Montessori-Inspired Play at Home Using Felt Toys
At Playtisserie, we believe in the power of play as a child’s most natural form of learning. Our handcrafted felt food and natural rattan toys aren’t just charming, they’re intentional, open-ended toys that align beautifully with the values of Montessori education.
By bringing Montessori-inspired play into your home, you can nurture independence, confidence, and curiosity using safe, natural, tactile materials.

Image @the_semi_montessori_mum
What Is Montessori and Why Does It Matter?
The Montessori approach, developed by Dr Maria Montessori, is based on respect for the child, self-directed activity, and hands-on learning. It encourages children to follow their interests and explore their environment at their own pace.
Felt toys are wonderfully compatible with Montessori principles:
- Purposeful Simplicity: No flashing lights or beeping buttons, just thoughtful, realistic pieces that encourage focus.
- Natural Materials: Soft, sensory-rich textures that help children feel grounded and engaged.
- Open-Ended Play: A single felt carrot can become a pen to write down a café order, a picnic snack, or a microphone to spruik customers to their shop stand, whatever your child imagines.
The Benefits of Felt Toys in Montessori-Inspired Play
1. Encourages Independence
Children can choose how they engage with felt toys, setting the scene, creating meals, and tidying up afterwards. This builds decision-making skills and a sense of autonomy.
2. Builds Fine Motor Skills
Peeling felt bananas, stacking sandwiches, or stirring imaginary soup all help strengthen small hand muscles and coordination.
3. Supports Language Development
Whether playing alone or with others, children naturally describe what they’re making and doing, expanding vocabulary and sentence structure.
4. Fosters Social and Emotional Skills
Sharing, role-playing, and turn-taking are all built into pretend play, helping children develop empathy and communication skills.
How to Set Up Montessori-Inspired Felt Play at Home
- Create an orderly play space: Keep felt toys accessible and neatly displayed in baskets or low shelves. Children thrive in calm, uncluttered environments.
- Rotate toys regularly: Less is more. Offering fewer toys at a time reduces overwhelm and encourages deeper engagement.
- Involve your child in the process: Let them choose what to include in their play kitchen or market stall. Involving them builds pride and ownership over their space.
Montessori-inspired play doesn’t have to be complex or costly. With the right environment and a few beautifully crafted pieces, like our felt food sets, you can support meaningful, imaginative play that grows with your child.
Dr. Maria Montessori famously said, “Play is the work of the child.” By embracing play as purposeful and powerful, we help children become confident, capable learners, one felt strawberry or slice of toast at a time.
Explore our felt toy collection and bring Montessori magic into your home today.