Where To Find Montessori Language Objects

The easiest way to start building a collection of objects is to buy a Montessori language objects starter set.

You'll save a lot of time and energy compared with trying to source them individually!

Look for a starter set that includes 2-3 objects to represent words that start with each alphabet letter sound.

This is a good time to mention that the letter x represents the sound "ks" that you hear when you say the words box, fox, and mix. I've seen many language object sets that include an x-ray or xylophone, but these words do not start with the sound for the letter x!

You'll also want to avoid starter sets that include objects for words like acorn, arrow, airplane, eel, eraser, celery, cedar, giraffe, gem, ice, iron, ivy, orange, unicorn, utensils and ukulele.

When I see "Montessori" starter sets that include these kinds of objects, I know that they are not curated by a trained Montessori teacher!

When you follow the Montessori method of teaching phonics that's covered in The Playful Path To Reading, you'll keep things simple at first by associating each blue sandpaper letter with its short vowel sound and each pink sandpaper letter with its hard consonant sound.

You'll want some of the beginning sounds objects in your starter set to also represent short phonetic words.

Montessori language objects such as a pig, web, cat, dog, mat, mug and jug can be used as props for word building with a moveable alphabet and for beginning reading practice.

This way you can get years of use out of your set of Montessori language objects!

If you're looking to fill in your collection of Montessori language objects, check out the dollhouse miniatures that are available at stores like Michaels and Hobby Lobby.

You might get lucky and find a miniature vacuum for the sound that the letter v represents!

Your local dollar store is another place to find things to use as Montessori language objects.

If you think creatively, you'll likely find craft supplies, party favors and toys that you could add to your collection of Montessori language objects.

There are often seasonal items that will work too, such as the figures included in a Christmas village scene or replica spiders and bones in the Halloween aisle.

Miniature replica animals also make wonderful Montessori language objects.

Your child may already have some Safari Ltd figurines (e.g., TOOBS® or Good Luck Minis®) that you could borrow for a beginning sounds activity or to match with Montessori sandpaper letters.

Is your homeschooling budgets quite limited? You can find a lot of Montessori language objects around your home!

Some common household objects that you can repurpose as Montessori language objects include a bandaid, candle, dime, key, spoon, marker, pencil, nail, screw.

You could even use real food such as an apple, banana, nut, carrot etc during one beginning sounds activity.

You can also find things to use as Montessori language objects when you go on your next nature walk with your child.

Have some things in mind that you can invite your child to find to make it into a fun game.

For example, you might ask your child to find a twig, rock, moss, flower, pebble, pinecone, bark, seed pod, feather, leaf etc.

All of these items can be added to your collection of Montessori language objects.

It's also ok to use pictures as Montessori language objects!

The next time you get a flyer or catalogue, see what pictures you can cut out and laminate for beginning sounds activities. This is one of the most budget-friendly ways to start building a collection of Montessori language objects.

Using pictures as Montessori language objects is also a good option if your preschooler seeks oral sensory input for self-regulation and you're concerned about the size the objects in your collection.

Montessori language objects are generally quite tiny and can be a choking hazard.

They should be used only when you're supervising your child and then put away in a place that's out of reach.

In a Montessori classroom for preschool and kindergarten age children, language objects are usually stored in an alphabet sounds cabinet with pull out drawers.

The children learn that they are only allowed to touch the objects when they are doing a Montessori language activity with a teacher.

You can create DIY Montessori sound boxes or an alphabet sound cabinet at home to keep the language objects out of reach when you're not using them.

An Artbin drawer cabinet works well. I've also seen homeschooling families use a plastic box with divided compartments, or a set of jars, tubs or pencil cases that are labelled.

When the set of Montessori language objects is organized by beginning sound and in alphabetical order, you can quickly gather what you need for an activity!

Montessori language objects are fun to use when teaching phonics to a preschool or kindergarten child.

The first step is to use Montessori language objects to develop phonemic awareness and then your 3-5 year old child can match them with Montessori sandpaper letters to learn letter sound correspondence.

Buy a Montessori language objects starter set if you want the quickest and easiest way to find 2-3 objects that represent words that start with each alphabet letter sound.

Then you can add to your collection with things you have around your home or things you find on a nature walk or in a dollar store or craft store.

Always think of letter sound correspondence when looking for Montessori language objects.

If you are teaching reading the Montessori way, you'll want objects that represent words that start with short vowel sounds and hard consonant sounds so they match the speech sounds that the Montessori sandpaper letters represent.

It's a good idea to store your Montessori language objects in an alphabet sounds cabinet or in DIY sound boxes so that they are out of reach when you're not using them with your child.

Related Article: Fun Ways To Use Montessori Language Objects