12 Coolest Back-to-School Gifts for Grandchildren in 2025

Chosen for a reason, backed by Montessori, and ready to ship today.

  • By Emily H.

(From Montessori Generation)

If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking, “Wait… how is this ‘popular’ toy supposed to help my grandchild learn?” while browsing for gifts – trust me, you're not the only one.


As someone who hears from parents and grandparents every day, I know how overwhelming it can be to find something that’s not just entertaining for five minutes, but genuinely beneficial. The kind of gift that makes a child think, explore, giggle, and grow—all at once.


That’s why I’ve put together this list: 12 genius, screen-free Montessori gifts designed especially for curious kids ages 3 to 6. Whether your grandchild is just starting preschool or already counting and spelling their way through kindergarten, these toys help them feel confident, capable, and excited to learn.


PS: The final pick on this list is a total showstopper – like memory, dice, and chess rolled into one. Don’t miss it.

1. Montessori Smart Sticks

    85 reviews

"An absolute hit in our house! Besides what's on the included cards, kids can make endless amounts of designs and patterns themselves and spend hours doing so. Thank you!" - Teresa C. (verified customer)

Montessori Smart Sticks.
Close up on colorful Montessori wooden sticks in various round and straight shapes, and playing cards with illustrations.
Woman's hand pointing to a playing card with a construction vehicle illustration and difficulty level, with Montessori Smart Sticks playing pieces visible in the background.
Woman's hand interacting with the Montessori Smart Sticks set for kids by making a design from a playing card using colorful wooden sticks.
Colorful Montessori letter-building toy with wooden pieces and a card showing the letter
A hand holding colorful Montessori Smart Sticks with the storage bag visible below.
Woman's hand holding illustrated playing cards featured in the Montessori Smart Sticks toy set, with colorful wooden sticks in the background.
All parts featured in the Montessori Smart Sticks.
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Montessori Smart Sticks.
Close up on colorful Montessori wooden sticks in various round and straight shapes, and playing cards with illustrations.
Woman's hand pointing to a playing card with a construction vehicle illustration and difficulty level, with Montessori Smart Sticks playing pieces visible in the background.
Woman's hand interacting with the Montessori Smart Sticks set for kids by making a design from a playing card using colorful wooden sticks.
Colorful Montessori letter-building toy with wooden pieces and a card showing the letter
A hand holding colorful Montessori Smart Sticks with the storage bag visible below.
Woman's hand holding illustrated playing cards featured in the Montessori Smart Sticks toy set, with colorful wooden sticks in the background.
All parts featured in the Montessori Smart Sticks.

Teaches: Letters, Numbers, Creativity, Fine Motor Skills


Why I Picked It: You know how kids love making patterns out of anything – sticks, straws, crayons?


This set takes that instinct and turns it into something smart. They’re not just building shapes – they’re building letters, numbers, and all sorts of designs. There’s literally no limit to what you can do with it.


The activity cards start simple and grow more complex, which keeps things fresh without feeling overwhelming.


Bonus: It all fits in one box and makes zero noise. A win for kids and adults alike.

2. Montessori ABC Matching Cards

    191 reviews

“My 4 year old used to skip letters - now she knows upper and lower case. Zero pressure. Just play. It’s been amazing.. She even tells me which animal starts with each letter!” - Jessica L. (verified customer)

Montessori ABC Matching Cards.
Toddler playing with the Montessori ABC Matching Cards learning toy.
Close up on high-quality spelling cards with animals and cut-in holes for wooden letters.
Colorful wooden letters placed on matching spelling cards with animals on them.
Child playing a purple letter C onto a matching card with a cat on it, with other colorful letters in the background.
Woman's hand interacting with the Montessori ABC matching card by placing purple number 4 on it.
Little girl learning to count and spell by playing with the Montessori ABC Matching Cards featuring wooden letters and numbers, and graphic cards.
Hand placing the letter
Hand holding multiple cards featured in the Montessori ABC Matching Cards set.
Toddlers and their teacher playing with colorful wooden alphabet letters and animal flashcards at a small activity table in a classroom.
A set of educational number matching cards featuring colorful numbers 1 to 10 and corresponding animal illustrations, designed to help young children learn to count and recognize numbers.
Close-up of colorful wooden alphabet letters featured in the Montessori ABC Matching Cards set, standing on matching animal-themed flashcards, designed to help young children learn letter recognition and phonics through hands-on play.
Colorful wooden letters spelling
Colorful wooden letters placed on their matching cards with animal illustrations, designed to help children learn.
Little girl opening a container with alphabet and number cards, and matching wooden letters and numbers.
Hands holding a plastic container filled with colorful wooden letters and numbers, next to stacks of animal-themed flashcards for early childhood learning and play.
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Montessori ABC Matching Cards.
Toddler playing with the Montessori ABC Matching Cards learning toy.
Close up on high-quality spelling cards with animals and cut-in holes for wooden letters.
Colorful wooden letters placed on matching spelling cards with animals on them.
Child playing a purple letter C onto a matching card with a cat on it, with other colorful letters in the background.
Woman's hand interacting with the Montessori ABC matching card by placing purple number 4 on it.
Little girl learning to count and spell by playing with the Montessori ABC Matching Cards featuring wooden letters and numbers, and graphic cards.
Hand placing the letter
Hand holding multiple cards featured in the Montessori ABC Matching Cards set.
Toddlers and their teacher playing with colorful wooden alphabet letters and animal flashcards at a small activity table in a classroom.
A set of educational number matching cards featuring colorful numbers 1 to 10 and corresponding animal illustrations, designed to help young children learn to count and recognize numbers.
Close-up of colorful wooden alphabet letters featured in the Montessori ABC Matching Cards set, standing on matching animal-themed flashcards, designed to help young children learn letter recognition and phonics through hands-on play.
Colorful wooden letters spelling
Colorful wooden letters placed on their matching cards with animal illustrations, designed to help children learn.
Little girl opening a container with alphabet and number cards, and matching wooden letters and numbers.
Hands holding a plastic container filled with colorful wooden letters and numbers, next to stacks of animal-themed flashcards for early childhood learning and play.

Teaches: Letter Recognition, Phonics, Upper & Lower Case ABCs


Why I Picked It: Children learn better when they learn hands-on. By playing with this set, they not only learn the ABCs but also develop problem-solving, fine motor skills, focus, and patience.


These chunky, colorful letters fit right into each card, helping little hands learn the Alphabet through play.


Each card pairs the letter with a friendly animal – so they’re not just memorizing, they’re making connections.


Bonus: Everything stores in a sturdy box with a lid. Great for travel, cleanup, and classrooms.

3. Montessori Preschooler's Maze

    105 reviews

"As a teacher, I know how important fine motor skills are for preschoolers. I got this for my grandson, and within a few weeks, I noticed a huge difference! It’s simple, but it works. If you have a little one, this is a must-have!" - Linda T. (verified customer)

Montessori Preschooler's Maze.
Boy sitting at the table and playing with a color sorting magnetic maze game.
Woman holding a wooden magnetic maze game for children that features colorful cans and balls below a protective see-through cover. Balls are moved around with a magnetic pen.
Close up on woman's hand holding a blue magnetic pen which is used to move a small ball around a wooden magnetic maze toy for children.
Little girl playing with a Montessori Preschooler's Maze game.
Hand interacting with the Montessori Preschooler's Maze by guiding orange balls to their designated color can using a magnetic pen.
Wooden Montessori color sorting maze with numbered paint bucket illustrations, featuring a magnetic pen guiding small colored beads into their corresponding sections
Close-up of a hand using a turquoise magnetic pen to guide colored beads into corresponding paint bucket sections on a Montessori Preschooler's Maze.
Montessori Preschooler's Maze which helps children with problem-solving, sorting, matching, focus, attention, and screen-free playtime.
Infographic explaining benefits of the Montessori Preschooler's Maze toy emphasizing no noise, screens, and no batteries needed.
Close-up of the corner of a Montessori wooden color sorting maze, showing its sturdy wooden stand, transparent cover, a blue securing button, and a storage compartment for the magnetic pen.
Montessori Preschooler's Maze dimensions.
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Montessori Preschooler's Maze.
Boy sitting at the table and playing with a color sorting magnetic maze game.
Woman holding a wooden magnetic maze game for children that features colorful cans and balls below a protective see-through cover. Balls are moved around with a magnetic pen.
Close up on woman's hand holding a blue magnetic pen which is used to move a small ball around a wooden magnetic maze toy for children.
Little girl playing with a Montessori Preschooler's Maze game.
Hand interacting with the Montessori Preschooler's Maze by guiding orange balls to their designated color can using a magnetic pen.
Wooden Montessori color sorting maze with numbered paint bucket illustrations, featuring a magnetic pen guiding small colored beads into their corresponding sections
Close-up of a hand using a turquoise magnetic pen to guide colored beads into corresponding paint bucket sections on a Montessori Preschooler's Maze.
Montessori Preschooler's Maze which helps children with problem-solving, sorting, matching, focus, attention, and screen-free playtime.
Infographic explaining benefits of the Montessori Preschooler's Maze toy emphasizing no noise, screens, and no batteries needed.
Close-up of the corner of a Montessori wooden color sorting maze, showing its sturdy wooden stand, transparent cover, a blue securing button, and a storage compartment for the magnetic pen.
Montessori Preschooler's Maze dimensions.

Teaches: Color Sorting, Counting, Hand-Eye Coordination


Why I Picked It: It’s like a video game but screen-free!


No batteries, no annoying sounds, no blue light, and never running out of power! But there’s still an interactive screen, a magnetic pen, and the excitement of solving brain teasers manually.


It’s great for fine motor skills, focus and attention span. And it also teaches kids how to hold a pen properly.


Bonus: Since everything is safely hidden under the cover, it’s awesome for travel.

4. Montessori High Five Math

    41 reviews

"Like every mom I want to give my 4 year old a head start for school. I was hoping this would help but WOW! It made a huge difference. Not only has she learned to add and subtract, but we’ve also spent so much quality time together!" - Lisa M.. (verified customer)

Montessori High Five Math.
Mother helping her daughter learn to count using the Montessori High Five Math toy.
Little girl learning to count with the help of the Montessori High Five Math toy.
Montessori High Five Math educational set featuring a wooden board with felt finger counting game, wooden blocks with numbers on them, and playing cards teaching subtraction and addition.
Hand holding playing cards above wooden blocks with numbers, with the Montessori wooden counting board behind.
Close up on felt counting fingers attached to a wooden board, showing numbers 3 and 2, with an addition
Close-up of a hand placing a wooden number block on a Montessori-style math board with felt hand shapes and a subtraction card.
Close-up of a hand adjusting felt fingers on a Montessori math board with number blocks and a subtraction card.
Montessori High Five Math learning game for children featuring a wooden board with felt counting hands, colorful wooden blocks with numbers, and playing cards.
Montessori-style wooden math board with colorful felt hands, number blocks, and a subtraction flashcard.
Mother and daughter spending time together learning math using a Montessori High Five Math toy.
Montessori High Five Math dimensions.
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Montessori High Five Math.
Mother helping her daughter learn to count using the Montessori High Five Math toy.
Little girl learning to count with the help of the Montessori High Five Math toy.
Montessori High Five Math educational set featuring a wooden board with felt finger counting game, wooden blocks with numbers on them, and playing cards teaching subtraction and addition.
Hand holding playing cards above wooden blocks with numbers, with the Montessori wooden counting board behind.
Close up on felt counting fingers attached to a wooden board, showing numbers 3 and 2, with an addition
Close-up of a hand placing a wooden number block on a Montessori-style math board with felt hand shapes and a subtraction card.
Close-up of a hand adjusting felt fingers on a Montessori math board with number blocks and a subtraction card.
Montessori High Five Math learning game for children featuring a wooden board with felt counting hands, colorful wooden blocks with numbers, and playing cards.
Montessori-style wooden math board with colorful felt hands, number blocks, and a subtraction flashcard.
Mother and daughter spending time together learning math using a Montessori High Five Math toy.
Montessori High Five Math dimensions.
Teaches: Number Recognition, Counting, Basic Addition & Subtraction

Why I Picked It: No two children are the same. Visual learners need a different approach to math, so it finally clicks. This toy is fun, colorful, and offers a type of playtime that turns confusion into clarity through hands-on learning instead of just writing everything down.

It’s the kind of math game that feels more like play than practice—and that’s the sweet spot.

Bonus: All the pieces are large, sturdy, and easy to grab. No tiny parts to lose.

5. Montessori Spin and Spell Set

    111 reviews

"My son is already good at spelling, so we came up with a fun little game. We set a timer at 60 seconds, and the goal is to match as many cards as possible. It gets really funny sometimes when the words start flying around" - Rachel P. (verified customer)

Montessori Spin and Spell toy set with rotating letter blocks and illustrated flashcards featuring words like 'bee,' 'hen,' 'dog,' and 'soy' to aid early literacy development.
Blobs with text explaining educational benefits of the Montessori Spin and Spell Set, with father and daughter playing with the toy in the background.
Montessori spelling toy that features wooden rotating blocks with red and blue letters, flashcards with illustrations, and a wooden stand.
Montessori wooden spelling toy set with rotating letter blocks and illustrated flashcards, featuring a 'bug' card held by a woman's hand.
Montessori Spin and Spell Set with rotating letter blocks spelling 'bug,' a matching flashcard on a wooden stand, and a hand adjusting the letters.
Infographic showing how to play instructions for the Montessori Spin and Spell Set.
Infographic showcasing the Montessori Spin and Spell Set featuring 40 cards with words , and 5 rotating letter blocks.
Montessori wooden spelling toy with letter blocks forming the word 'bug,' a matching flashcard with a green worm illustration on a wooden stand, and a hand adjusting a letter
Woman's hand interacting with the Montesori Spin and Spell Set toy by adjusting a flashcard with a teddy bear onto a wooden stand, with letter blocks forming the word
Montessori wooden spelling toy with rotating letter blocks, forming the word 'dad,' alongside a flashcard featuring an illustrated father figure.
Close-up of hands holding a set of Montessori flashcards from the Montessori Spin and Spell Set, featuring words like 'key' and 'toy' with colorful illustrations for early literacy learning.
All parts featured in the Montessori Spin and Spell Set for preschoolers.
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Montessori Spin and Spell toy set with rotating letter blocks and illustrated flashcards featuring words like 'bee,' 'hen,' 'dog,' and 'soy' to aid early literacy development.
Blobs with text explaining educational benefits of the Montessori Spin and Spell Set, with father and daughter playing with the toy in the background.
Montessori spelling toy that features wooden rotating blocks with red and blue letters, flashcards with illustrations, and a wooden stand.
Montessori wooden spelling toy set with rotating letter blocks and illustrated flashcards, featuring a 'bug' card held by a woman's hand.
Montessori Spin and Spell Set with rotating letter blocks spelling 'bug,' a matching flashcard on a wooden stand, and a hand adjusting the letters.
Infographic showing how to play instructions for the Montessori Spin and Spell Set.
Infographic showcasing the Montessori Spin and Spell Set featuring 40 cards with words , and 5 rotating letter blocks.
Montessori wooden spelling toy with letter blocks forming the word 'bug,' a matching flashcard with a green worm illustration on a wooden stand, and a hand adjusting a letter
Woman's hand interacting with the Montesori Spin and Spell Set toy by adjusting a flashcard with a teddy bear onto a wooden stand, with letter blocks forming the word
Montessori wooden spelling toy with rotating letter blocks, forming the word 'dad,' alongside a flashcard featuring an illustrated father figure.
Close-up of hands holding a set of Montessori flashcards from the Montessori Spin and Spell Set, featuring words like 'key' and 'toy' with colorful illustrations for early literacy learning.
All parts featured in the Montessori Spin and Spell Set for preschoolers.

Teaches: Spelling, Phonics, Letter Sounds


Why I Picked It: It’s a hands-on, interactive game. Your little one isn’t just memorizing words or struggling to write them down. They’re spinning and matching wooden blocks, which makes it fun!


Choose a card, pick a set of blocks, and spin until you match what’s shown and written on the board. This child-friendly setup allows kids to explore, make mistakes, correct themselves, and actually understand spelling.


Bonus: No batteries, no noise – just pure, quiet spelling practice.

6. Montessori Ready for School Game

    45 reviews

"I was looking for something fun for my 5 year old nephew that will get him into board games rather than video games. Long story short, my sister tells me he’s delighted with this." - Paris W. (verified customer)

Montessori Ready for School Game.
Montessori Ready for School Game featuring a wooden board with letter and number beads on it, a marker, an hourglass, and playing cards with math and alphabet.
Infographic showcasing a wooden Montessori toy that helps children with learning spelling and math while playing a game.
Woman's hand placing a card with addition numbers on a wooden stand with an hourglass, in front of the Montessori Ready for School Game.
Hand moving a bead with number 8 on it to complete a math addition, with other numbers visible on the Montessori Ready for School game board below.
Card with subtraction numbers on it next to an hourglass, and a wooden Montessori math game in the background.
Infographic showing all parts of the Montessori Ready for School Game featuring a wooden board with letter and number colorful beads, stand with a hourglass, playing cards with words and math additions and subtractions, and a black marker.
Woman's hand holding a little hourglass above a wooden stand with a card that says
Top view on the Montessori Ready for School Game.
Montessori Ready for School Game featuring a wooden board with letter and number beads on it, storage box for the board, an hourglass, wooden stand for the playing cards, and a marker.
Infographic explaining how to play the Montessori Ready for School Game for children.
Montessori Ready for School Game dimensions.
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Montessori Ready for School Game.
Montessori Ready for School Game featuring a wooden board with letter and number beads on it, a marker, an hourglass, and playing cards with math and alphabet.
Infographic showcasing a wooden Montessori toy that helps children with learning spelling and math while playing a game.
Woman's hand placing a card with addition numbers on a wooden stand with an hourglass, in front of the Montessori Ready for School Game.
Hand moving a bead with number 8 on it to complete a math addition, with other numbers visible on the Montessori Ready for School game board below.
Card with subtraction numbers on it next to an hourglass, and a wooden Montessori math game in the background.
Infographic showing all parts of the Montessori Ready for School Game featuring a wooden board with letter and number colorful beads, stand with a hourglass, playing cards with words and math additions and subtractions, and a black marker.
Woman's hand holding a little hourglass above a wooden stand with a card that says
Top view on the Montessori Ready for School Game.
Montessori Ready for School Game featuring a wooden board with letter and number beads on it, storage box for the board, an hourglass, wooden stand for the playing cards, and a marker.
Infographic explaining how to play the Montessori Ready for School Game for children.
Montessori Ready for School Game dimensions.

Teaches: Spelling, Math, Problem-Solving


Why I Picked It: This 2-in-1 game will challenge your little one to solve math problems and spell out words by navigating through the maze. This is a game for future mathletes and spelling bee champions!


This brain-teaser is everything I want in a school-prep toy: simple, engaging, and very smart.


Bonus: Kids love to compete, and this will definitely get them excited. If there’s a gathering coming up and you know multiple kids will attend, this is your secret party trick. Use the included timer and set up a competition for them.

7. Montessori Wooden Geoboard

    43 reviews

"I’m a college professor, and this is brilliant. Geoboards are wonderful for making difficult math concepts more tangible to kids. They allow children to explore geometric shapes in 3D, making it easier for them to understand." - Jack R. (verified customer)

Montessori Wooden Geoboard.
Mother and daughter playing with a wooden geoboard.
Woman's hand holding example cards from the Montessori Wooden Geoboard set, with the toy below her hand and colorful rubber bands next to it.
Infographic showcasing the durability of the steel pins and elastic bands on the Montessori Wooden Geoboard toy.
A hand making a boat out of elastic bands by placing them on wooden geoboard pins.
Little girl smiling while playing with a Montessori Wooden Geoboard.
STEM and creativity learning tool for kids featuring a wooden board with pins and colorful rubber bands to make designs with.
Flower made with elastic bands on a wooden geoboard with steel pins.
Close up on a high-quality Montessori Wooden Geoboard.
An airplane made from rubber bands on a wooden Montessori geoboard.
Educational wooden geoboard toy for toddlers and preschoolers.
Montessori Wooden Geoboard dimensions.
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Montessori Wooden Geoboard.
Mother and daughter playing with a wooden geoboard.
Woman's hand holding example cards from the Montessori Wooden Geoboard set, with the toy below her hand and colorful rubber bands next to it.
Infographic showcasing the durability of the steel pins and elastic bands on the Montessori Wooden Geoboard toy.
A hand making a boat out of elastic bands by placing them on wooden geoboard pins.
Little girl smiling while playing with a Montessori Wooden Geoboard.
STEM and creativity learning tool for kids featuring a wooden board with pins and colorful rubber bands to make designs with.
Flower made with elastic bands on a wooden geoboard with steel pins.
Close up on a high-quality Montessori Wooden Geoboard.
An airplane made from rubber bands on a wooden Montessori geoboard.
Educational wooden geoboard toy for toddlers and preschoolers.
Montessori Wooden Geoboard dimensions.
Teaches: Shapes, Geometry, Fine Motor Skills, Creativity

Why I Picked It: Even the most prestigious schools use this toy.

It gives kids a hands-on way to explore patterns, letters, and early math – all while strengthening finger muscles for writing.

The best part? It feels like art, but it teaches geometry.

Bonus: Includes idea cards to get them started – but the free play is just as fun.

8. Montessori Alphabet Parking Maze

    137 reviews

"Even car rides are fun now I don’t have 2 toddlers screaming at me. They take turns playing with it and it’s so nice." - Mariah T. (verified customer)

Montessori Alphabet Parking Maze.
Little girl playing with a Montessori Alphabet Parking Maze game.
Blobs with text explaining benefits of the Montessori Alphabet Parking Maze toy and a little girl playing with it.
Infographic showing the Montessori Alphabet Parking Maze board and benefits of playing with it.
Top view on a toddler moving cars with letters inside a parking maze game with a magnetic pen.
Close up on a hand moving a little car inside the Montessori Alphabet Parking Maze with a magnetic pen.
Boy sitting on his bad and playing with his Montessori Alphabet Parking Maze toy.
Woman's hand holding a magnetic pen and moving a small wooden car with a letter R on it to it's designated parking spot on the playing Montessori board.
Close up on little wooden cars with letters on them featured in the Montessori Alphabet Parking Maze game for toddlers.
Infographic showcasing features of the Montessori Alphabet Parking Maze game, emphasizing that it is a perfect travel toy for children.
Close up on a magnetic pen attached to a wooden board moving a little wooden car with a letter
Woman's hand interacting with the Montessori Alphabet Parking Maze by moving a ramp with a magnet pen so that a little wooden car can pass through.
Close up on a magnetic pen attached to the Montessori Alphabet Parking Maze board.
Mother and son playing with the Montessori Alphabet Parking Maze.
Montessori Alphabet Parking Maze dimensions.
Alphabet Parking Maze packaging by Montessori Generation.
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Montessori Alphabet Parking Maze.
Little girl playing with a Montessori Alphabet Parking Maze game.
Blobs with text explaining benefits of the Montessori Alphabet Parking Maze toy and a little girl playing with it.
Infographic showing the Montessori Alphabet Parking Maze board and benefits of playing with it.
Top view on a toddler moving cars with letters inside a parking maze game with a magnetic pen.
Close up on a hand moving a little car inside the Montessori Alphabet Parking Maze with a magnetic pen.
Boy sitting on his bad and playing with his Montessori Alphabet Parking Maze toy.
Woman's hand holding a magnetic pen and moving a small wooden car with a letter R on it to it's designated parking spot on the playing Montessori board.
Close up on little wooden cars with letters on them featured in the Montessori Alphabet Parking Maze game for toddlers.
Infographic showcasing features of the Montessori Alphabet Parking Maze game, emphasizing that it is a perfect travel toy for children.
Close up on a magnetic pen attached to a wooden board moving a little wooden car with a letter
Woman's hand interacting with the Montessori Alphabet Parking Maze by moving a ramp with a magnet pen so that a little wooden car can pass through.
Close up on a magnetic pen attached to the Montessori Alphabet Parking Maze board.
Mother and son playing with the Montessori Alphabet Parking Maze.
Montessori Alphabet Parking Maze dimensions.
Alphabet Parking Maze packaging by Montessori Generation.

Teaches: ABC Recognition, Hand-Eye Coordination, Focus


Why I Picked It: You take the magnetic pen and guide the cars to their correct spots. While doing so, your little one learns the Alphabet by connecting shapes and colors. This toy has all the interactivity of a video game but without excess screen time.


Also, these toy cars won’t get lost under your sofa. Everything’s safely tucked inside a sturdy cover, and your kid will enjoy this toy at home, in the backseat of your car, or at a restaurant.


Bonus: It secretly teaches the correct way to hold a pen.

9. Montessori Art Builder Set

    77 reviews

"This thing was my son’s birthday gift when he turned 3. Year and a half later I can’t begin to tell you how much we got out of this toy. He’s currently into building towers, so that’s what we do all afternoons :)" - Brenda T. (verified customer)

Montessori Art Builder Set.
Little girl with ponytails playing with the Montessori Art Builder Set featuring a wooden 10x10 board, colorful wooden cubes, and playing cards.
Child playing with the Montessori Art Builder Set featuring a wooden board, playing cards, and colorful wooden blocks.
A hand holds a stack of pixel art cards next to a wooden grid board and colorful cubes used for building block-based art according to the card patterns.
A wooden pixel art board filled with colorful cubes arranged to match a nearby reference card, surrounded by loose cubes scattered around the board.
A Montessori Art Builder Set used for pixel art with colorful cubes forming a house design, guided by a matching reference card placed beside it, surrounded by scattered cubes.
Toddler playing with the Montessori Art Builder Set.
Woman's hand interacting with the Montessori Art Builder Set by placing colorful cubes onto a wooden grid board to create a matching pattern from the playing card.
A hand placing colorful wooden blocks on a grid board to recreate a pixel art design, following a color-coded reference card laid next to the board.
A hand placing a purple wooden cube on a Montessori Art Builder Set grid board while holding a handful of colorful blocks, following a colorful pattern card.
Woman's hand holding colorful wooden cubes above a wooden grid board of the Montessori Art Builder Set, designed for children.
A wooden Montessori Art Builder Set board partially filled with colorful cubes, surrounded by more loose blocks and multiple pattern cards showing different designs for children to recreate.
Montessori Art Builder Set dimensions.
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Montessori Art Builder Set.
Little girl with ponytails playing with the Montessori Art Builder Set featuring a wooden 10x10 board, colorful wooden cubes, and playing cards.
Child playing with the Montessori Art Builder Set featuring a wooden board, playing cards, and colorful wooden blocks.
A hand holds a stack of pixel art cards next to a wooden grid board and colorful cubes used for building block-based art according to the card patterns.
A wooden pixel art board filled with colorful cubes arranged to match a nearby reference card, surrounded by loose cubes scattered around the board.
A Montessori Art Builder Set used for pixel art with colorful cubes forming a house design, guided by a matching reference card placed beside it, surrounded by scattered cubes.
Toddler playing with the Montessori Art Builder Set.
Woman's hand interacting with the Montessori Art Builder Set by placing colorful cubes onto a wooden grid board to create a matching pattern from the playing card.
A hand placing colorful wooden blocks on a grid board to recreate a pixel art design, following a color-coded reference card laid next to the board.
A hand placing a purple wooden cube on a Montessori Art Builder Set grid board while holding a handful of colorful blocks, following a colorful pattern card.
Woman's hand holding colorful wooden cubes above a wooden grid board of the Montessori Art Builder Set, designed for children.
A wooden Montessori Art Builder Set board partially filled with colorful cubes, surrounded by more loose blocks and multiple pattern cards showing different designs for children to recreate.
Montessori Art Builder Set dimensions.

Teaches: Spatial Awareness, Color Matching, Early Math, Patience


Why I Picked It: It’s part puzzle, part pixel art – and completely brilliant. Kids follow grid cards to recreate colorful animals and patterns, all while practicing precision, planning, and visual thinking.


It feels creative, but it's secretly sharpening early math and geometry skills.


Bonus: The wooden blocks are sturdy and satisfying to place—no screens, no batteries, just quiet focus.

10. Montessori Smart Board

    48 reviews

"We call it the 'everything board' – shapes, numbers, fishing… it does it all!" - Dana P. (verified customer)

Montessori Smart Board.
Wooden Montessori educational toy for children featuring a board wit shapes, numbers, a fish game, and a wooden board to place all these pieces.
Infographic showing features and elements of the Montessori Smart Board educational toy for children.
Infographic showcasing the quality build materials and benefits of the Montessori Smart Board toy for toddlers.
Woman's hand interacting with Montessori Generation's Smart Board 2.0 by placing a wooden number 10 onto the board.
Hand interacting with a wooden smart board for children by sorting the colorful rings and numbers and solving a simple math addition.
Close up on a wooden board with numbers, shapes, rings, and a magnetic fish game designed for children.
Infographic showing an empty Smart Board on top, and a completely set up board at the bottom, emphasizing on how children will learn sorting skills by playing with Montessori Generation's Smart Board.
High-quality educational Montessori Smart Board toy for toddlers.
Stacking rings, magnetic fish game, shapes and numbers made of wood, featured on the Montessori Smart Board.
Woman's hand interacting with the Montessori Smart Board 2.0 by playing a fishing game with magnets and placing a wooden piece on the board.
Close up on wooden pegs with colorful rings on them, featured on the educational toy called the Montessori Smart Board.
Close up on colorful wooden fish from the Montessori Smart Board 2.0 fishing game.
Montessori Smart Board dimensions.
Smart Board packaging by Montessori Generation.
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Montessori Smart Board.
Wooden Montessori educational toy for children featuring a board wit shapes, numbers, a fish game, and a wooden board to place all these pieces.
Infographic showing features and elements of the Montessori Smart Board educational toy for children.
Infographic showcasing the quality build materials and benefits of the Montessori Smart Board toy for toddlers.
Woman's hand interacting with Montessori Generation's Smart Board 2.0 by placing a wooden number 10 onto the board.
Hand interacting with a wooden smart board for children by sorting the colorful rings and numbers and solving a simple math addition.
Close up on a wooden board with numbers, shapes, rings, and a magnetic fish game designed for children.
Infographic showing an empty Smart Board on top, and a completely set up board at the bottom, emphasizing on how children will learn sorting skills by playing with Montessori Generation's Smart Board.
High-quality educational Montessori Smart Board toy for toddlers.
Stacking rings, magnetic fish game, shapes and numbers made of wood, featured on the Montessori Smart Board.
Woman's hand interacting with the Montessori Smart Board 2.0 by playing a fishing game with magnets and placing a wooden piece on the board.
Close up on wooden pegs with colorful rings on them, featured on the educational toy called the Montessori Smart Board.
Close up on colorful wooden fish from the Montessori Smart Board 2.0 fishing game.
Montessori Smart Board dimensions.
Smart Board packaging by Montessori Generation.

Teaches: Numbers, Shapes, Counting, Sorting, Fine Motor Skills


Why I Picked It: This board is packed with learning. From stacking rings and sorting shapes to fishing for numbers, it keeps kids engaged while teaching the basics they’ll use every day at school.


It’s bright, inviting, and has just enough challenge to grow with them.


Bonus: It’s a go-to toy for long stretches of quiet play – no batteries, just busy little hands.

11. Montessori Wooden Spelling Game

    271 reviews

"If you haven't got this toy, you're missing out. It really helped my son learn to spell even before school. More importantly, it was all play to him. Recommend 10/10" - Lilly T. (verified customer)

Montessori Wooden Spelling Game.
Child completing a word
Close up on colorful wooden letters that spell
Infographic showing a child playing with the Montessori Wooden Spelling Game and blobs with text that explain how the game should be played.
Infographic that explains how to play with the Montessori Wooden Spelling Game.
Woman's hand interacting with the Montessori Wooden Spelling Game by placing a final letter on the card that says
Closeup of the Montessori spelling card with the word lamb written on it.
Hand placing a wooden letter
Infographic showcasing that the Montessori Spelling Game is 100% safe, non-toxic, and eco-friendly.
Cards and wooden letters that come with the Montessori Wooden Spelling Game.
Montessori Wooden Spelling Game on the white background and the word frog spelled out.
A pile of wooden letters on a white board that are a part of the Montessori spelling toy.
Montessori Wooden Spelling Game dimensions.
Wooden Spelling Game packaging by Montessori Generation.
22% OFF
Montessori Wooden Spelling Game.
Child completing a word
Close up on colorful wooden letters that spell
Infographic showing a child playing with the Montessori Wooden Spelling Game and blobs with text that explain how the game should be played.
Infographic that explains how to play with the Montessori Wooden Spelling Game.
Woman's hand interacting with the Montessori Wooden Spelling Game by placing a final letter on the card that says
Closeup of the Montessori spelling card with the word lamb written on it.
Hand placing a wooden letter
Infographic showcasing that the Montessori Spelling Game is 100% safe, non-toxic, and eco-friendly.
Cards and wooden letters that come with the Montessori Wooden Spelling Game.
Montessori Wooden Spelling Game on the white background and the word frog spelled out.
A pile of wooden letters on a white board that are a part of the Montessori spelling toy.
Montessori Wooden Spelling Game dimensions.
Wooden Spelling Game packaging by Montessori Generation.

Teaches: Letter Recognition, Early Spelling, Memory


Why I Picked It: This is a smart way to introduce letters without pressure. Kids look at the picture card, find the matching letters, and slide them into place. It’s visual, hands-on, and repeatable - and most importantly, it feels like a game.


They don’t even realize they’re learning phonics. They just think they’re figuring something out.


Bonus: It includes a bunch of cards and letters, so kids stay engaged without needing help every minute. It’s also great for quiet play while an adult is nearby but busy.

12. Montessori Memory Match

    151 reviews

"I honestly didn’t expect my 5-year-old to get so into this game, but she LOVES it! She even challenges me to play with her, and I have to admit, it’s pretty fun for adults too. But she’s beating me more often than I’d like to admit!" - Megan J. (verified customer)

Montessori Memory Match.
Preschooler girl playing with a wooden Montessori Memory Match game with a board and colorful pegs.
Infographic showcasing educational benefits of the Montessori Memory Match game and two siblings playing with it in their playroom.
A hand preparing to throw the dice of the Montessori Memory Match Game which features a wooden board with holes, and pegs with colored bases for memory matching.
Woman's hand placing a green colored peg onto a memory match board.
Infographic showcasing build materials and quality of the Montessori Memory Match game, as well as it's benefit of easy storage and cleanup.
Close up on wooden pegs, board, and a dice from the Montessori Memory Match game for children.
Top view on the Montessori Memory Match and it's pegs that are turned upside down to show different colors.
Infographic explaining rules of the Montessori Memory Match game.
Close up on a wooden Montessori Memory Match game for children.
Montessori Memory Match dimensions.
Memory Match game packaging by Montessori Generation.
27% OFF
Montessori Memory Match.
Preschooler girl playing with a wooden Montessori Memory Match game with a board and colorful pegs.
Infographic showcasing educational benefits of the Montessori Memory Match game and two siblings playing with it in their playroom.
A hand preparing to throw the dice of the Montessori Memory Match Game which features a wooden board with holes, and pegs with colored bases for memory matching.
Woman's hand placing a green colored peg onto a memory match board.
Infographic showcasing build materials and quality of the Montessori Memory Match game, as well as it's benefit of easy storage and cleanup.
Close up on wooden pegs, board, and a dice from the Montessori Memory Match game for children.
Top view on the Montessori Memory Match and it's pegs that are turned upside down to show different colors.
Infographic explaining rules of the Montessori Memory Match game.
Close up on a wooden Montessori Memory Match game for children.
Montessori Memory Match dimensions.
Memory Match game packaging by Montessori Generation.

Teaches: Memory, Focus, Logic, Strategy

Why I Picked It: This isn’t your average memory game. It’s part dice, part puzzle, part strategy – and it keeps kids coming back for more. They roll the color die, then try to remember where the matching peg is hidden.

It’s challenging, but not frustrating. Competitive, but still fun. And watching a 5-year-old beat a grown-up? Priceless.

Rules:

  1. Place the pawns
  2. Roll the die
  3. Collect the pairs that match the die
  4. Whoever finds the most pairs wins

Whether you're sending your grandchild off to preschool, kindergarten, or school for the first time or cheering them on through another year, one thing stays the same – the joy of giving them a head start. Not just with notebooks and backpacks, but with toys that build confidence, spark curiosity, and make learning feel like play.


The best back-to-school gifts don’t come from a screen or need a battery. They come from thoughtful hands, open minds, and little hearts ready to grow.


I hope this list helped you find something special – something that makes this school year a little brighter, and their future a little stronger.


With love,

Emily H.

from Montessori Generation