Wooden Tray With Handles: Small
Made by Nienhuis Montessori · shipped by Heutink International (Netherlands) About the maker
A wooden tray with handles, 28 by 18 by 3.5 cm, the small one in the pair. Small is the size that decides whether a two year old carries a tray or drags it: at 28 cm the handles are inside the width of their shoulders, so the arms hang straight and the load stays level. The supplier gives it for polishing, folding, pouring and any area of the prepared environment. The medium tray is a separate item. Wood.
“The hands are the instruments of man's intelligence.”
The Wooden Tray With Handles serves as an essential tool for the toddler's journey toward independence in the Montessori environment.
- Bilateral coordination through two-handed carrying
- Spatial awareness and careful movement
- Hand strength and grip development
- Balance and postural control while walking
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Its small size and integrated handles match the proportions of young children's hands and arms, allowing them to carry materials with confidence. The tray creates boundaries that help toddlers understand spatial relationships while transporting objects from shelf to work area. Each successful carrying experience with this wooden tray builds the child's sense of capability and belonging in their environment. The raised edges provide visual and physical containment, teaching children about careful movement and attention to their work. Through repeated use of this tray, toddlers develop the coordination and balance necessary for more complex practical life activities. The solid construction ensures the tray remains a reliable tool throughout countless carrying cycles, maintaining its structural integrity as children gain mastery.
How to present it
Follow the Montessori method of presentation for optimal child development.
Place the empty tray on a low shelf at child's waist height. Demonstrate proper hand placement on both handles with thumbs on top.
- 1
Show the child how to grasp both handles with thumbs positioned on top
Use slow, deliberate movements to emphasize careful handling - 2
Lift the tray straight up using both hands equally
Keep the tray level by watching the edges - 3
Walk slowly to the work mat, keeping eyes forward
Take smaller steps than usual to maintain balance - 4
Bend knees to lower the tray onto the mat
Keep back straight while lowering
Every Child Is a Little Creator
Heritage
Since 1929
In classrooms
Around the world
European brands
Nienhuis, GAM, Educo
AMI approved
To the association standard
Wooden Tray With Handles: Small
