Don’t miss the important warning in the post below along with information about the great punchers from Montessori Services!
Disclosure: I received a puncher pack in order to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and any opinions expressed are my own. This post contains Montessori Services affiliate links (at no cost to you).
Montessori Services Puncher Pack
Punching activities are very popular in both Montessori schools and homeschools. I’ve actually seen children dramatically improve their ability to concentrate simply through a love of pin-punching activities. Punching activities are also fun ways for children to develop the coordination necessary for handwriting. Punching materials are great for use with map materials, geometric shapes, and various art activities.
You’ll see my review of Montessori Services practical life activities in an earlier review and giveaway. Whether you’re a Montessori teacher or homeschooler, you’ll find LOTS of wonderful materials through Montessori Services! Parents using Montessori principles at home will find much to offer through Montessori Services or its partner site, For Small Hands, which specializes in child-size tools and materials for families.
Montessori Services Puncher Pack and Why It’s Important
Montessori schools and homeschools have been using push pins for punching activities for years. I used push pins in my Montessori school and homeschool, too. I certainly don’t blame anyone for using them. Still, I believe it’s time to change. Please read this sad post, and you’ll see why an alternative to push pins, such as Montessori Services’ wood handled puncher, is important.
Of course, adult supervision is still required with sharp objects like punchers of any type. Punching activities tend to be so popular with preschoolers and have so many positive benefits that I’d hate to see the activities eliminated because of the choking hazard of push pins when there are great alternatives offered through Montessori Services.
This giveaway is of an entire $49 puncher pack, which includes
- 5 wood-handled punchers
- one 5-puncher holder
- 3 small (5½ x 5½) felt pads
- 2 large (8½ x 11) felt pads
Note: the felt pads in the photo are white, but the giveaway prize felt pads will be black. Montessori Services changed the felt pads to black so the pads wouldn’t get dirty easily.
I always loved Montessori Services products … and the puncher pack didn’t let me down. All the materials are attractive and high quality. The felt pads are very thick and can’t be penetrated – perfect for punching activities.
The giveaway is for the complete puncher pack. You can purchase the items separately as well: Wood-handled puncher ($5.95), puncher holder (storage for 5 punchers $5.95), small felt pad for punching ($2.75), and large felt pad for punching ($4.75). Montessori Services also sells an inexpensive 12-piece stylus puncher set for $11.95. I think all the materials are great, although you could get by with just a puncher as shown in my photo of a Lorax recycling label punching activity.
Disclosure: I received a puncher pack in order to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and any opinions expressed are my own. This post contains Montessori Services affiliate links (at no cost to you).
Now for the Giveaway: The giveaway has now closed.
What You Will Win: 1 lucky winner in the U.S. or Canada will win the Montessori Services Puncher Pack (ARV $49)!
Who is Eligible:
This giveaway is open to anyone 18 and older in the U.S. and Canada. The first entry is mandatory. You must leave a blog post comment telling why you want to win the puncher pack (and be sure to click the green “ENTER” on the Rafflecopter form to let me know you left your blog post comment and to open up the optional entries)! After you’ve completed your mandatory entry, there are lots of optional entries. You have many chances to win! (Note: For the extra entries, you may count ways of following that you already do. For example, if you previously “liked” Living Montessori Now on Facebook, you may still count that for your “like” Living Montessori Now on Facebook entry!)
It’s easy to enter giveaways with Rafflecopter! Just follow the directions to enter.If you still have questions about the Rafflecopter form, here’s a 52-second video with quick directions for entering through Rafflecopter.
You must complete the Mandatory Entry to qualify for any additional entries. The giveaway closes 10:01pm MST on Thursday, July 12. Best of luck! 
a Rafflecopter giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
UPDATE:
It’s Friday morning, July 13. I enjoyed reading all your comments and really appreciated the 743 entries! A winner has been selected using Random.org through Rafflecopter!
The winner of the Montessori Services Puncher Pack is Claire P!
I’m very happy for Claire, who had multiple entries! (Note: Claire, you have 48 hours to respond to my email, or a new winner will be chosen.)
The comment for Claire’s mandatory entry (why she wanted to win) said:
“my roommate is starting her first teaching job this year! I would give this to her”
CONGRATULATIONS, Claire!!! MANY THANKS to Montessori Services for sponsoring the giveaway – and thank you to everyone who entered!
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I teach head start and would love to win this for my class. It would be very benefcial.
I’d love to win because I have a child who really could improve in his concentration.
My daughter would love these paint scrapers. http://www.montessoriservices.com/art/art-materials-supplies/paint-scrapers
My daughter would love this! Thanks for the opportunity
I would love to win this to bring into my classroom. I teach 3rd grade and have many special needs children who thrive in a montessori style of environment (in a public school setting). Thank you so much for offering this great tool and for the information about why regular push pins are not appropriate to use!
I would love the garden tool set from Montessori Services.
I run a home daycare and I would love to add pin-punching to our Montessori works shelf!
Such a fun activity. I would love this for my son.
I would love to win this. My preschooler is dying to “do” school with us at home. This would be a great activity for him. I have used the Montessori Services catalog as a “wishbook” for Both birthdays and Christmas.
We are just starting pre-school at home and this would be a wonderful tool for us!
Also, thank you for drawing awareness to the push-pin story.
This is great activity, which develops hand movement and prepares for writing, as well as requires concentration. My son loves using toothpicks for this activity. He came up with this exercise himself, by trying to punch with toothpicks the outline of the circle on the styrofoam cooler. It absorbs him. But my heart is always beating fast from worrying about those sharp ends of toothpicks.
Montessori Services offer great quality of products selected with love and care for little ones. It will great gift for any home or classroom.
I’ve always used a push pin with my son. Now, after reading that article, I’m scared to do any more push pin activities with my daughter (who I will start homeschooling preschool this fall). Need to find a way to get one of these STAT!
This would be a great addition to our Homeschool!
I would like to win the pushpin set to use with my autistic son. He needs some more activities to work on his fine motor skills and this would be wonderful. We were fortunate to be able to have our two oldest boys participate in a montessori program. I would like to be able to give our other son the same opportunity at home.
We are about to move into an area where we won’t be able to afford Montessori education, so I am trying to complement their education at home. Winning a punch pack would be such a bonus!
Thank you for both the offer of the giveaway and the warning about the push-pins! I have been leery about using them, but thankfully not had a major issue with them. I did not realize these materials were available and they are definitely on my list of “must-haves” now!
My little guy would love this. I have been looking for a good puncher because I have always worried about pushpins.
I have been watching to try this with my kids.
Love the puncher pack, would be so great to have in the classroom!
My little guy would love these! He likes anything he can put holes in 😉