Setting up an accessible, well-organized toy shelf for your little one is a great way to encourage more meaningful, focused play – and learning – at home.

It’s also a simple way to help prevent the overwhelm and stress of other toy storage methods, like an overflowing toy box that leaves your child bored and keeps your home in a constant state of disarray.

Sound good?

Keep reading to find out how to store your child’s toys the Montessori way, whether you’re new to Montessori or not!

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How to set up a Montessori toy shelf at home

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What is a Montessori toy shelf?

A Montessori toy shelf is simply a low, open shelf made with natural wood. Because Montessori shelves are child-sized, little ones are able to easily access all their toys. Additionally, Montessori shelves don’t have cabinet doors or anything else to prevent a child from seeing which toys are available to them.

When children can clearly see and easily access their toys without help, they spend more time playing (and learning!) and less time digging through an overflowing toybox looking for something to do. This helps children build independence and concentration.

It’s also worth noting that Montessori shelves are well-organized. On a Montessori shelf, toys and other materials are stored neatly in baskets and trays. There’s a place for everything, and through practice, little ones learn how to return their toys to the correct place. This helps children develop a sense of order, as well as responsibility for their belongings.

How do you store toys in Montessori?

When storing toys and other materials on a Montessori toy shelf there are a few things to keep in mind…

Limit toys.

Too many toys can overwhelm your child. When you limit the total number of toys your child has access to, it’s easier for your little one to choose an activity they’re interested in and engage in more focused play. That means more time for active learning! There’s no “perfect” number of toys for your child’s shelf, but somewhere between 6-8 is a good place to start.

Store smaller items in trays or baskets.

While large or standalone items, like a ball drop toy or object permanence box, can be stored directly on the shelf, smaller materials, like blocks or natural objects, should be stored in baskets or trays on the shelf. Trays and baskets make it easier for children to move an activity to their preferred play area. This is a great way to promote order and independence!

Leave toys “unfinished” on the shelf.

Little ones are much more interested in “unfinished” activities, such as disassembled puzzles, than completed activities. With completed activities, the work is already done – what else is there for your child to do? So, store puzzle pieces in a small basket next to the puzzle. Same for stacking rings, peg boards, and so on. You might be surprised to see how much this little change can help!

Set up toys from left to right, based on difficulty.

Often, Montessori shelves are organized so that the easiest activities are stored on the left side of the shelf, with activities increasing in difficulty from left to right. This is done so that children can easily select activities at the perfect level for them. When you’re practicing Montessori at home, this part is definitely optional. That said, it’s something to consider if you think your child would benefit from this type of organization!

Tips & ideas

Here are a few things to keep in mind as you set up a Montessori style toy shelf for your toddler…

Keep it accessible.

Your child should be able to see and reach all the toys on their shelf without help. (That’s why a low, open shelf is so important!) If your child is having a hard time using their toy shelf effectively, don’t be afraid to get down on the floor in order to see things from your child’s point of view.

While you’re down on your child’s level, think about simple changes you can make to create a more accessible toy storage set-up for your toddler. Can you declutter? Move small toys to a basket or tray? Leave the top shelf empty until your child is a bit older? Make function and accessibility a major priority.

Create a “yes” space.

Little ones need opportunities to explore freely without hearing, “No, don’t touch that!” every two seconds. So, when you’re setting up a Montessori toy shelf, make sure you only include things you want your toddler to have access to. That might mean avoiding heavy objects that could topple over on your child, toxic plants your child might mouth, or fragile family heirlooms that can’t be replaced if broken.

Instead, offer plenty of age-appropriate toys and other materials your little one can safely explore – without you hovering over them!

Follow the child.

Make a point to observe your child throughout the day. What are they interested in? What skills are they working on? Choose toys and materials that will help your toddler further explore these interests and skills. For example, if you notice your little one showing an interest in music, a basket of maracas or bells could make a great addition to your child’s toy shelf.

Alternatively, if you see that your child is struggling to use a toy safely – say, they’re throwing wooden blocks – you might consider replacing the blocks with a toy that better fits your child’s needs, such as a basket of soft balls that can safely be thrown. It’s all about following your child’s lead and meeting them where they are!

Avoid plastic when possible.

In general, natural materials, such as wood, cloth, or wicker, are preferable to plastic. That’s because natural materials are inherently more appealing to children. They’re attractive, sensory-rich, and sturdy. So, try to avoid plastic and look for toys and storage containers made using natural materials whenever possible.

Choose a variety of toys.

When deciding which toys to include on your child’s Montessori shelf, look for a collection of materials that help your little one practice different skills. For example, one week, you could set out a puzzle, musical instruments, wooden blocks, board books, and a discovery basket full of natural objects on your child’s toy shelf.

These materials are different enough to help your child build a wide variety of skills but are still age-appropriate for a toddler. Contrast this with a shelf that only features puzzles and stacking toys. While puzzles and stacking toys are great for building fine motor skills and spatial awareness, other kinds of toys are beneficial, too!

By the way, don’t be afraid to include materials that aren’t traditional toys on your child’s Montessori shelf. There are tons of great everyday learning materials for little ones out there, such as…

• Natural objects

Sensory bottles

• Real tools

• Household items

• Photographs

• Books

• And more!

Give toy rotation a try.

Rotating your child’s toys on a regular basis is a great way to prevent boredom and encourage meaningful, engaged play.

If you haven’t heard of toy rotation before, here’s what we’re talking about: With a Montessori toy shelf, a limited number of toys are available at once. Meanwhile, the rest of your child’s toys are stored out of sight. Once you notice your child is starting to get bored with their current toys, you then replace those toys with a few carefully-chosen toys from storage. That’s it!

You can rotate your child’s toys whenever needed, although many families prefer to rotate toys on a regular schedule. Think once every two or three weeks. As per usual, follow your child’s lead with toy rotation. (If your little one is still happily playing with the toys on their shelf, no need to change anything. Follow your instincts!)

Montessori toy shelf inspiration

Ready to see these ideas in action? Check out these real-life Montessori toy shelves to help inspire you!

Keep in mind that each shelf pictured here was designed to meet the needs of the child using it. As always, observe your child and follow their lead when choosing activities for their toy shelf. You can always reach out to me at meg@thetoddlerplaybook.com if you have questions! 

This shelf was designed for a 24 month old and 11 month old to share. (Note that the 11 month old’s toys are stored on the bottom row of the shelf, where they’re most accessible.) This mom has noticed her toddler talking A LOT more recently and is following his lead by offering plenty of vocabulary objects, such as the basket of animal figurines.

You can also see that the stacking rings on the bottom shelf are stored, unstacked, next to the toy’s base. This invites play by encouraging the 11 month old to “finish” the activity.

This family is following their child’s interest in vehicles by introducing a themed toy shelf. Note how each material here is stored neatly, inviting the child to explore and play. There’s also a great variety of types of toys on this shelf, from the coin box (fine motor) and puzzle (spatial reasoning) to vehicle matching activities (early math), vocabulary objects (language), and more!

There’s a lot to love about this creative, autumn-themed shelf. This mom is supporting her little one’s interest in transferring and posting by creating several DIY activities that will help her child practice these skills through play. There’s a variety of natural materials for the child to explore, as well as plenty of opportunities for the child to learn seasonal vocabulary words as they explore the leaves, apples, and gourds on the shelf.

Although you certainly don’t need to put in as much prep work as this mom has to prepare an awesome Montessori toy shelf, it’s exciting to see how much she’s been able to accomplish using mainly inexpensive items from the dollar store!

This low shelf from Sprout Kids is awesome for young toddlers! Little ones can easily see and reach all their toys for more accessible, engaging play. It’s also possible for children to use the top shelf as a play surface when they want to. Here, the number of available materials is limited to prevent overwhelm, activities are designed to support the child’s interest in color sorting and fine motor work, and toys are stored in a logical and organized way.

(Plus, further proof that simple DIY activities can be a great addition to a Montessori toy shelf!)

This Montessori style shelf makes the most out of a small nook in this family’s home. On the shelf, larger toys are stored independently, while more compact toys are stored in a small basket. There’s a variety of toys, including soft balls for indoor gross motor play, a doll for early imaginative play, stacking toys, and more. Ideally, puzzle pieces and stacking rings would be stored unassembled in a basket to encourage play, but overall a lovely shelf!

(If you like these toys, be sure to check out Lovevery’s toy subscription boxes for toddlers, where many of these awesome toys are from!)

Here’s an awesome Montessori toy shelf for a 16 month old. There’s a great mix of materials here, from stacking and nesting toys to a drum, shape sorter, assortment of toy vehicles, and more. The real lockbox is a great addition here too! Keep in mind that household items and other “real world” objects are some of the best learning materials for little ones.

(You can see how engaged this little boy is in the last few pics! Let’s be real: There’s no better sign of a well-designed toy shelf than a happy child, busy at play.)

Learn how to set up a Montessori bedroom for your toddler in this course

Ready to set up a Montessori toy shelf at home?

Setting up a Montessori toy shelf at home doesn’t have to be a huge, complicated project. Know that it’s more than okay to start small and learn as you go! Here are a few things to remember as you get started…

1 | Choose a low, open toy shelf that’s easy for your child to reach. A light, natural wood shelf is best, but don’t be afraid to use what you already have at home to make the most of your resources.

2 | Keep toys limited and store them neatly in trays and baskets. Toys with small pieces, like puzzles and stacking toys, should be stored “unfinished” to inspire curiosity and engagement.

3 | Choose toys and materials that help your child explore their interests. Observe your little one throughout the day to find out what they’re interested in. Then use your observations to choose relevant, interesting materials for your little one’s toy shelf. (This is what “following the child” is all about!)

4 | Rotate toys as needed to keep your child’s play fresh and exciting. You may want to rotate toys as often as once a week or as infrequently as once every other month. Follow your child’s lead.

 

Good luck on your Montessori journey!

♥ Meg

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How to set up a Montessori toy shelf at home