DIY Montessori Sound Object Box

Henry is very interested in the sounds each letter makes and what letter words start with. I've been encouraging this interest in variety of ways through our tot school trays, but I wanted another option for him. A DIY Montessori sound object box was perfect since it combined small language objects {another favorite for Henry} and letter sounds.

This post contains affiliate links at no cost to you.

The Montessori sound object box is a work where children can place small objects in the box that corresponds with the object's beginning sound. It could be one object or several depending on how many you have available.

In my case, I found the box with 25 compartments at a thrift store for $4. So, I decided to DIY the project. It was super simple! I just used acrylic paint to paint each letter into its compartment. Since X doesn't technically have its own beginning sound, I decided it would be alright for it to share with Y. {And, yes I realized with these pictures that U was painted the wrong color -- have to fix that!}

As far as the objects go, I'm still in the process of collecting everything we need. {Update: get a look at our Montessori language objects.} You can also find pre-made kits that include objects for each letter sound. Right now I have a pig, a horse, a goat, and a wolf. Until we complete the set, I'm using wooden coins. These are an OK alternative, but really don't work on the same skills {sound matching} that the language objects do.

To hang the sound object box, I used 3M picture hanging strips. These strips are designed for objects to be taken off and put on more than once. So, it allows the children to take the box off the wall to work, then place it back when they are done. It's a great way to hang something for children that still makes it accessible without damaging the wall.

So far it has been a huge hit with Henry and several of the co-op kids. I think once we get more objects, it will become an even more popular work in the classroom.

Anyone else have success with a sound object box? Have you DIYed it yourself?

The Ultimate Montessori Toy List -- Birth to Five -- UPDATED 2020

When you are interested in Montessori, it can be difficult to know exactly what types of products you should get for your home. Or which types of "Montessori" materials are really worth the price. There are no rules about types of products can use the name Montessori which can add to the confusion. Not to mention, every toy manufacturer slaps the word "educational" on the package for good measure! 2021 UPDATE: Please be patient with links this year, with supply chain issues things are selling out faster and restocking slower. I anticipate some of the specialty toys will not restock once they are gone. So, with this post, I'm going to try to help with this confusion! Here's a list of Montessori-friendly toys and materials for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. First, let's clarify that there is no such thing as a "Montessori toy." Montessori never created toys, but only works for classroom settings. While there are many work

Montessori Toddler: Favorite Toys and Activities 18 to 20 months

I've been putting off this post for a little while because I felt a little disappointed that I didn't have more to share. See, Teddy just isn't that into materials, especially those on the shelf. He tends to return to a couple of favorites over and over again and ignore all other attempts at shelf work. But, really that's my own adult feelings getting in the way of Teddy's own interests, and developmental path. It's also me subconsciously valuing fine motor skills and stillness as more important than gross motor play and movement. I working hard not to do that, and want to normalize that all toddlers are different. All children have different interests and that concentration doesn't have to mean sitting still for long stretches of time. This post contains affiliate links at no cost to you. With all that said, here are some of Teddy's favorites over the last couple of months. Favorite Montessori Toys 18 to 20 Months I'm listing the toys that have be

Our Kids' Montessori Gift Lists 2020

With the holiday season upon us we've been making lists and gathering gifts for the Kavanaugh children. It's always a fun process of observing my children, seeing what they would really be interested in and making some decisions based on what I see. This year is different because I'm also making decisions knowing that we are looking at a very long and quiet winter ahead. So that's influencing the amount I will buy and the specific choices I will/have made. Henry and Nora are also at the point, being into the second plane of development, where they heavily influence the items on the list and what is ultimately purchased. So, you'll see that while Montessori influences what I will purchase and what goes on their list, so does their own preferences and personality. This post contains affiliate links at no cost to you. Theodore Teddy is 14-months-old right now and as the fourth baby, we have so many toddler things. But, there are a few things I've still found tha

Comments

Carolyn E said…

This comment has been removed by the author.

May 26, 2014 at 6:35 PM

I like the Safari TOOBs, they are small and perfect for this and we love using them for matching with the 3 part montessori animal cards. You can find the tubes at most craft stores and if you use a coupon, they are a great price. These :http://www.amazon.com/Safari-Wild-North-American-Wildlife/dp/B000GYSZDO/ref=pd_sim_t_8?ie=UTF8&refRID=152MSZ4RAAD0XTSMP7JV

May 26, 2014 at 6:37 PM

Tess said…

Have a look at the picture on this post: http://www.jojoebi-designs.com/2008/06/phonics-miniatures-swap.html . There are lots of ideas there : )

May 27, 2014 at 5:48 AM

Every Star Is Different said…

I just loved this idea! Thank you so much for sharing!

May 28, 2014 at 8:21 PM

Holly Hoffman said…

I realize this is an old post, but for anyone else coming to it just now (like I am!), Michael's & Hobby Lobby both carry great miniatures in their dollhouse & fairy garden areas. The sections of the stores are actually called miniatures. Hope this helps!

December 31, 2016 at 4:40 PM

The Kavanaugh Report

Search This Blog