Montessori Toys for 1 Year Olds

Between twelve and twenty four months a child is doing two things at once: learning to move their whole body across a room, and learning to make their fingers do something precise. A toy bought at this age either supports one of those or gets abandoned in a fortnight.

There are six pieces on this page. That is deliberate.

What a one year old is actually working on

• Balance and walking. A balance bike with no pedals lets them push along at their own pace and stop with their feet, which is the part that builds confidence.
• Being at your height. A learning tower puts them at the worktop, so they can see what is happening up there instead of pulling at your leg.
• Cause and effect. A music set answers immediately: hit it, it sounds. At this age the point is the answer, not the tune.
• Fingers. Zips, buckles and laces on a felt busy book are the first real fastenings they meet, and the book travels in a bag.

Best gifts for a first birthday

The balance bike and the music set are the two that get opened and used the same afternoon. The learning tower is the one parents come back for, usually after a few weeks of cooking with a toddler on their hip.

Still small, or nearly two

If your child is closer to twelve months, the cloth books and the plush farm set carry over from the first year and still get daily use. If they are nearly three and want a task with an end to it, look at Montessori toys for 3 year olds instead.