From 3 to 6 years (daycare, preschool, kindergarten) is prime time for learning numbers, counting — the basics like adding and subtracting in your head.
The Montessori method includes concrete materials for children to learn all kinds of math’s abstract concepts. Let’s see which math puzzles are most in line with your kiddo’s next number crunching milestone!
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Best Montessori Math Puzzles
Some Montessori-Approved,
Others Montessori-Inspired.
- (01) Woodinout Dark Wood Montessori Numbers Puzzle for Toddlers
- (02) From Jennifer Wooden Number and Math Symbol Blocks
- (03) South Bend Woodworks Numbers and Shapes Wooden Toddler Puzzle
- (04) Bopoobo Cotton Puff Counter + Montessori Beads Math Puzzle
- (05) Ibwaae Rainbow Color Puffs Radial Wooden Counting + Sorting Toy
- (06) Coogam Montessori Numbers + Time Wooden Clock Puzzle
- (07) Melissa & Doug Self-Correcting Wooden Math Flashcards
- (08) Woodinout Numbers and Counting Math Manipulative Beads Puzzle Board
(01) Woodinout Dark Wood Montessori Numbers Puzzle for Toddlers
Puzzles are a very interesting material that attracts children’s attention. If you merge a wooden puzzle with the numbers 0 to 9, you have a mixture of playing and learning.
This handmade wooden version shows children the numbers 0 to 9 on a board. There is no lack of detail in this material.
It is widely used in the Montessori movement as an introduction to mathematics for children from 3 years old. It can be presented just the numbers to practice counting, and as a puzzle to pair each number with the shape of the board. All the materials used in this game are environmentally friendly.
(02) From Jennifer Wooden Number and Math Symbol Blocks
A set of number blocks and math symbols made from recycled wood and entirely handmade that can be used for a long time with children.
While they are young, each block is an abstract shape, used for construction before they even know they represent quantities. Then, as the child gets older, they move on to counting, then matching objects with numbers, feeling the shape, arranging them in order, identifying odd and even numbers…. As they get older, we include symbols to combine with the numbers where we introduce them to mathematical operations.
It is very important that we can offer these resources since they are small, so that the familiarization of the number to mathematical knowledge is built on the basis of a game. Maria Montessori noticed that children from the age of one and a half years could grasp very quickly the mathematical understanding through manipulation, and that, with this material, they can do it.
The set includes a cloth bag with the numbers in blocks from 0 to 9 and 5 mathematical symbols (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and equals).
(03) South Bend Woodworks Numbers & Shapes Wooden Toddler Puzzle
This puzzle combines spatial reasoning with number understanding and color identification. It comes with a board with the shapes of the numbers from 0 to 9, and the mathematical shapes of circle, square, triangle, rectangle, ovoid and pentagonal star.
The colors are from the primary range, yellow, blue and red.
The board and all its parts are made of wood, handmade, taking care of all the details and with a size of 12×15 inches.
This resource allows to refine fine motor skills, concentration and practice the sensory area.
(04) Bopoobo Cotton Puff Counter + Montessori Beads Math Puzzle
The Montessori counting game seems to me a very complete resource, and it has different versions.
This board contains the printed numbers, the holes with the amount and the felt balls for counting.
The use is very varied, since they are 3 years old they can follow the shape of the numbers with their fingers, learn that each number corresponds to a physical quantity and through the holes classify the felt balls according to the Montessori scale.
The whole board is made of natural handmade wood.
It can have different ways of use, as our children acquire and master the resource.
One advantage of this game is that the board can be hung on the wall, and in addition with the wooden clamp that comes with it, the child must get the balls and insert them into the holes, this resource prints more difficulty, but generates improvement through the grip with their hands, which later will serve for writing.
(05) Ibwaae Rainbow Color Puffs Radial Wooden Counting + Sorting Toy
This rainbow-shaped beads game is an ideal material to introduce the terms of classification, color and numbers.
The shape of the rainbow board itself attracts the attention of the little ones, the colored felt balls will be used for the child to classify them by color and in turn to count each one at the time of placing them on the board.
It is a great resource for practicing fine motor skills because the balls can be inserted with the hands through the use of the fingers in the form of tweezers and with a wooden clip that comes with the set.
It is ideal for providing an early start to a child’s STEM development.
(06) Coogam Montessori Numbers + Time Wooden Clock Puzzle
This Montessori wooden clock is one of my favorite toys, because it accompanies the child from the age of 1 to 4 years. It starts as a resource to fit the pieces of blocks around the clock, then to identify the numbers with each block, the colors, the counting and later to teach the time.
The whole game is made of wood, and the pieces are removable except for the hands of the hour and minute clock.
It allows to teach the concept of time.
It is super colorful and all its parts are safe for manipulation since they are small.
(07) Melissa & Doug Self-Correcting Wooden Math Flashcards
Learning numbers can be a lot of fun if presented to the little ones in a didactic way. These wooden matching puzzle cards will show children each of the numbers from 1 to 20 with a representation of the quantity in colorful images.
Several aspects are worked on, the knowledge of numbers associated with quantity, hand-eye coordination, concentration, and visual recognition.
An interesting aspect of these cards is that they have only one way to match them, which encourages the child to self-correct. He will not be able to force them to fit, he will have to look for the correct answer.
They come in a wooden box for storage, and with a lot of imagination, the images are so beautiful, they can be used to tell stories.
(08) Woodinout Numbers and Counting Math Manipulative Beads Puzzle Board
This counting board is another version of the felt ball variation.
It is an all-wooden, handmade board containing the numbers 1 to 10 along with holes to show the quantity associated with the number. It includes wooden balls to be inserted while doing the counting and to place the child that each number corresponds to a tangible quantity.
It is a material that is used in children from 3 years old, which is introduced into the sensory area and mathematical principle. The relief of the numbers allows you to follow it with your fingers so that later it is easier to move on to writing.
The board measures 13×8 inches.
