The
There are four
Children going into a
Montessori for Today picks out furniture, educational tools, toys and lifestyle items that we think are the best and most exciting, based on independent research and careful consideration. On some occasions we earn revenue (at no additional cost to you) if you click the links and buy the products. But this doesn’t affect what we choose to highlight and we will never let it bias our coverage.
The Four Montessori Mobiles
The four
Introduce your child to the
You can purchase the Montessori mobiles online, or you can build them yourself by following online tutorials. Either way, the mobiles should follow the strict design outlined by the
When placing your
Because newborn babies cannot control their head movements, you may consider placing a mirror next to their bassinet or crib. This mirror will allow them to see the mobile without turning their head. However, over time the baby will develop the muscles to hold their head straight and look at the mobile directly. You can remove the mirror at this time.
Now that we know the general purpose and usage of the
Munari
The Munari mobile is the first mobile to which you will introduce your child. This mobile is constructed solely of black and white geometric shapes. There is also a single glass ball hanging among the figures.
Exposure to this mobile starts as soon as the child is born. However, some choose to wait until three weeks of age to introduce this mobile. The Munari mobile should remain up until they are five weeks old.
The purpose of this mobile is to stimulate your child’s current seeing abilities. Newborn babies do not see color. They seek out high contrasting hues such as black and white. The high contrast of the geometric shapes helps your child develop an understanding of shapes and boundaries. This mobile also trains them to track visual movements and to focus on objects.
The glass ball is included in this mobile to reflect light and catch the newborn’s attention.
The Munari mobile is about more than developing the eyes’ motor functions. This mobile is one of the first times your child realizes there is more to the world than just you. Up until this point, they have only seen your face. The Munari mobile introduces them to the world.
Munari mobiles can be purchased from Amazon, Etsy, or other
Octahedron
After a few weeks of exposure to the Munari mobile, introduce your child to the Octahedron mobile. This introduction should be done around five weeks of age and continue until the child is eight weeks old.
The octahedron mobile features three octahedrons constructed from highly reflective material. Each octahedron should represent one of the three primary colors (red, blue, yellow). At this point, your child is starting to see colors. The three primary colored octahedrons introduce them to the world of color. From here, they will begin to recognize all colors.
The reflective material of the octahedrons will also introduce your child to three-dimensional shapes. Up until this point, they have seen two-dimensionally. Using the octahedron mobile challenges your baby’s current understanding of the world and encourages them to use their eyes to learn.
Octahedron mobiles can be purchased from Amazon, Etsy, or other
Gobbi
The third mobile in the
The Gobbi mobile consists of several colored orbs (usually about 5). Each of the spheres is a different shade of the same color. The colors gradually change from right to left.
As mentioned earlier, your child is just beginning to see brighter colors. The Gobbi mobile introduces them to the many variances of color. As they study the different shades, it refines their sight and understanding of color.
Be careful when placing this mobile. At this point, your child may be practicing their hand-eye coordination and motor skills. In other words, they may attempt to grab the mobile that is spinning only a few inches above their face. If they manage to grab ahold of the mobile, they could tear it down. If the mobile falls, it may startle them. And we do not want them afraid of their mobiles!
The Gobbi mobile can remain up until the child reaches ten weeks of age.
Gobbi mobiles can be purchased from Amazon, Etsy, or other
Dancer
The final mobile in the
The dancer’s mobile features several cutouts of people on reflective paper. This mobile spins more than the previous mobiles, and the reflection of light will catch your baby’s attention.
The purpose of the dancer mobile is to teach your child about graceful movements (a skill that will come in handy as they develop their motor skills) and encourages depth perception for visual focus.
Montessori dancer mobiles can be purchased from Amazon, Etsy, or
Sets of Mobiles
Sets of all 4 of the
Other Montessori Materials for Newborns
After the four visual mobiles, your infant may be ready for other
The animal mobiles are more intricate and show your child how animals move through the air and the water. It is mostly about developing an interest than a visual skill.
Once the child reaches three months of age, they will be more interested in developing their motor functions. Provide your child with a tactile mobile at this time. This mobile is designed for the baby to grab, pull, and hit. It may even encourage your child to sit up.
Remember, your child is never too young to start learning from the
Related Articles: Montessori for your Infant, Best Montessori Toys for Babies, and Nido: Montessori for Infants.