage open-ended play. They stimulate children’s imagination, allowing for versatile and creative play scenarios that promote problem-solving, critical thinking, and exploration.
- Connection to nature: Montessori philosophy emphasizes a connection to nature. Using wooden toys helps bring a piece of the natural world into the child’s play environment, fostering a deeper connection to the natural materials and promoting a sense of harmony and balance.
DIY Montessori Toys
Well that’s a wrap! Hopefully you have found at least one, if not more, DIY Montessori Toy ideas! Montessori Toys can get pricy, so finding ways to DIY it can be so helpful.
I’d love to hear which DIY Montessori Toys you make. Leave it in the comments below!
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