Chances are pretty good you’ve seen this toy before: a set of rings, ascending in size, that are stacked on a rocking peg. There’s a reason it has been around for generations — because it offers babies a great opportunity to work with their hands!

Once your infant is sitting upright, you can help them get started by showing them how to place just one ring onto the peg. As we often do in the Montessori method when teaching new skills to our young ones, you must first model the technique of moving the hole over the peg (which is set on a rocking stand to make the task more challenging).

The key to setting your child up for success here is to remember that they are just getting started with building their dexterity. It’s best not to overwhelm them with all five rings at once, but rather, let them practice with just one ring for awhile — your child will be entertained for hours just doing that! Add a second ring when ready, and later you can place a basket with the other rings alongside.

I like to advise my parenting coaching clients to look for the wooden variation of this game, as the natural materials are a good sensorial texture for children to work with, when possible. You’ll find this one accessible in most toy stores, in a variety of formats.

For more tips on how to introduce Montessori activities, read The Nine Key Points to Sharing a New Activity with Your Child.

P.S. Would you like some extra support and guidance setting-up your Montessori home? Go ahead and schedule a ‘Discovery Session’ with me. It’s free and you’ll know if this is right for you. 😉