Frequently Asked Questions
What distinguishes Quiggly’s Montessori Collection from other toy lines?
Quiggly’s Montessori Collection is curated specifically to mirror Maria Montessori’s principles of self-directed, hands-on learning. Each toy—whether a sensorial wooden block set or a practical life activity tool—is crafted from non-toxic, sustainably sourced materials. The designs emphasize simplicity: open-ended shapes encourage exploration, natural finishes highlight texture, and each item offers a built-in “control of error,” allowing children to correct themselves without adult intervention. This approach fosters concentration, independence, and a deep connection between the child and their environment.
How do sensory toys in the Montessori Collection support early childhood development?
Quiggly’s sensory offerings—Fabric Blocks, Wooden Blocks, and the Magnetic Alphabet Maze—are designed to refine multiple senses and build early foundational skills. Fabric Blocks, made from 100% cotton in varying textures and colors, engage tactile exploration and support fine motor grasping as little fingers manipulate each piece. Wooden Blocks, crafted from smooth, sustainably sourced hardwood and coated with food-grade, non-toxic paint, reinforce visual discrimination and hand-eye coordination as children stack arches, cubes, and planks in graduated sizes and hues. The Magnetic Alphabet Maze combines a tactile metal wand with movable magnetic letters under a printed maze grid, promoting pencil-control skills, letter recognition, and spatial reasoning as kids trace paths to match letters. Together, these screen-free activities cultivate concentration, bilateral hand use, and pre-literacy skills—mirroring Montessori’s emphasis on hands-on, self-correcting learning.
What practical life activities are included in the Montessori Collection, and why are they important?
Quiggly’s practical life subset features two standout tools—our Toy Spray Mop and Fabric Tissue Box—that teach real-world skills through purposeful play. The Toy Spray Mop, built from lightweight aluminum and BPA-free plastic, is scaled down for ages 2–8+ so children can mimic household cleaning tasks: grasping the handle, pulling the trigger to spray water, and guiding the mop across the floor. This sequence develops gross motor coordination, hand strength, and hand-eye synchronization while reinforcing the concept of caring for their environment. The Fabric Tissue Box—a soft, cotton-covered box with removable fabric tissues—lets toddlers practice the pincer grasp as they pull out and replace “tissues,” promoting bilateral coordination and sequencing (one hand holds the box, the other extracts the tissue). Both activities foster independence, concentration, and a sense of responsibility as children learn step-by-step routines without direct adult correction, embodying key Montessori principles of order, purpose, and self-esteem.
