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Tag: Montessori

Montessori Pikler Triangle

Every child loves to climb. I wanted to ensure that our twins have a safe and dedicated area for them to explore their desire to climb. In hopes of helping them not feel compelled to climb on things they should not and endanger themselves. Enter the Pikler Triangle!

Let’s Build

Tools

Materials

  • Lumber (Red Oak/Poplar/Birch)
    • Red Oak
    • Poplar Dowels
  • Rope
  • Sand Paper
  • Glue
  • Finish
    • Beeswax & Olive Oil
    • Danish Oil
    • Polyurethane
QuantityDimensionPurpose
43” Wide x ¾” Thickness by 43” LongLegs
121″ Dowel by 48″ LongLadder Rungs
11″ Dowel by 52″ LongAxle

Build Legs

  1. Cut out 4 legs to dimensions.
  2. Use jigsaw or bandsaw to cut radius on all 8 ends to create a smooth end on each leg
  3. Mark out each hole for each rung and verify proper location so that each hole matches its mirror leg piece
  4. Drill the axle/top run hole completely through using the 1” Forstner Bit.
    • Note: These are the only 4 holes that go through the wood completely.
  5. Use the 1” Forstner bit to drill all 24 holes ½” deep for each ladder rung.
    • Note: Make sure not to go too far as your bit may drill too deep.
  6. Sand and make sure to round over any sharp edges.
  7. Finish as desired
    • Note: Make sure not to apply finish to the inside of each hole. The finish can weaken the glue bond when you install the rungs.

Cut and Assemble Rungs

  1. Cut all ladder rungs and the axle/top rung to length.
    • Tip: Round over each end of each rung to make it easier to align and insert into the corresponding hole on each leg during assembly.
  2. Apply glue to six ends of the ladder rungs.
    • Note: Do not apply glue to the top axle/rung
  3. Apply glue to the corresponding 6 holes on a single leg.
  4. Insert the glued ends of 6 rungs into the first leg.
  5. Apply glue to the opposite rung ends for the other half of the exposed rungs.
  6. Apply glue to a mirror leg piece for its corresponding 6 holes.
  7. Align and insert each rung into the correct corresponding leg holes.
    • Tip: Use clamps to assist you with aligning and inserting the rungs into the second leg.
  8. Clamp and clean up any glue that is pressed out.
  9. Repeat for second ladder.

Final Assembly

  1. Align the two ladders so that the axle/top rung holes align and insert the axle/top rung.
  2. Drill a ¼” hole on each end and insert & glue ¼” dowel plug to ensure that the two ladders stay on the axle.
  3. Drill a ½” hole centered between the 4th and 5th ladder run on each leg. This will be where we insert the rope
  4. Cut the rope in half to about 30” and insert through each hole
  5. Adjust the triangle to the desired angle. Ensuring that the triangle is shallow enough to ensure the triangle is stable enough for children to climb and is not too steep.
  6. Tie a stop knot on each end of the rope tight enough so the knots cannot come untied. This can be adjusted later to adjust the desired angle of the triangle.
  7. Your triangle is complete.

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We offer detailed plans in our store today, plans also include instructions on how to build a ramp and climbing wall.

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Simple DIY Montessori Toys

Before our twins were born I realized that many of the smaller simple toys our newborns would use were quite simple to make with even the simplest of tools. Below are three such toys that can be made with a few scrap materials lying around the hobby room.

Montessori Interlocking Discs

7/16″ Thick x 3″ Diameter

Building the interlocking discs is very straight forward and simple. Selecting the thickness and diameter are the only limiting factors. I built mine using some 7/16″ oak scrap I had around from previous projects. I used a 3″ hole saw drill bit and cut 2 circles out. Once I have these cut I mark and measure out a gap that is exactly the thickness of my board 7/16″ and cut it out using a band saw.

Next I like to put a nice rounded edge on each circle using my 1/8″ round-over bit and sand and finish using my homemade beeswax and oil finish.

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Extra: If you have a CNC machine you can use my PDF file to cut your own quickly.

Montessori Grasp Cylinder and Pincer Cylinder

Palmer Dimensions

The palmer grasp block is designed for children as early as 8 months. They aid children in developing their whole hand grasp. This builds focus and fine motor skills. The pincer block takes the same concept even further by encouraging children to focus using their thumb and index finger

These are made quite simply by gluing 2 standard 1″ boards of wood together to form the overall thickness desired of 1.5″. Once this is dried I rip the board to 1.5″ wide and about 4″ long. I then cut this in half to form two rectangular cubes that are both about 2″ long.

I then mark the enter of each block and drill out a 1″ hole using a Forstner about 1.5″ deep. I cut 2 dowels about 3″ long. This is a possible chocking hazard here so it is important that the length is long enough to not be a hazard. I recommend using this chocking hazard tool for determining if any product has chocking hazards.

The palmer block is now ready for sanding and finishing, but the pincer needs to be shaped. I simply use my lathe to turn down and create a nice little handle on one end of the second dowel

Next I like to put a nice rounded edge on each block using my 1/8″ round-over bit and sand and finish using my homemade beeswax and oil finish.

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Montessori Rattles

The rattles are also straight forward. These are designed for when the child is not mouthing anything quite yet. The rattles allow the child to experience natural shapes and textures while also introducing the cause and effect of shaking the rattle with the bells. They require supervision and should not be used once the child starts to bring things to their mouths as these rattles do contain choking hazards if they come loose.

There are 2 basic types I made as show above. One is simply a dowel with 2 bells attached with eyelets on each end. The second type is a leather string that we slipped on wooden beads from the local hobby shop for texture and shape. Different variations you can add bells as well.

Tools Used

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