Where to buy affordable Montessori materials in Singapore (part I)

As mentioned earlier in my last post, Montessori learning for babies and toddler is activities that support development of physical skills and sensory experience. That includes:
- heuristic play,
- song, rhymes, stories and books,
- nature play (play outside)
- simple puzzles and manipulative toys
- early practical and sensorial activities, development of vocabularies are available to the older toddlers.

The use of natural material (wood, weaves, fabric) is encouraged to create a calm play environment. I personally not against plastic toys, but now I try limit the use and exposure.

Here is a list of places in Singapore where you can buy things for your Montessori at home materials:

1. Daiso

Wooden cutlery

Natural Baskets, cheaper option than Ikea, but only small to medium sizes

Wooden Blocks, ball, boards

I did a spontaneous visit to Daiso to check out are there any $2 items I can use for Montessori at home here? Surprisingly, Daiso have array of natural products to choose. From toys, wooden blocks to natural material baskets. Afterwards, I never missed a chance to visit them, when I happened to go to the malls that have Daiso outlet (Plaza Singapura, Vivo City, Ion Orchard, IMM)

Things I bought here :

Baskets and Wooden Trays for organizing the toys at hungrybaby's shelf

Wooden cutlery, blocks, peg, and wooden toys. Wiggle eye for sensory table activity.

Metal tin (it is actually an oil container), can be use for this chenille sensory activity. Chenille is from Spotlight

The oil tin also used for wooden peg activity (fine motoric activity)

Small broom for practical life skill (Daiso also have small mop, bucket, etc)

Warning: When you buy natural basket, there is a chance that your toddler allergic to it. It happened to hungrybaby, she is allergic to the willow basket, rashes appeared on her limb, which had direct contact to the basket, it lasted for 3 days :(
Daiso (Plaza Singapura)

68 Orchard Road
#05-01/02/03 Plaza Singapura S238839
Daiso (Vivocity)

1 Harbourfront Walk
#03-06 Vivocity S098585
Daiso (IMM)

2 Jurong East Street 21
#03-50 IMM S609601
Daiso (ION Orchard)

2 Orchard Turn
#B4-47 ION Orchard S238801

2. Ikea

Off course, organizers and boxes are the main items that I looked for here at Ikea, it really helps me to optimize my storage at living and laundry area, so I can give more space to hungrybaby's play area (See my last post Starting Montessori inspired home in a one bedroom apartment). Their plastic boxes even cheaper than mama shop.

I bought 2 pax of these

7 piece of this <3

I also bought the bead roller coaster, since the price is lowered

IKEA Alexandra
317 Alexandra Road, 
Singapore 159965 

IKEA Tampines
60 Tampines North Drive 2, 
Singapore 528764

Tips : Check out their website www.ikea.com.sg for listing your shopping items and checking the item availability before you go to the store.

3. Enrighten.com
This web store sold real Montessori materials, and other cheaper option for educational toys.

Things I bought :

Wooden Apple and Worm Lacing $7.9, hungrybaby loves this so much

Crystal water beads $2 for 2 packet, she loves to scoop and pour it in her sensory water table

 

$1 Fruit Counter and $2 Tangram, I save them for later

4. Melissa and Doug at Mothercare Harbourfront

I've been a fan of this brand before I read about Montessori, I just love wooden toys. I put one on my bag to entertain hungrybaby when we are commuting. I never missed when they are on sale. On second thought, I only buy them when they are on sale ;)

All bought in 50% price <3 $4-10

Or buy one get one program ;) $5-8

Mothercare (HarbourFront Centre) 
1 Maritime Square #03-07 
Singapore 099253
Tel: 6513 3243

5. Spotlight

For diy art and sensory activities, we can go to this craft store, better wait for their regular sale period.

$2.50 Felt(3 colors) and $3.90 Chenille for art & sensory activities

Spotlight Plaza Singapura
Level 5, 68 Orchard Road (Located at the Dhoby Ghaut MRT),
Singapore, SG 0000
(65) 6733 9808

6. Qoo10.sg

As a regular at qoo10 I haven't bought anything for Montessori materials here, but they do have interesting wooden toy and sold Montessori set at a fraction price.

Montessori Set

Wooden toys

7. Littlecozyio.com

This web store has good quality wooden and educational toys, from puzzle to kitchen set, basic builder and bead maze.

Littlecozyio.com toys

I haven't bought anything for myself here, but bought 2 playsets for gift. Their price is a bit high, but it is good quality and using safe paints. And their sale offer, it's worth to look for.

8. Mimbits
This facebook base olshop is actually a beauty and skin care store. But they can help to source for things that are sold in the USA. I bought the rolled up piano here.

$29 Rolled up piano for music area, good for home with small space

For Montessori materials that are use in the classrooms :

9. Bambini Montessori
This is the manufacturer and exporter of a wide range of quality Montessori materials/equipment. Their price is in USD and excluding the shipping charges.

http://www.bambini-montessori.com

We can also use this website for diy inspiration projects.

10. Public Library
You can find some Montessori related books at the public library, here are some of them (but unfortunately, it is not available at all library branches):

- Teaching Montessori in the home : the pre-school years / Elizabeth G. Hainstock ; foreword by Lee Havis./English 371.392 HAI

- Montessori at home : a complete guide to teaching your preschooler at home using the Montessori method / Heidi Anne Spietz./English 649.68 SPI -[FAM]

PARENT/CHILD

- Montessori untuk prasekolah / Elizabeth G. Hainstock./Malay 371.392 HAI

- Large Collection for toddler story books

- Art and craft books

This is the list so far, hope I can find other lobang...

^^

Note:

- All price is in SGD, bought between July-September 2013

Related post:
- Starting a Montessori inspired home in a one bedroom apartment
-  Where to buy affordable Montessori materials in Singapore (part II - ELC sale)

- Montessori inspired daily activity (for 18 months old)