Engaging in Imaginative Learning Through Play

Childhood memories of building blocks and matchingforty years ago, Montessori toys teach children how
shapes with colors and size in wooden sets ofto organize, be creative and have fun while learning
Montessori toys are set in the minds of those thatincreased fine motor skills and speech patterns
engaged in play with parents. Montessori toys, likethrough their play. With a digital world of video
counting with an abacus and learning the basics ofgames and internet access at their fingertips, children
spelling from arranging lettered blocks, taught childrenare falling behind in their early development without
some of the early development skills in a preschoolthe aid of toys to teach them how spatial
environment. Placing letters into their appropriaterelationships work, or working with a series of blocks
cutouts while sounding out the letter taught youngto discover balance and form.
children skills in recognizing the alphabet andEven with the advanced learning of a digital age, toys
precognitive reading.are the best foundation for educational learning and
Even simple unsophisticated toys that do not requireearly childhood development practices. Forming
batteries and allow the imagination to magicallypatterns with brightly colored wooden shapes or
transport children to kingdoms where building blockspushing the beads of an abacus to learn how to
become castles, and where knights battled dragonscount and measure are skills that every child can
to save princesses. These toys have aided in thebenefit from. Building open, creative, free thinking
early development of children's minds as theymind is the basis of imaginative learning that comes
prepare for schooling.from playing with Montessori toys.
Just as effective today as they were thirty and