Has anybody ever made a pink tower?

[BCFD]

I really have a strange fascination with the pink tower and wanted to buy one for my kids to have at home. We have regular wooden blocks, but I really want the pink tower. Has anybody ever made their own? I don't own a saw and wouldn't even know where to begin to start cutting blocks. Does anybody know where you can buy blanks? I know that each block in the pink tower is a certain measurement, so I was wondering if anybody knew of any good sources to buy unfinished blocks? I saw these, but it's not exactly what I wanted.

http://www.caseyswood.com/shoppingca...index&cPath=12

[KBecks]

Heck no. I'd so buy one off Ebay before attempting to make one. Just getting the precise measurements would be a hassle and I would spend more on the raw materials than buying a cheapie one.

[MattBronsil]

My first thought is whether they are in a Montessori school now. If they are, I strongly encourage you to NOT get the pink tower for home. Children tend to find materials they have at home not as interesting any more when they're in school and, obviously, not as interesting when they are at home.

They see them too much or they think parents are hinting that they want them to do those more or.... there are a million speculative reasons.

That warning said, you can usually find them for a cheap price online. Here's one for $30:

http://www.calibermontessori.com/cat...79/3204241.htm

I know nothing about that particular company. I just found it through google. There are a million other discount Montessori stores. The quality isn't quite Neinhaus, but it's worth it to not have the headache of trying to get someone to cut wood to the exact measurements and the time to have them painted.

Matt

[BCFD]

Hi Matt, thanks for the info. My oldest is starting Mont school on Friday, so maybe you are right about having a pink tower at home. I definitely don't want her to get bored at school because I have all of these Mont materials at home. We have the Melissa and Doug wood nesting blocks, so maybe we'll just call it good. I just like the pink tower and the small little cube at the top. I know my younger child would totally love playing with it, but she'll start M school in the fall, too. I also have a 1 year old, but I couldn't even use the small block right now.

By the way, I have been enjoying your blog and your posts!

[KBecks]

I know the appeal. I kind of want *my own* pink tower too. I thought about outfitting a while Montessori learning room in our house (instead of paying M school tuition), but for our family, having DS go to school is truly the best option. I'm envious, I would like M education for myself!

[BCFD]

Originally Posted by KBecks

I know the appeal. I kind of want *my own* pink tower too. I thought about outfitting a while Montessori learning room in our house (instead of paying M school tuition), but for our family, having DS go to school is truly the best option. I'm envious, I would like M education for myself!

Hehe...I feel the same way. I wonder how much of it is for me and not my kids. I think I would have fun playing with a pink tower.

[chick]

Originally Posted by BCFD

Hehe...I feel the same way. I wonder how much of it is for me and not my kids. I think I would have fun playing with a pink tower.

Sometimes I wish I was back at Montessori college where we DID get to play with all the materials! it was great!

Millie is at a Montessori nursery but she's only 15 months so only using basic materials. We were at a friend's house the other day and I was impressed to see my friend's daughter (same age) using a china plate. I could have kicked myself for not thinking earlier that it might solve Millie's plate-chucking habit! Well not going to risk the best china but going to get some cheap plates to try out - DH will have a fit when he sees it!

Anyway back to pink towers, we were forever losing the smallest cube - children loved it so much they would sneak it home in their pockets!!!

[BCFD]

Originally Posted by chick

Anyway back to pink towers, we were forever losing the smallest cube - children loved it so much they would sneak it home in their pockets!!!

OH NO!!!!

[mamamelia]

Anyway back to pink towers, we were forever losing the smallest cube - children loved it so much they would sneak it home in their pockets!!!

that's what the montessori principal told me today... that way too many times a parent has come the next morning and said "i found this in dc's pocket"

Millie is at a Montessori nursery but she's only 15 months so only using basic materials. We were at a friend's house the other day and I was impressed to see my friend's daughter (same age) using a china plate.

i'd definitely recommend china plates for toddlers as crazy as that sounds. when they smash it they will *see* the result of it smashing. i think kids have a hard time transitioning to understanding the concept of "don't throw because it will break" when it never has really..
i'm talking from my own experience and i believe that because our kids only used real tools, they learnt to handle them properly and much more quickly than thier peers (i let my then 24mo handle a steak knife). we have NEVER used plastic plates or cups for the kids at any age. my 14mo started drinking out of an adult sized glass cup with no help recently (and the eldest was slightly younger than that). yes we've had a few broken plates and cups in the process, but the life long lesson has been taught, and nowadays most glass goods last for much longer than a week.

[Flor]

I agree. We have glass cups and glass plates for ds and honestly, my 12 yo breaks more than the 4 year old. Ds also has real tools like hammer and nails, a saw and an electric screwdriver. He's really good with them! Though, he puts them away when his friends come over because he says they are dangerous.

Sorry, off topic.

But, I also have trouble not buying M materials. However, if you want something cool to stack, try Kapla blocks (or planks). They are these perfectly balanced wooden planks that you can stack up to incredible heights. Dh and I play with them with ds goes to bed. Dh stacked them up over 9 feet tall, standing on our table to get to the top!

[MattBronsil]

Originally Posted by BCFD

By the way, I have been enjoying your blog and your posts!

Thank you. I enjoy writing them :-)

Matt