The 40 Best Montessori & Open-Ended Learning Toys for Every Age

(No Batteries Required!)

If you're looking for educational toys that spark creativity, encourage problem-solving, and grow with your child, then you're in the right place! This guide is packed with Montessori-inspired and open-ended learning toys that promote hands-on exploration—no flashing lights or noisy buttons needed.

And hey, no judgment if you’ve got a house full of battery-powered, blaring, plastic toys or have resorted to screen time to survive (guilty!). But if you're looking for a little balance, these toys are perfect for independent, imagination-filled play—giving you a much-needed coffee break.

These toys aren’t just for home! They’re perfect for daycares, early childhood classrooms, and elementary schools—helping educators create engaging, play-based learning environments.

Best Educational Toys for Infants (0-12 months)

At this stage, babies explore through their senses—touching, looking, grasping, and listening. High-contrast visuals and simple tactile toys are great for their developing brains! These are fantastic additions to any home play area, daycare, or infant classroom.

Top Montessori & Open-Ended Toys for Infants:

1. Black and White Flashcards – Perfect for newborn vision, contrast recognition, and early focus skills. My daughter used hers all the time when she was an infant! I was gifted a few sets and these were out top used: High Contrast Baby Flashcards by beiens, My First Black and White Book by KaPing, and

2. Wooden Grasping Beads – Encourages fine motor development and tactile exploration. Here are my two favourite options from Amazon: 8pcs by MLEY and the 6pcs by TUOWITA

3. Soft Fabric Balls – Perfect for tummy time, rolling, and sensory play. There are so many gorgeous options sold by artists on Etsy! And also some great Amazon options, like 8-1 by teytoy, Colorful Plus by Shumee, and the Machine Washable Ball by HABA.

4. Montessori Mobiles – So mesmerizing, even adults find them calming. There are countless beautiful mobiles to choose, so I've narrowed it down to a few of my favourites: the Montessori Mobile by Everlove Store, the Symphony in 3 by Flensted Mobiles (pricier, but gorgeous), the mobile in Lovevery's first play kit (I LOVE Lovevery... that'll be a blog for itself), and this super cute sheep mobile by GanapatiCraftsCo on Etsy (Etsy...soooo many wonderful options!).

5. Nesting Cups – Helps babies understand size relationships and practice stacking. I personally love the Stacking Cups by Mushie and the Moonkie Stacking Silicone Cups.

6. Natural Wooden Rattles – Stimulates auditory perception and motor skills. Check out this cute Safari Animal Rattle by Joliecraft.

7. Sensory Cloth Books – Chewable, crinkly, and great for early literacy exposure. Here's a great black & white contrast starter booklet for younger babies, followed by a cute interactive cloth booklet by the Toodly Store.

8. Teething Rings – Because everything—including your shoulder—is a chew toy at this stage. There's some super cute personalized options on Etsy, like this Dino one by LiefieClips, or this Silicone Teething Ring by Akolik.

9. Mirror Play Mats – Encourages self-recognition and tummy time fun. My daughter used her Lovevery 'Play Gym' ALL the time (I purchased a little mirror separately and propped it up). Her grandparents had the Skip Hop Baby 'Play Gym,' which was equally amazing.

10. Stacking Rings – Develops problem-solving and fine motor skills. Mushie's Stacking Rings are amazing. A slightly cheaper alternative would be these Soft Stacking Rings by Miawow Store.

Best Educational Toys for Toddlers (1-3 years)

Toddlers love to explore, move, and test boundaries—literally and figuratively. These toys help them channel that energy into learning, instead of, you know, climbing onto the kitchen counter when you turn around for five seconds. They’re also perfect for daycares and early learning classrooms.

Top Montessori & Open-Ended Toys for Toddlers:

1. Picture Flashcards (Family Members, Shapes, Colors, Daily Routines) – Boosts vocabulary and memory. Here are a few items that I love: My First Photo Album, Soft Alphabet Flash Cards, Multi-Pack Toddler Flashcards, and the Soft Book that comes in the Lovevery 'Charmer Play Kit.'

2. Building Blocks – Great for independent play and group learning. My ultimate favourite set is from Lovevery, I truly feel like this set grows with your child! But, there are so many other lovely block sets that are worth mentioning, like iPlay's Natural Wood Set. Or this awesome Extra Large Set from Migargle!

3. Shape Sorters – Teaches problem-solving and patience. The options are endless for Shape Sorters, but here are a couple that I've used that I've liked: Melissa & Doug's Shape Sorting Cube, and HELLOWOOD's Wooden Sorter Cube.

4. Peg Puzzles – Encourages concentration and hand-eye coordination. Lovevery subscriptions will get your lovely puzzles with almost every kit! But, here are some of my favourite simple, yet effective Peg Puzzles for littles: Coogam's Montessori Wooden Shapes, GOPO TOYS's Shape Sorter Puzzle, EDUJOY's Dinosaur Peg Puzzle, and any of the Melissa and Doug peg puzzles!

5. Lacing Beads – Strengthens fine motor skills and pre-writing development. Melissa & Doug have some great choices for lacing beads: Primary Colour Lacing Beads and their Educational Lacing Beads.

6. Play Silks – Open-ended play at its finest—turns into capes, blankets, and peek-a-boo fun. For a more affordable option, try out these juggling scarves. My personal favourite brand for play silks is Sarah's Silks: Set of 4, 1 pack, butterfly wings, and a giant scarf (great for fort making!).

7. Stacking and Nesting Bowls – Develops coordination and logical thinking. Toys of Wood Oxford Store sells a large wooden set,

8. Wooden Tool Sets – Encourages creativity and problem-solving. The store ToyWoo sells a comprehension set if you have a little builder on your hands! Melissa and Doug sell a more affordable and smaller wooden tool set, although they are squared rather than 'bowls.' Wildflower sells an adorable felt rainbow set!

9. Animal Figurines – Perfect for storytelling and sensory bins. I absolutely love Schleich animals and playsets - my daughter plays with them for hours! Downside is they are quite expensive, but the upside is that they are safely made and will grow with your child! But there are some amazing other options out there, such as Terra by Battat, Learning Resources animal sets (Like this cute Woodland Set!)

10. Balance Boards – Great for gross motor development, balance skills, and movement breaks. The store Gentle Monster sells a great balance board. Play-in-Joy also sells a great balance board!

Best Educational Toys for Preschoolers (3-5 years)

Preschoolers thrive on hands-on learning, role-playing, and building things. These toys deepen their problem-solving abilities and spark creativity—plus, they make amazing additions to preschool classrooms and early childhood learning centers.

Top Montessori & Open-Ended Toys for Preschoolers:

1. Magnetic Tiles – A classroom favourite! Encourages creativity, STEM skills, and collaborative play. I have personally used Magna-Tiles and Picasso Tiles and love them both! They are an investment but another great toy to grow with your child. I actually started my toddler on them at 2 years old and each month she loves them more and more!

2. Wooden Dollhouses – Encourages storytelling and pretend play. There are so many excellent options to choose from, but here are my top 4: Tiny Land Modern House, Wooden Dollhouse by Ook, Mellisa and Doug's Wooden Dollhouse, Large Wooden Dollhouse by the Giant Bean store.

3. Art Easel with Supplies – Boosts fine motor development and creativity. Ikea has a great Easel that's affordable. I also love Melissa & Doug and Belleur's Easels!

4. Counting Beads – Makes early math concepts fun and engaging.

5. Gardening Tools Set – Teaches responsibility and nature care.

6. Wooden Train Sets – Great for spatial awareness and problem-solving.

7. Role-Play Costumes – Builds confidence and social skills.

8. Puzzle Maps – A hands-on way to introduce geography.

9. Cooking Play Sets – Teaches sequencing, teamwork, and real-world skills.

10. Nature Exploration Kits – Encourages outdoor learning and science curiosity.

Best Educational Toys for Elementary-Aged Kids (5-7 years)

By now, kids love building, experimenting, and figuring things out. These toys support STEM learning, creativity, and social skills—making them great for elementary classrooms, homeschooling, or learning centers.

Top Montessori & Open-Ended Toys for Elementary Kids:

1. Magnetic Tiles – Still a winner—now for elaborate group structures and STEM challenges.

2. Advanced Building Sets – Encourages engineering and spatial reasoning.

3. Simple Board Games – Teaches patience, strategy, and turn-taking.

4. Science Experiment Kits – Perfect for hands-on STEM learning.

5. Knitting or Weaving Looms – Strengthens fine motor skills and patience.

6. Advanced Puzzles (100+ pieces) – Great for critical thinking and focus.

7. Marble Runs – Hands-on physics lesson disguised as fun.

8. Wooden Construction Sets – Fosters creativity and engineering concepts.

9. Botany Kits – A great way to bring science into play.

10. Musical Instrument Learning Sets – Encourages rhythm, coordination, and early music appreciation.

Final Thoughts

No matter your child’s age, Montessori and open-ended toys encourage imagination, independence, and hands-on exploration. These are perfect for home play, classrooms, and learning centers—because great toys aren’t just for home! Whether you’re an educator, homeschooler, or parent looking for engaging educational toys, these picks will grow with your child while keeping learning fun.Write your text here...

Some of my favourite flashcard options:

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