Collection: Creating an Engaging Play Space (Trays)

Most baskets and trays aren't designed for children's use, which has a significant impact on how children engage with their play space.

For example, while IKEA offers a wide range of furniture and storage solutions, their baskets and trays are not specifically designed with children and Montessori principles in mind.

We have trialled and tested countless baskets and trays and have found that:

• if children can't see what's inside, they don't play with it
• a basket or tray may look nice but not do the job of keeping a tidy home
• small design details have a direct correlation to the amount of mess a child makes during play
• a child's confidence is directly affected by whether they can successfully carry a tray or basket to their destination without making a mess.

We have carefully observed the effect of different baskets and trays on children and have designed our products to meet their needs. We have meticulously tested and refined every aspect of our designs to give you the best baskets and trays, made for little hands.

Our products are not mass produced but rather, expertly handmade by Vietnamese artisans.

Displaying toys in baskets and trays is beneficial for children of all ages.

We find that children ages 1-4 gravitate towards tray activities while children ages 1-10+ benefit from open-ended toys being stored in our baskets.

Baskets

Our baskets are great for storing toys and children's belongings from birth.

Once your child is on the move, they will appreciate how easy it is to find what they're looking for when their belongings are stored in storage designed to suit their needs. You might even be surprised at how early they'll learn to put things back, thanks to our purposeful designs.

Trays

Our trays are great for confident walkers. Our small Malala tray, for instance, is small and light. Its tray lip has been thoughtfully designed to prevent materials from falling out as your child toddles to their destination.

We also have a variety of larger and versatile trays that are perfect for displaying more complex activities for older children.

No. If you're relatively new to Montessori, you will start seeing positive changes even if you start with just one tray or basket.

If you're further along in your Montessori journey, you may already have a large collection of trays and baskets. Our minimalist sets replace the need for dozens of mismatched trays and baskets, so you'll always have the perfect one to display any activity.

Our baskets are ideal for keeping things tidy. They are perfect for storing open-ended toys like lego, train tracks and wooden blocks.

Our trays are ideal for getting your child excited about hands-on learning through play. They are ideal for activities with multiple components.

We recommend a mix of both trays and baskets depending on the current developmental needs of your child.

Simply display your toys and activities inside your trays and baskets to start seeing and feeling the positive difference of an elephlay home.

A play schema refers to repetitive actions children engage in during play. It represents a child's natural developmental urge to explore and understand the world around them. 

Recognising play schemas helps you distinguish between 'difficult' behaviour and natural urges. It also helps you plan supportive learning environments for schema development and mastery.

The most common play schemas are: connecting, transforming, trajectory, rotation, enveloping, enclosing, positioning and transporting.

Montessori education offers a unique approach that focuses on nurturing your child's natural curiosity, independence, and love for learning.

By embracing Montessori principles at home, you create an environment that encourages self-directed learning, hands-on exploration and independence in daily life.

Montessori fosters a love of learning that goes beyond traditional education methods, allowing children to develop at their own pace and discover their passions.

Did you know the following people got their start with a Montessori education?

• Larry Page and Sergey Brin - Google Founders
• Anne Frank - Diarist
• Steph Curry - NBA champion
• Prince William and Harry - British Royal Family
• Jeff Bezos - Amazon Founder
• Beyonce, P. Diddy, Taylor Swift - Musicians
• Will Wright, Simcity Founder
• George Clooney, Actor

And so many more who are at the top of their industries!

If you want to create a home that nurtures your child's independence, confidence, contribution, cooperation, and love of learning, then a Montessori home is the perfect choice for you.

While much parenting advice focuses on the parent-child relationship, a Montessori home recognises the connection between parent, child and environment.

At elephlay, we help you harness the power of your home environment to build solid foundations through play that will help your child thrive in life.