If you have searched for Montessori toys online, you have almost certainly come across Lovevery. Their subscription boxes have become a familiar sight in Montessori-minded homes, and for good reason: they are thoughtfully put together. But a subscription is not the only way to bring this kind of play home, and plenty of parents are looking for other ways to do it.
What is Lovevery, and why do parents look for alternatives?
Lovevery is a subscription toy company that sends a curated, age-staged box of developmental toys every few months, built around child development research. Parents look elsewhere for a few common reasons: they want to choose kits as one-off purchases rather than commit to an ongoing subscription, they want more say over which specific stage they buy for, or they simply want to compare more than one option before deciding.
How do Montessori Toddlers' Play Kits compare to Lovevery's staged boxes?
Lovevery ships a new box roughly every two to three months across a continuous sequence from birth to around age four. Montessori Toddlers' Play Kits group that same span into three one-off, purchasable stages, 19-24 months, 25-36 months, and 36 months and up, so a parent picks the stage their child is in right now and buys it once, rather than subscribing to the whole sequence. If your family likes the idea of the next stage arriving automatically, a subscription suits you; if you would rather choose each stage yourself and stop whenever you want, a one-off kit does the same underlying job without the ongoing commitment.
What should a Montessori-aligned alternative actually offer?
A genuine Montessori-aligned alternative should offer open-ended, natural materials, no batteries or screens, and a clear age-staged progression, the same underlying principles Montessori classrooms have used for over a century. Look for real wood over plastic, toys with one honest purpose rather than dozens of gimmicks, and a set that is pitched at your child's actual stage of development rather than a broad "toddler" catch-all.
Montessori alternatives to Lovevery at a glance
| Approach | Suitable age | Develops | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lovevery-style staged box sequence (subscription, restaged every 2-3 months) | 0-4 yrs, staged | Broad developmental milestones | Parents who want new toys delivered automatically |
| Montessori Toddlers Play Kit 19-24 months | 19-24 months | Language, sorting, creative thinking | One-off purchase for this exact stage |
| Montessori Toddlers Play Kit 25-36 months | 25-36 months | Focus, sequencing, early STEM concepts | Parents who want to buy once, not subscribe |
| Montessori Toddlers Play Kit 36+ months | 36+ months | Early literacy, numeracy, practical life | Preschool preparation without a subscription |
Where Montessori Toddlers' Play Kits fit in
Our Play Kits are built on the same structural idea as a subscription box, a curated, age-matched set of materials, but sold as a single, one-off purchase rather than an ongoing commitment. Each kit is put together around a specific developmental stage, made from natural materials like wood and cotton, and designed so every item has a clear purpose rather than filling space. If your child is between stages, choose based on what you see them working on rather than the number on the box. See our full age-by-age Play Kits guide →
Comparing more than one brand before you decide? Our full Montessori toy brands comparison puts Lovevery side by side with five other well-known names. And if you are weighing an open-ended wooden toy alongside a staged box, our Grimm's alternatives guide covers that comparison directly.
Frequently asked questions
Is Montessori Toddlers similar to Lovevery?
Both offer curated, age-staged toy sets built around child development. The main difference is the buying model: Montessori Toddlers' Play Kits are sold as one-off purchases for a specific age range, rather than an ongoing subscription.
Do I need a subscription to do Montessori at home?
No. A subscription can be a convenient way to keep a steady supply of new materials arriving, but Montessori at home is really about the principles, real materials, one purposeful toy at a time, and following your child's interest, which you can apply with a single well-chosen kit just as well as an ongoing box.
What comes in a Montessori Toddlers Play Kit?
Each kit is a curated set of toys made from natural materials like wood and cotton, chosen for a specific age range so that every item targets a particular skill, from fine motor control to early problem-solving, rather than being a generic assortment.
Is a subscription worth it compared to a one-off kit?
It depends on what you want to manage yourself. A subscription suits parents who would rather have the next stage chosen for them automatically. A one-off kit suits parents who would rather pick each stage themselves and stop whenever they want, without an ongoing commitment.
With love from the Montessori Toddlers team 💛
