Montessori method DIY games for babies, activities 0-6 months

Those suggested by the Montessori method are the Munari carousel, the octahedron carousel, the Gobbi carousel, the dancers carousel. Then follow a whole series of carousels and tactile panels useful for the child when he passes to the “touch with his hands” phase.

It should be remembered that the carousels should be hung in places where the child is awake and not sleeping – because being stimulated it is possible that he will not find sleep – and that the ideal distance is that which allows a clear and safe view.

First month: the Munari carousel

Munari’s carousel is the ideal one for the first month of life, when the newborn’s vision is not yet fully developed.

Indeed, children in this stage see objects at a distance of 20-25 cm and still cannot distinguish details and colours.

To attract the child’s attention, Munari’s visual carousel has been studied with symmetrical geometric images in black and white and high contrast, placed at precise distances.

Second month: octahedron carousel

At this stage, the child does not yet perceive close color tones well, but begins to distinguish and be attracted to bright colors.

From 5-6 weeks onwards, the most suitable mobile is the octahedron which will allow him to develop this new acquired skill, namely to see colors and shapes more clearly.

Building the octahedron carousel is not difficult, however it is necessary to obtain yellow, red and blue paper (preferably shiny and bright) and shapes to cut out.

To build one you can follow the explanations here →  Octahedron Carousel Tutorial .

Second and third month: Gobbi carousel

Between the second and third month the baby also begins to distinguish the shades of colors .

For this reason it is ready for the Gobbi carousel which is useful for improving its visual experience of colors and for stimulating the perception of depth of field.

In fact, the Gobbi carousel is made up of five spheres of about 4 cm in diameter placed at different heights.

The balls are covered with a thread of the same color but in five different shades (the darkest at the bottom, the lightest at the top).

To build one you can follow the explanations here → Gobbi carousel video tutorial .

Third and fourth month: dancers carousel

The dancers’ carousel is inserted from the third/fourth month and improves depth perception .

Since it is a dynamic carousel (the figures move) it also stimulates visual focus and the contrast of colours, the reflection of the lights and the movement of the shapes stimulate the child’s concentration.

To build the dancers’ carousel, a few elements are enough such as wooden sticks, threads and scraps of colored paper.

To build one you can follow the explanations here →   Tutorial the dancers’ carousel .

Third and fourth month: tactile mobiles and various rattles

As soon as the child begins independently to grasp things with his hands, other games can be offered.

The objects to bite (you can make them yourself with wooden rings and some fabric ) and  do-it-yourself  wooden rattles with bells are the most suitable, but you can also propose colored suspended objects not only to look at but also to touch and to pull.

For example , hang a ribbon  or rubber band at a height that is easy to reach with your hands and tie an object to its end to be replaced over time: a wooden ring with colored ribbons, balls of fabric, a rattle and so on. Street.

Or build a  gym with colored ribbons  to fix, touch, pull.

Fifth month: tactile and musical sensory games

At the fifth month, babies are able to put themselves on their stomachs and vice versa, they grasp toys well, are able to do several things at the same time and interact much more.

Sensory stimuli are very important in this phase of growth, so in addition to continuing with gyms and objects to touch and bite, Montessori-inspired games can be introduced  that emit sounds and games that give different tactile sensations.

For example, using a container and inserting colored balls or objects that make noise into it, you can create a sort of rattle to be explored  while to create a tactile sensory game, it will be enough to build  tablets with different materials that by touching them are able to give different sensations between them : soft, hard, smooth, rough, hot, cold, and so on.

Sixth month: the sensory panel

The child begins to sit up , enjoys playing peek-a-boo and loves to drop objects on the floor to follow them with his eyes and hear their noise.

In this phase of the child’s growth, stacking games, shapes to be inserted or games that stimulate him to crawl are suitable.

One of the games inspired by the Montessori method that you can build is the sensory panel , which is nothing more than a wooden or cardboard panel on which to fix the most disparate and suitable objects for his age. In this case, mirrors, colored images, soft and rough objects, objects that make noise, with keys and buttons to press or things to open or close will be suitable.

Link→ sensory panel with colorful games .

I would like to underline that the recommended ages for carousels and Montessori games  in general should not be taken literally, but are only a basic suggestion. In fact, the proposals of the games must adapt to the responses and growth of the child.