Lego and Montessori: Where do they meet?

Many ask the question: "Is Lego Montessori?" If you had asked this question to Maria Montessori herself, the answer would probably have been no. After all, Lego, as we know, was an innovation that did not exist when Maria Montessori developed her groundbreaking educational system.

But let's dive deeper into Montessori's values ​​and see how Lego can potentially be intertwined.

The pincer grip and lego

The pincer grip, where the thumb and forefinger meet to hold an object, is an important motor skill. This skill is necessary for writing skills. In the Montessori environment, emphasis is placed on developing this grip through several activities. The children use pliers, practice sewing with real needles, and performing art projects that require fine motor skills. And here Lego comes in. The Lego blocks can help the child further strengthen this grip. Every small block requires precision, control and strength-just like many Montessori activities.

LEGO as a tool for engineering subjects

When children build with lego, they train not only their fingers, but also the brain. They must think strategically, plan, and solve problems. Each block they add can change the integrity of the structure. This may be reminiscent of an observation Maria Montessori did, where children built small walls with mini bricks. They first learned the technique in miniature and then tried real construction projects. As with Lego, the children were challenged to think about each step, each resource, and each design choice.

The kitchen helper chair: a bridge to safe and social lego-building

In the midst of this creative expression with Lego can The kitchen helper-chair prove to be an invaluable resource. This Montessori-inspired chair gives children the opportunity to safely reach the table height. So instead of stretching or feeling discomfort, the child can focus fully on his LEGO construction.

This also provides a unique opportunity for social moments. While the child is safe on the kitchen aid and builds with Lego, parents can relax at the dining table, enjoy a hot cup of coffee, and share a conversation. It becomes a perfect combination: The child's independent play is mixed with quality time between adults. In the heart of the Montessori philosophy lies the ideal of creating safe and encouraging environments for children, and with the kitchen helper chair, this vision becomes a reality. By the way if you do not have as much space in your apartment we have designed this Folding kitchen aids for you. 

Although Lego is not a traditional part of the Montessori material, it can be argued that they share some fundamental learning principles. Both encourage children to explore, experiment and build their hands. So the next time your child builds with Lego, you can think of it as an extension of their Montessori learning, where the work of the hand meets the brain's creativity.