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Montessori toys empower children to be more independent and self-resilient by tapping into their natural inclination to "do it themselves." When you take away flashing lights and commercial characters, you invite children to create original ideas and become intrinsically motivated to learn new things.
As a Montessori-credentialed preschool teacher with more than a decade of experience, I've seen this firsthand in my own classroom. Below, I've rounded up a list of toys that uphold the Montessori ideals of independence and self-directed learning, are non-commercial, and are powered by curiosity. These toys will capture a child's attention and ignite their curiosity about the world around them, making them a welcome addition to any home.
Here are 16 of the best Montessori toys, according to a teacher: