Montessori from Birth: Month 9

By Leonora Shell of Essential Montessori

Month 9

Crawling tunnels or ramps
Simple peg puzzles
Large knob puzzles

Support your little explorer with ramps and challenges - couch cushions were a favorite surface at this time! Simple peg puzzles and those with knobs were popular as well. We did our own take on this by incorporating pieces from separate materials we had available, but there are so many options!

6 to 9 Months

Between six and nine months, a baby's gross and fine motor skills become more refined, and they begin to develop a greater sense of independence. At this age, Montessori materials can be used to support the development of gross and fine motor skills, promote independence, and encourage exploration.

Additionally, a low shelf can be introduced to allow a baby to independently choose and explore a variety of Montessori materials. We created a quick tutorial on our instagram on how to make a low, lightweight shelf for your little one. Alternatively a lightweight wood shoe rack or a similar shelf makes an excellent alternative. The shelf can be set-up earlier than this age, but really comes into use by the child rather than the adult during this stage. We love this age range and put together the 6-9 month bundle to support your child's needs at this age.

9 to 12 Months

Between nine and twelve months, a baby's physical abilities become more refined, and they become increasingly interested in the world around them. At this age, Montessori materials can be used to promote exploration, support language development, and encourage independence.

One of the most important Montessori materials for this age is a Montessori object permanence box. Object permanence boxes consist of a box with a hole and a ball or object that can be dropped in the hole and retrieved from the bottom. This material promotes the development of object permanence and problem-solving skills. Additionally, books with simple yet realistic pictures and labels can be introduced to support language development.

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Montessori from Birth: Series Wrap Up

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Thank you for following along on this journey with us! For a quick reference guide to each month, please feel free to jump back to each month in this post.

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Support your little explorer with ramps and challenges - couch cushions were a favorite surface at this time!

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