Whether you’re looking for Montessori materials for a Montessori school, traditional preschool, homeschool, or occasional use at home, there are plenty of materials to choose from online. And with so many online resources, there are now Montessori materials available for all budgets.
The Materials You See in Many Montessori Schools
In pictures of Montessori schools, you’ll often see lots of beautifully crafted wooden Montessori materials. Very often these are from Nienhuis Montessori. Nienhuis Montessori materials are available throughout the world for anyone to purchase.
Many Montessori schools also buy materials from Gonzagarredi. Both Nienhius and Gonzagarredi make their materials from Association Montessori Internationale (AMI)blueprints. The only other AMI approved Montessori material company is Matsumoto, a Japanese company.
Less Expensive Sources for Montessori Materials
If you’re looking for materials for a traditional preschool or home setting, cost may be a primary consideration. There are still excellent options for Montessori materials that are practical for your setting.
Here are a number of companies you can check out for the type of materials and price range best for you and your situation:
Absorbent Minds Montessori Absorbent Minds Montessori is a UK company with Montessori materials in three price ranges: premium (Nienhuis Montessori), standard (Absorbent Minds), and budget (Discount Montessori).
IFIT International (UPDATE: Here’s a review of IFIT from Maybe Montessori.)
The Materials Company of Boston
Montessori Supplies (a UK company)
Absorbent Minds Montessori (a UK company)
Teaching from a Tackle Box (small versions of Montessori materials for limited space)
Adena Montessori WARNING: See Tracey’s, Pamela’s, and Jennifer’s comments below about Adena Montessori. Also, read this warning review from Montessori MOMents: Adena Montessori Review.
Specialized Montessori Materials (practical life, Montessori 3-part cards vocabulary cards, etc.). Like the practical life activities from Montessori n’ Such, many of these materials are inexpensive and easy to add to any home.
Montessori Research and Development
Polliwog (sandpaper letters and numerals)
TTS (not a Montessori company, but a UK company with inexpensive sandpaper letters)
Young Minds at Play (solid maple and cherry hardwood materials with beeswax/oil finish)
Andrea Coventry has an Associated Content article called Where to Find Montessori Materials in Rochester, NY. It has a good review of Kaybee Montessori materials as well as ideas of where to buy materials for Montessori activities such as practical-life activities. Many of the stores listed are nationwide, and the information is also applicable to similar types of stores.
Used Montessori Materials
Montessori Swap Yahoo Group (buy or sell Montessori books and materials)
My Experiences with Montessori Suppliers
When I owned my Montessori preschool in the 1980s, I purchased Montessori materials from Nienhius Montessori, Michael Olaf, and Montessori Services. During my children’s elementary years, I purchased some materials from Montessori Research and Development. All my experiences with those companies were wonderful. When I needed Montessori materials to use in a day nursery in England for my master’s degree school placement, I purchased materials inexpensively from Absorbent Minds Montessori, a Montessori Marketplace, and TTS (sandpaper letters). I had great experiences with those companies as well.
This post will be a work in process as I discover new sources and gain feedback. The list of Montessori suppliers is LONG, so you’ll have to do some comparison shopping for the current prices. Read the comments as well for recommendations from other Montessori homeschoolers!
UPDATES: Chasing Cheerios had a post on February 17, 2011, with helpful recommendations in the comments: Where to buy Montessori Materials?
Making Montessori Ours has a post with suggestions about ordering Montessori materials for a homeschool and special tips for Canadian homeschoolers.
Vibrant Wanderings has a post which is especially helpful for anyone starting a Montessori school: Setting up a Montessori Children’s House: Where to Buy Materials.
If you’re wondering about the mini Montessori materials, check out the comments in this post for helpful information: How to Start Using Montessori at Home.
Have you had experience with Montessori suppliers?
I'm Deb Chitwood. My header photo models are my children, Christina, at 1 1/2, my son, Will, at 3, and Christina again at 16. Christina is now 22, and Will is 27. Please see the 
Saving this post in my favorites! What a great list, thanks for sharing. We’re actually not a Montessori family or even a homeschool family but I plan to supplement and be very involved my kids education. I am always seeking educational resources and toys. I love many things about Montessori learning and am quite eclectic in my preferences on learning! My oldest starts his pre-K soon!!!
Michelle recently posted..Mrs Spitzers Garden
Thanks so much, Michelle! It’s great if you’re supplementing your kids’ education at home – and there’s a lot to choose from! Good luck to your son at the start of an exciting journey!
Deb Chitwood recently posted..Where to Buy Montessori Materials
I have some experience for buying the Montessori materials,the most shop i brough is in Adena montessori,it’s not very well at first,however the service is great. They do like listen to the clients requirest,and i’ve seen their acheivements these years,and we are satisfied with their quality,the teaching tools we used are all from Adena. I like them,and I’ve recommended she to my friends who are the montessori teachers.
Thanks for telling about your experiences, Dily. I’m glad your experiences with Adena were much better than some other customers who left comments here.
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – Grace and Courtesy for a New School Year
Hi
As Adena doesn’t use proper glue, all knobs for puzzles and maps have to be glued in again, unfortunately, I’ve lost some and asked for some extra knobs. I have cylinder blocks from Nienhuis and they have sent me extra knobs for them some years ago, so I know that they send you items to repair their equipment.
The reply from Adena really annoyed me and if anyone ever bothers buying from them, make sure you complain straight away about everything and demand a replacement. I just didn’t bother because I would have had to ask for all new maps. I should have done it, though.
Here is their reply:
Dear Ann
They matched each other when the factory produced the products.If we sell you the knobs separatly,then the rest of the products are useless.
And you could see other company who sell montessori materials ,they also do not sell these knobs separatly.
If you tell us the case within one month ,we could replace them for you.Because It is our duty.But it has been a long time,we could not replace them for you according to our company policy.
Hope your understanding.
We are so sorry for this case.
Chercy.
I’m sorry that happened to you, Ann. That would be very frustrating. Thanks so much for letting us know about your experience. It’s very helpful for parents and teachers to know about those sorts of experiences so they can do what’s best for their classroom or children.
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – DIY Constructive Triangles
Yes, I have quite a bit of experience in purchasing Montessori materials. I posted about my resources and recommendations in April – here’s the link: http://countingcoconuts.blogspot.com/2010/04/all-things-montessori.html.
Mari-Ann
Mari-Ann recently posted..Sensory Tub – Yellow
Thanks for your comment, Mari-Ann! It’s great to hear Montessori n’ Such (I thought it looked like they had great practical life kits!), Montessori Services, Alison’s Montessori, Montessori Outlet, Polliwog, and Gonzagarredi all worked well for supplying your Montessori homeschool. There are so many suppliers online now. I really appreciate hearing who you used and liked!
Deb Chitwood recently posted..Where to Buy Montessori Materials
I have used KidAdvance and was satisfied with the quality for the amount of money I paid. They also have a wonderful customer service dept. I have also used Adena, but didn’t like it as much as KidAdvance.
Julie recently posted..Montessori Monday
Thanks so much for your recommendation, Julie! It’s SO helpful to hear about Montessori homeschoolers’ experiences. I really appreciate your taking the time to tell us about yours – and about your customer service experience, which is always important!
Deb Chitwood recently posted..Where to Buy Montessori Materials
Thanks for stopping by Deb! I always enjoy stopping by your blog to read your posts. You are definitely an inspiration!
Joy recently posted..Hip-Hip HoorayIts Hip Homeschool Hop & Giveaway Day!
Thanks SO much, Joy! I always love visiting with you!
Deb Chitwood recently posted..Where to Buy Montessori Materials
I’m on the lookout for some math/multiplication tools to help my son. Thanks for sharing. Happy iFellowship Day!
Larri at Seams Inspired
Thanks for your comment, Larri! Montessori materials are great for teaching multiplication tables because the concrete learning materials help children internalize the concept. Often, they’ll learn the tables without having to work at it. Happy iFellowship Wednesday!
Deb Chitwood recently posted..Where to Buy Montessori Materials
What a great resource!!!
Have a great iFellowship Day!
Penny recently posted..His Words Sunday
Thanks, Penny! I hope you have a great iFellowship day, too!
Deb Chitwood recently posted..Where to Buy Montessori Materials
I saw that you mentioned Adena Montessori on your blog and I wanted to warn others about this company before they make the same mistake that I made along with several others. BUYER BEWARE!!!!!!! The low
prices caught my attention. I made the
mistake of only reading the reviews posted on their website. I googled Adena Montessori and reviews after my purchase and the problems I have had with the company. If I had seen the warnings before; I would have never
ordered from them. DO NOT BUY FROM THIS COMPANY! YOU WILL BE
HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND PRODUCTS. I
placed an order with Adena Montessori on September 24th. They didn’t ship out the package until October 9th or 10th.
Then, I received the wrong order in the mail on October 15th. I
have sent many e-mails and tried calling several times. They do
not answer their phones nor do they respond promptly to messages
left or e-mails. The e-mails I did receive from them were very
generic. When you finally talk to someone they quickly dismiss your
concerns and ask for an e-mail so that they can get off the phone
with you. I am currently trying to get a refund for my money. They asked me to
list all the materials they sent me and then responded with could you photograph them for us and weigh the boxes. Several items that I did order were either damaged or incomplete. The number cards on the Seguin boards boards did not fit the slots and the hundred board was scratched due to how they packaged the materials. I also ordered 81 unit beads and received
50. I did receive 6 items that were NOT on my list. I am hoping to get this mess straightened out soon, but after reading the posts here. I am expecting the worst. What a waste of time and money!
Lawyers cost money … probably more than the order. We need to get this company shut down! Please help spread the word so that other mothers and teachers do not get scammed. Thank you for your help!
Tracey
That’s HORRIBLE! Thanks SO MUCH for telling about your experience, Tracey! I’ll put a warning by the link so people are aware of it. With so many Montessori material suppliers, it’s extremely helpful to find out the personal experiences customers have with different companies.
Deb Chitwood recently posted..Montessori Reading Kit Giveaway!
Your welcome. I just want to help. This has been the worst experience I have had from any company I have EVER bought from in the past. Now, I am looking for a reliable and affordable Montessori company with great customer service (just in case they actually refund my money).
Yours truly, Tracey
Hello, I’m in Australia and recently ordered some materials from Adena without any problems at all… Maybe they’ve improved!
Cheers,
Liz
Thanks for your comment, Liz! I hope they have improved!
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – Grace and Courtesy for a New School Year
Hi Deb,
I’ve recently purchased from Adena (August 2012). I had no problems with them.
I was very worried at first, as I had placed an order with them, PRIOR to reading this review.
But, it turned out fine. I even rang them and spoke to a person. They answered all my email query.
I was also quite surprise to receive my order within 10 days or so, considering it’s an international order.
As for the quality of the product. Well, I didn’t pay Nienhuis price, so, I wasn’t expecting Nienhuis quality. I am happy with what I got, for the price that I paid for.
So maybe they have taken notice and have improved.
Thanks for your comment, Zara! I definitely hope that’s the case!
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – DIY Cosmic Nesting Boxes, Map Towers, and “Me on the Map” Activities
I am starting my very own Montessori class room next month.I always worked with Nienhius materials and those are the best but very expensive.if you can give me a another place less expensive but close to Nienhius very appreciated.
Thanks for your comment, Chani! I had Nienhuis Montessori materials, which I absolutely loved – but yes, they are expensive. I don’t have personal experience with other suppliers for the actual Montessori materials. I know that a number of people have used Alison’s Montessori. You might want to check out Mari-Ann from Counting Coconuts’ post about the materials she’s used. http://countingcoconuts.blogspot.com/2010/04/all-things-montessori.html. Wishing you the very best with your new classroom!
Deb Chitwood recently posted..Activity of the Week – Montessori-Inspired Months and Seasons Work
I just wanted to add that I too had ordered most of my Montessori materials from Adena having been attracted by the price. The quality is not Nienhuis or Gonzagarredi which I was familiar with. I did not expect the premium quality materials, but the worst was the inconsisstancy with the materials which I purchased. For instance, I ordered the world continent map, USA, and the individual maps of each continent along with control charts. (8 total maps) I received maps that must have been from 3 different manufactures out of China. Each map had a different thickness of pieces and different colors. Not one of the map’s pieces fit their respective controls, somthing we didn’t notice until after carefully coloring in several of them. When I contacted Adena and inquired about the control charts that didn’t fit my maps and if they could get me all 8 maps with consistant thickness and colors, I just got the run around. I tried many, many times to resolve the issue and finely just used the maps, some with very thin pieces that are breaking and plastic knobs vs. the ones that are very thick and have wood knobs. I had to trace, color and laminate my own control maps. I also had issues with the 4 sets of knobless cylinders. One set was plastic, the other 3 wood. No resolve again. I would not order for this company again.
Thank you SO MUCH for your comment, Pamela! You and Tracey have helped many avoid problems if they read your comments!
Deb recently posted..Activity of the Week – ABC Letter Box and Astronaut Unit
I would like to add also that I purchased from Adena Montessori (because I too was attracted by the price) and I have only been disappointed. The dressing frames I purchased literally fell apart the first week of use, the maps are a joke, the colors do not match up and the the pegs fell out days after the first lesson. It was terribly disappointing. Sad really, I had just opened my own school and thought I would be starting it off with quality materials at a good price. I guess it’s true what they say, live and learn.
Thanks for this list.
In PEACE,
Jennifer
Jennifer recently posted..No PHOTOS Please!
Thanks so much for sharing your experience with Adena Montessori, Jennifer! It’ll be very helpful for other parents and teachers to know about your experience.
Deb recently posted..Montessori-Inspired Activities for Earth Day Every Day
Hey Deb! This is a fantastic list you have prepared for us. I, also, have had a very negative experience with Adena Montessori and posted a review of their products today. Here’s the link: http://mymontessorimoments.wordpress.com/2011/05/24/adena-montessori-review/
I also included a link back to your list so others can find a more suitable Montessori Material provider. I hope they learn from my mistake and purchase elsewhere!
Lori, thanks so much for writing about your experience, posting your link here, and posting my link in your review! I’ve added your link to my post so that it can’t be missed!
Deb recently posted..How to Set Up a Montessori Space at Home
I just bought a bunch of materials from kid advance. I like them and the shipping is quite fast…
Tiana LaGrone recently posted..Materials….
I just found this, Tiana! Thanks so much for your comment – I really appreciate hearing about Montessori homeschoolers’ experiences! I’m glad to hear you had a good experience with Kid Advance.
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – DIY Bead Bars
A fantastic list, thank you! I usually buy Montessori materials from Amazon for the combination of great prices and free shipping, but after reading your list I’d like to see what I can find going directly to suppliers.
Matt recently posted..Montessori Materials on Sale
Thanks so much, Matt! Amazon often has great deals, too. I think it’s a great idea for parents to check both the suppliers and Amazon to see where they can get the best deal at the time.
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – DIY Bead Bars
I have purchased from several companies. I think the key is to do your research first and if necessary call the company to get a feel for its customer service BEFORE you place an order. Have a few questions and see how they handle them, it will give you an idea as to how they interact with customers and can save you a lot of trouble. The truth is you can have a problem with ANY company, but the good ones will resolve your problems to your satisfaction if you let them know what you want. I have purchased from Nienhuis for many items, when I purchased the grammar cards I couldn’t afford the boxes so I picked those up at much less expense from IFIT (Montessori Equipment) and that worked well for me. I purchased my beads from Montessori Equipment also, I think they may have changed styles since then but mine are beautiful glass beads and were a great bargain. I’ve purchased some very well made wooden items from there as well – number cards, checkerboard etc. When I’ve had a problem (twice over 5 years) both times it was resolved to my satisfaction after a phone call.
I have a few Gonzagarredi items from Juliana Group, no complaints there.
When dealing with a discounted line, it helps to ask questions – sometimes the items on their website are not exact representations of the items they are currently selling – due to a change in supplier or for other reason. I always call to confirm specifications before I place the order. Having said this, sometimes you can get a great deal. When Montessori Outlet was just starting up, I got two geometric figure cabinets for super price and free ship – contents not what I wanted but cabinets themselves were fine quality, I already had a geometric figures cabinet so I put aside the M.O. contents and use the new cabinets to house my metal equivalent figure materials, squares, triangles, and incribed and concentric figures.
I buy Practical Life items at non Montessori stores, I’ve been able to find unusual items at good prices many places. Occasionally I’ll look at American Science and Surplus online, have gotten some great bottles, science items, and other fun stuff there. They do not always have the best prices on books though, it pays to compare their book prices with Amazon or AbeBooks.
And of course the things you make yourself for the room give it character and charm…
Thank you SO MUCH, Jennifer, for all your very helpful information! What a great idea to get a feel for a company’s customer service before placing an order! And I love hearing about your experiences with different companies. That sort of information is so helpful for parents and teachers wanting to make an informed decision about where to order materials from.
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – DIY Bead Bars
I’m also have happy with Montessori Research and Development items. If you are looking for elementary research materials, Priscilla Spears’ items at Big Picture Science (bigpicturescience.biz) are great and their customer service is tops.
My last thought on this whole subject is especially for homeschoolers who may not be used to the delivery times for some materials. Nienhuis, for example, can take quite a while to fulfill an order – it’s not like they have everything on hand all the time and can ship it out immediately like we may be used to from other online buying experiences. Montessori schools plan ahead for their purchases and have greater tolerance for this waiting than a parent who wants to get something on the shelf next week for their child’s workroom.
If you have the luxury to plan ahead, buy in the summer when the shipping deals and summer sales are happening, this can save you quite a bit of money.
Thanks for giving more helpful suggestions, Jennifer! I just added Big Picture Science to my list. And that’s a great point about delivery times. It is different ordering for a homeschool, and your information is definitely good for homeschoolers to keep in mind!
Deb recently posted..Montessori-Inspired Dinosaur Unit
OK, I thought I was done but have ONE more comment in me. Was browsing through my stack of old catalogs (great place to get ideas for a few changes in my room). I loved the old Kaybee catalog photos. I believe they went bankrupt sometime last year however, and should therefore be removed from your list.
Thanks so much, Jennifer! It’s too bad that Kaybee went out of business. I used to enjoy looking through Kaybee catalog photos, too. I removed their link from my post.
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – Open and Close
Hi, Deb. You have a nice list going! I wanted to let you know of another supplier of high quality Montessori materials – Young Minds At Play (www.youngmindsatplay.com). Young Minds At Play makes everything in the USA from solid maple and cherry hardwood with a safe beeswax/oil finish. I think you’ll find the materials quite beautiful.
Thanks so much for letting me know about Young Minds at Play, Charlene! The materials look beautiful, and I added Young Minds at Play to my list.
Deb recently posted..M is for Montessori
The Montessori Workshop(Pvt)Ltd is the best place to buy MOntessori Equaipment. all their materials are very high in quality and can be compaired with Certified manufacturers & most of all the prices are very reasonable.I would like to recommend everyone to have a look at their materials and the pricing.you can browse their website through http://www.themontessoriworkshop.com
Thank you,
MOntessorian.
Thanks for letting us know, Dihara! I haven’t heard of others’ experiences with The Montessori Workshop (Pvt), but I appreciate the link so parents and teachers can check it out.
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – Inexpensive and DIY Sandpaper Numerals
Hi Deb! Thanks for all the information. I would also like to recommend a place to you. The Montessori Workshop (Pvt) Ltd is a Sri Lankan based company that has been manufacturing a wide range of Montessori learning materials for over 20 years and carries almost the entire requirement of material for the elementary and primary age groups.
They carry some of the nicest & durable Montessori equipment that I have seen at a very good price. I purchased goods from them for my 5 classrooms and the equipments are magnificent. Friendly customer service makes it more attractive.
Every Montessorian should give it a try with The Montessori Workshop materials!
Kind Regards,
Hiranya
Thanks, Hiranya! I appreciate the information!
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – Inexpensive and DIY Sandpaper Numerals
I have bought from Hello Wood Products; the oldest latest 23 years so far. They will cost more than some but less than Neinhaus. They are made in the United States and have very good customer service.
Thanks so much for sharing your experiences with Hello Wood Products, Molly! I added a link to their site in my post.
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – DIY Tactile Boards and Extensions
Has anyone purchased from Grandpa’s Montessori? their products look lovely in photos and their prices are great. Are they good quality?
Hi Jahleel! I just found your comment. I haven’t read comments from anyone who’s purchased from Grandpa’s Montessori. You could try asking at the Living Montessori Now Facebook page. Good luck!
Deb recently posted..DIY Montessori Materials
[...] Where to Buy Montessori Materials (my post with companies that often have at least some Montessori elementary materials) [...]
Thank you for the helpful information. I’m starting my own classroom for 3 to 6 years old next month. I need to buy a classroom package of Montessori Materials. Do you know any one who is selling their materials. I’m looking for used materials for my class.
Thanks for your kind comment! I haven’t heard of someone selling Montessori materials, but you could try asking at the Living Montessori Now Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/LivingMontessoriNow. Good luck!
Deb recently posted..DIY Montessori Materials
Hi Deb,
I thought I’d share my experience as an international buyer.
Recently, I placed an order with Montessori Outlet. They are very slow at putting the order through. After 2 weeks, I emailed them and was told that it’ll be processed soon. And oh… btw, they don’t do “back orders” for international orders.
It turned out that they couldn’t deliver 2/3rds of my order & can’t guarantee when they could ship the rest, either.
What is frustrating is that when I initially put my order, everything was “IN-STOCK”. Two weeks later, when they said it was “out of stock”, I checked their website. Guess what, it was still listed as “in-stock”, even though, physically it’s “out-of-stock”. Their explanation was, they keep the order open and do “back-orders” for US customers ONLY.
Because shipping cost is extremely high for international orders, I decided to just cancel the entire order. As it will cost too much, if I had to put another order through.
To be fair, they understood my position and they did refund me fully. Although, I lost quite a bit, in the end. I lost a total of $40 in international transaction fee and when they refunded me, I somehow didn’t get the full amount that I paid for (probably the exchange rate had dropped?).
Anyway… Incase you have international buyers out there, they need to take this into account, if they were to order from Montessori Outlet.
Great news, though, I found “Kid Advance”. I was very impressed with their customer service. All my emails and queries were answered promptly. What impressed me the most was that I had put my order through in the evening, went to bed, when I woke up in the morning, I received an email from them, to say that it has been shipped! Outstanding!
They also give 10% off for purchases over $200. Their prices are also great. They have everything in stock, as per their website. Their customer service told me that if it’s out-of-stock, then, it will say “out of stock” and I won’t be able to put my order through (unlike Montessori Outlet). I can’t comment on their products yet, as I haven’t received my order yet. I’m not expecting Neinhuis quality, but, I am very happy with their price, which, I think is probably one of the cheapest for the materials that I purchased.
So far, I have had positive experience dealing with their customer service. I am very happy with how fast my order was processed and shipped. Based on this, I highly recommend Kid Advance. Please note that I am not affiliated & I don’t receive any commission or anything from Kid Advance. I am just sharing my positive experience with them.
Thanks so much for your comment, Zara! That’s great information to know! I’ve heard lots of good things about Kid Advance. I’d love to hear what you think of their materials once you’ve received them.
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – DIY Cosmic Nesting Boxes, Map Towers, and “Me on the Map” Activities
hi,
thank you so much for this list. i am just starting up a montessori school and came across your website. what can i say??? thank you thank you thank you
I just found your kind comment, Sandra. Thanks so much!
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – DIY Constructive Triangles
So glad to read all this posts! I am about to make an order and I am so nervous as to where to get it from. I have purchased from Kid advance, and Montessori outlet recently to start off. Note: I only bought a few items. First:
Montessori outlet: I bought from them first because I was looking for a Spanish movable alphabet and they had it! It is beautiful and the box (additional price) makes it so complete. No smell, nor any imperfections. But… The letters themselves are quite thin! makes me feel like my 3 year old might break them by a simple accident. We shall see. I also bought the part one cylinder block and it is gorgeous. It looks just like the one on my Montessori’s own handbook. I also bought the horse puzzle because my daughter is a huge horse and puzzle lover. It is very nice (yet I don’t know any better) My only complain from my purchase was that it took a long time to ship it. I called and was told they only ship on Fridays… I am used to Amazon prime (2 day shipping) and the wait was too much!
Second:
Kid.Advance: I bough from them the small numerical rods in a box, and the numbers and counters. I was just giving them a try. Now I was able to compare quality and just the wood from the boxes when compared with Montessori outlet is so much better looking. No smell, nor imperfections and the shipping is much faster. The prices and shipping charges are also very good.
So now I have saved up a budget to really start and I am reading a ton before I make my purchase. I now know not to buy from Adena.
I have looked at Nienhuis and Kid.advance and the difference of price for a puzzle is from 46.35 to 8.50! This is without the shipping! I don’t need materials to last forever (I only have two gentle kids). But I want to understand why the price difference is so huge…. what do they put in the Nienhuis materials????
Also since I am not trained in the Montessori method (I am reading her books, and reading online…and planning on taking online classes), I am not even sure what I should buy first! Is there a list somewhere that can help me find what is the order of presenting (or perhaps acquiring) materials for beginners?
Thanks!
ps: I also do not get a commission from Kid.Advance or Montessori outlet. I am simply at stay at home mom who is trying to homeschooled.
Thanks so much for your thoughtful comment, Silvana! Comments like yours make it so much easier for parents and teachers who are trying to decide where to order Montessori materials from. It’s true that as gorgeous as Nienhuis materials are, a company like Kid Advance is much more practical for buying materials for home use.
As far as a list of materials to buy for home use is concerned, I recommend John Bowman’s eBook Montessori at Home: http://www.montessoriathomebook.com/Home.html/book/. You don’t need to follow his ideas exactly (each family’s needs are different), but his book gives a great general idea of what to order for using Montessori at home.
I also recommend Montessori Print Shop’s primary teaching manuals for a good idea of the order of presenting materials and clear presentations to use. Here’s a review I published about the teaching manuals: http://livingmontessorinow.com/2012/06/21/montessori-print-shop-primary-teaching-manuals-review-and-giveaway-2-winners/. Have fun!
Deb recently posted..The Overwhelmed Mom’s Guide to Montessori Homeschooling
Deb,
Thanks for your reply. I am looking into the reading materials you recommended. Still, may I ask you (and anyone else who can answer) what is the difference between Nienhuis and Montessori outlet? I was reading M.O. website and they claim to have the original blue prints…. I wish there was a way for me to compare the two because by prices …. well there is no comparing! I am worried to buy things like the cylinders to find out that I can use them because they lack accuracy!
Any recommendations???
Again… What do they put in the Nienhuis materials to make it sooo expensive? Or is it just overusing the brand name???
That’s a good question, Silvana! I don’t have any personal experience with Montessori Outlet. Because I had a Montessori school, I purchased my materials through Nienhuis. For school use, Nienhuis materials are fabulous. They’re made using high-quality wood, the materials are precisely built, and they last a long time. I imagine the differences in price have to do with the quality of the wood and the precision of the materials. Some of the inexpensive materials do have problems with the fit of the cylinders, etc. I’m hoping more parents who have experience with Montessori Outlet will comment.
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Once again! Here is some technical information that can help others make informed decisions Since I am not Montessori trained, I use my handy-dandy Montessori method book and look up the description of the Cylinder blocks (kindle book 53% in Differential Visual Perception of Dimensions) . I was a bit afraid because I purchased the first set from Montessori outlet and reading the previous reviews I wondered if I was going to be able to use the cylinders in the extensions….
I checked (using a ruler, and even a scale) and here is what I found:
The block itself (without the cylinders) is not compliant with Montessori’s description. It is about 10 centimeters shorter in length so there is smaller spaces between each cylinder. It is almost 6 cm high and almost 8 cm wide (with a margin of less than a cm. difference) Hence almost accurate.
The cylinders are in almost perfect dimensions with a minus 1 or 1.5 mm difference each, which makes them in general very accurate when compared to each other. In weight they do go a bit off with not a steady progression in grams. Actually going 0.2 g to 0.3 between each But I might have to question my kitchen scale too as it was not able to read the weight for the smallest piece. I am still doing research before buying the other blocks. Can someone measure the Nienhuis block and tell me how long it is?
Thanks so much for the information, Silvana! I’m not sure how long it will be before someone with a Nienhuis cylinder block reads this and replies, though.
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And one more thing…. If you are so kind as to satisfy my curiosity.. If you have a Nienhuis red rod set, could you please tell me the width?
Thanks in advance!
I don’t have my Nienhuis materials any longer, so I can’t help with that, Silvana. I hope someone with Nienhuis materials is able to help. Good luck!
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Another place where you can order materials from is Cabdev Montessori http://www.cabdevmontessori.com . I would compare these materials to Nienhus- they are of very good quality and their prices are somewhat comparable to them. (Some are higher and some are lower.) I have ordered from both companies.
I have also ordered from Montessori Outlet; even though their products are very affordable there quality is not always the greatest. For example, some of the knobless cylinders do not fit into the cylinder blocks or the red box of knobless cylinders are cut slightly on an angle, so they don’t sit properly when stacking them. (which is very frustrating to the children). I would ONLY recommend purchasing from Montessori Outlet if the measurement don’t have to be exact.. for example the pink tower stand, color tablets, metal insets, sandpaper letters etc.
I will be ordering my materials from now on from Nienhus or Cabdev.
Thanks so much for your comment, Kim! That’s the sort of information parents and teachers need to make the best decision for their unique situation.
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I recently ran across a great etsy sight that sells wonderful homemade natural wooden toys that were inspired by Montessori and Waldorf teaching principles. It’s called Miini Moh and they also have a page on facebook that shows some of their items. If your looking for these type of toys, you might want to check it out. Really creative items.
Thanks for letting us know, Joan!
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I am in Canada and wanting to get some Montessori materials for my home for my son to have in our playroom. We do not love close enough to any Montessori schools so I would like him to have the experience here at home. How important is it to have the exact Montessori prescribed materials (like depths, space in between cylinders, etc). I can’t afford the expensive websites. Does anyone hae any ideas for some sites that ship to Canada that have good quality materials for good prices?
[...] Here’s a more thorough list of Montessori material suppliers along with comments from parents who purchased from various companies: Where to Buy Montessori Materials. [...]