Follow @listeningmama on Instagram for updates on my upcoming series offering cost-effective alternatives to the 1–3 year Lovevery and Monti Kids subscription boxes.
If you’ve been learning about Montessori through social media, you may have come across the elegant and simple materials from Monti Kids subscription boxes. A counterpoint to Lovevery, Monti Kids offers eight boxes of classical Montessori materials for toddlers aged 0–3.
However, Monti Kids subscription boxes can be prohibitively expensive, especially for international customers. Living in Vancouver, BC for instance, a single box comes to $439 CAD ($297 plus $65.54 shipping in USD).
Fortunately, it is fairly easy to re-create these boxes at a fraction of the price through local Montessori and other retailers. Here is a round-up of options for year one — remember to plan ahead and bundle items to save on shipping!
Level 1
Under $100 for DIY mobiles and an inexpensive play gym
Purchase the four classic Montessori visual mobiles pre-made for $109 at the Montessori Room, or DIY on your own with these instructions or with a Montessori Edited DIY kit ($85).
You can easily DIY the tactile mobiles using simple craft materials such as a bell, wooden rings, and ribbons or by hanging other teethers. Canadian Etsy shop Creaphile also sells puzzle balls for $40.
The most iconic piece of this Monti Kids box is the tall activity gym (37” H x 32” L x 33” W) which offers a stable way to hang the visual mobiles at the ideal height (about 12” from an infant’s chest). Tactile mobiles can be hung from most play gyms, replacing busier hanging toys. Visual mobiles might need more space but can be easily hung from a simple ceiling hook, or from a crib mobile arm. For an A-frame wooden play gym, check out the one at Little Star Creative Co for $56, Amazon for $50, or IKEA for $30. Play gyms usually get very little wear, so take a look at some second-hand options first!
Level 2
$76 for six teethers and a blocks set, plus cost of a dish set
The Level 2 kit includes nine rattles/teethers, however I encourage you to consider how many you need depending on what you have at home. Sometimes less is more!
Canadian Montessori toy supplier IFIT carries the interlocking discs ($6), a wooden rattle ($5 or $9), a cylinder rolling bell ($14), and a circle rattle with bead ($4). You can get a cube rattle for $18 on Etsy, interlocking wood rings for $13 in the Montessori Room, and check the Level 3 kit for teether ball alternatives. I have yet to find an equivalent to the Dolio, Hex with Balls or wooden book.
There are lots of options for blocks — and you can often find large sets secondhand — but the most inexpensive might be IKEA’s set of 24 blocks with a pull wagon for $16.
Finish off by choosing your own set of plate, cutlery, cup and placemat depending on your family’s needs and preferences!
Level 3
Recreate for $112.
IFIT carries the spinning drum (on sale for $40), large cylinder rolling bell ($26) and ball drop with tray ($20). Montessori Room carries the shape fitting puzzles ($28).
This kit includes an introductory Montessori stacking toy which is characterized by large rings and a graduated cone. A great alternative is this $8 classic from Fisher Price!
For textured balls, check out the Infantino set for $15 in Amazon, or $17 at Hudson’s Bay.
Level 4
$100, plus your choice of ball tracker ranging from $40–184
IFIT carries the ball drop box with long drawer ($24), a smaller ring stacker ($8), a peg box ($25), and either four single-shaped puzzles for $6 each, or get a multi-shaped puzzle for $10 and simply cover some of the shapes with cardboard when starting out so baby can concentrate on one at a time.
An alternative to the peg box is the classic Galt pop-up toy at Amazon for $22. You can also get the push ball toy at Amazon for $33.
The trickiest and sometimes priciest item to get from this kit is the ball tracker. Some similar options include these ones from Amazon for $82 or $152 or from Etsy for $150 or $184. Amazon also offers some variations on the theme for $40, $100, or $35 with cars!
