When it comes to helping our children develop natural interests on their own, it can be difficult to find tools and toys that help them do so. With most Montessori based products, I’ve found children become easily bored and they don’t want to engage with these products for extended periods of time. That is, until I discovered Piccalio. Piccalio focuses on creating natural and sustainable products to keep kids moving, thinking and creating. Their products are part toy and part furniture, making it easy to fit them into every room in every house. One thing that truly sets Piccalio apart from other Montessori brands is their focus on imaginative play.
It’s important to inspire open-ended learning, and with a Montessori viewpoint, that includes encouraging imaginative play. Imaginative play focuses on the child pretending, which in turn helps them develop language and communication skills, problem-solving skills and encourages motor skill development. With imaginative play in mind, these are the top Piccalio products I have tried, and recommend to any and every parent out there.
One of my favorite Piccalio products is their mini chef convertible helper tower. This tower acts as a kitchen stool to help your kids reach the countertops and other hard to reach places. When they can reach new heights, they’ll be inspired to help you cook, bake and maybe even help wash dishes! For any task the kids need a little extra height on, this helps them get there. The tower has three adjustable height options and comes in four different colors, making it tasteful not only for the child, but for the parent too. After they’re done helping you cook, the tower folds into a little table where they can enjoy their culinary masterpiece. One parent stated their child had a little difficulty figuring how to get into the tower the first day after they got it, but that was just due to the safety bar in the back. This safety bar helps keep them safe from falls while they’re at a new height, and once they figure out how to get into the tower around the bar, they won’t forget. Pricing for the helper tower starts at $199.
If your kids are constant movers and climbers, then Piccalio’s triangle climber set is what you need. It’s easy to not feel comfortable when your kids are climbing in precarious locations and at scary heights. But by creating a safe environment for them to climb, it helps shed some of their energy and promote independent play. Dr. Emmi Pickler, a Hungarian physician, was the inspiration behind this climber. She felt it was important to help children develop gross motor skills while having the opportunity to easily build forts, climb around and slide. This climber is recommended for children aged six months to six years, making it an investment piece they will use for a long time. It includes a reversible rockwall and slide ramp and climbing poles that all fold up together for easy storage. Pricing for the triangle climber set starts at $349.
An addition that goes well with the triangle climber set, or used individually, is Piccalio’s acrobat balance beam. This low height balance beam helps develop gross motor skills by focusing on balance and coordination. Since the balance beam is easily moveable and can be placed in many different shapes, it also encourages creativity and exercise. Not only can your children pretend they are walking on a tightrope, but it also makes for a great raceway or train track. The balance beam is recommended for children aged 12 months to 8 years, making it another investment your children will use way down the line. Pricing for the balance beam starts at $129.
Another Piccalio created product made with balance and coordination in mind is their surfer balance board. This open-ended toy inspires imaginative play since the board is more than just a balancing act: It can be a bridge, slide, seat, fort, road and so many more possibilities. Reviewers say not only do their kids love it, but parents can use it too! It is best suited for ages 12 months and up and can support up to 485 pounds without breaking. Pricing for the surfer balance board starts at $109.
It’s no surprise Piccalio has been featured for their amazing products in Vogue, Motherly, Romper, Forbes and more. While we just highlighted a few of our favorite products Piccalio has to offer, their parent reviews are outstanding and their products truly do support Montessori play. To discover all of Piccalio’s products for sale, go here. Here’s to safe and fun imaginative play!
