The Best Montessori Climbing Toys for 1 Year Olds

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We’ve just entered into the throes of the toddler era with my little one which means there is a lot, and I mean A LOT, of climbing happening in my household. While this may come with a large helping of fear of injury for us mamas, it is actually a great sign that our little one or two year olds are working hard developing those gross motor skills. Developing these skills helps them to master controlling their muscles for the running, jumping and playing they are meant to do!

With all of the jumping around and physical development that toddlers are going to do, it only makes sense to have our homes and play rooms prepared for such a journey. How can we do this? This is where the Montessori method of physical activity comes into play.

What is the Montessori Philosophy?

If you’re a mom in today’s interconnected world, chances are you’ve heard of the Montessori method. If you’re like me, you’ve seen the term online when describing certain toys or educational items for kids and wondered what in the world that means. The Montessori method is basically the practice that children should be encouraged to participate in self-directed, explorative, hands on play in a safe, or prepared environment. At the toddler age, this method nudges kids towards going with their natural instincts when it comes to discovering the world around them. It is believed that allowing them to explore and test out their blossoming abilities will help them become confident, successful little humans!

What is a Montessori toy?

Toys can sometimes be labeled as Montessori style toys, at least when you are shopping in the common online places aka Amazon. Knowing what we now know about the Montessori method, we can assume that Montessori toys are usually pretty open ended. They encourage active, imaginative play. These toys encourage our little ones to use their minds to decide the direction of play and help them hone skills that help them become more and more independent. They are not usually the loud, electronic toys that seem to fill the baby toy isle. They are often those wooden, understated toys, puzzles, or climbing structures. When it comes to the explorative, toddler, Montessori climbing toys are the way to go!

We know that the Montessori method wants us to foster our toddlers’ physical activities in a safe space. How can we create a safe place to allow our little ones to essentially throw themselves around in a fun way without sustaining any harm to their precious bodies ? While this seems difficult, there are actually so many great toys available that can turn any room into a safe indoor playground for your little love.

Here is a guide to the best Montessori climbing toys for one year olds.

1. The Nugget Couch

My family just went in on this awesome play couch for my toddler’s first birthday. It consists of two huge, foldable rectangular cushions and two smaller, triangular cushions. While you can absolutely have this serve as a playroom couch and a couch alone, there are endless opportunities for imaginative play with the Nugget. There are so many ways to build with these cushions. From forts to a climbing triangle, little ones can enjoy a variety of activities. The best part about the Nugget is that it’s made from super soft foam blocks that cushion toddlers and kids as they fling themselves about.

There are several Nugget dupe “>Nugget couch dupes on Amazon that I’m sure serve the same purpose, but I know firsthand that the Nugget is great quality. The material is soft and durable. The cushion covers unzip so you can throw them in the wash if any accidents happen (and we all know they will). It also comes in so many color options. We opted for the earthy willow green but there are pretty, bright colors too! The play couch may be a bit of an investment at around $250, but similar couches are not far off of the price. We love this couch and felt confident making this purchase because it’s functional for older kids too. We know we will get a lot of use out of it for a very long time.

2. Softzone Climbing Set “>Kids Softzone Climb Set

My toddler’s grandmother bought this set for my little one’s birthday and it is such a great set! It is a great choice for younger toddlers like my one year old. This set comes with a soft foam climbing ramp, two climbing blocks, a foam arch, and a foam cylinder. There are so many ways to play with this because you can set up your own little gym in several different configurations. Each time you play it can become something new for the kiddos to explore on. It has been the perfect companion to the Nugget as well! We love to set up a climbing runway of sorts to get into the Nugget fort. We also pile overstuffed couch pillows around all sides of our climbing setup so if there are any accidental tumbles, no one gets hurt.

3. Pikler Triangle “>Wooden Climbing Triangle (Pikler Triangle)

These Montessori climbers are a great way for toddlers to practice their hand-eye coordination and really hone those fine motor skills! Many of them are basically constructed like a triangle ladder with rungs that are perfect for climbing. I really like think this is the best Pikler triangle because it folds up for easy storage. It’s perfect for small spaces if you don’t have a ton of space. This Montessori climbing set on Amazon comes with a Pikler triangle and a wooden climbing arch which is also a great option. They make great outdoor climbing toys as well as long as you bring them in after use.

The triangle Montessori climber is made without sharp edges in a safe design so that toddlers can practice their climbing skills without much risk of injury. Of course. We always have to supervise any time that are kids do something potentially dangerous, even if they’re doing it “safely”. These triangles are also made from solid wood, so you can feel good that your little one is playing on nontoxic, natural materials which is always a plus. Older kids can enjoy these play structures as well because they have a maximum weight limit of about 200 pounds!

4.Ball pit “>Ball Pit

What little kid doesn’t love a ball pit?! Young toddlers especially enjoy these. I love the ball pits that are made a soft foam ring so that little ones don’t hit anything hard when climbing in or out. They are a pretty safe environment as far as climbing or playground toys go. The colorful balls are a fun sensory experience for your toddler to swim through when they are piled high. Practice tossing them into the ring for a little hand-eye coordination development. The pit itself can be used in a variety of ways only limited by the imagination. Make it a cozy nest for stuffed animals, imagine with your child that you’re sitting in a boat- anything is possible. This is just a bonus tip, but ball pits make parties and get together a blast for little ones. Pull them out for some extra fun and physical activity!

5. Mini Rock Climbing Wall

Okay moms, I know what you’re thinking- this one sounds a little bit dangerous. Are we really going to let our BABIES climb up a wall?! What if they fall? Won’t they hurt themselves? Hear me out- it is definitely a Montessori climber geared towards older toddlers and kids. There is no way I’d let my 1 year old attempt it. At this age, toddlers are still mastering basic things like balancing while they walk. That being said, I do plan to add one to our play room when my little one is about three or four years old. I also plan to purchase a very thick play mat to place under said rock climbing wall. That way we can cushion any fall- even if it’s only from one foot off the ground.

I am what they’d call a “helicopter mom” through and through. If I could shield my child from every little thing that could cause harm, I would. Isn’t that all of us as mothers? We don’t want our most cherished humans to get hurt, but we can’t protect them from every little thing. What we can do is teach them to do things safely. We can allow them to spread their little wings in a protected environment. Rock walls are scary, sure, but they’ve got to learn to trust their bodies through active play. Give them a safe space and they may surprise you with how cautious they are. You know your little ones best, mamas!

6. Jungle Gym

Finally, a great outdoor option is the jungle gym! They really boost motor skills and are something most of us are familiar with. There are so many different kinds out there to fit every budget and style. These hexagonal jungle gyms are made in a simple design. However, there are so many ways to play on them. Little ones can climb up or on top of these while other kids play under them. A jungle gym with monkey, bars is also a classic choice. There are newer additions to jungle gyms like climbing nets, steering wheels, or even forts or pirate ships!

I think that outdoor jungle gyms are a great, big gift for older toddlers and kids. Once little ones have mastered