Pikler triangles have gained popularity and seem to pop up on every parenting social media feed these days. What is a Pikler triangle and does it benefit your child?

The Pikler triangle was developed by Hungarian pediatrician, Dr Emmi Pikler, more than a hundred years ago. The minimalist climbing structure was designed to encourage babies and toddlers to gain confidence, stability and strength at their own pace.

What is the Pikler Triangle?

The Pikler triangle is a large wooden triangular structure with rungs on both sides.

It is widely used in the Montessori community, due to the numerous developmental benefits it offers for babies and kids.

1) Enhances gross motor development

It is a sturdy indoor climbing structure that encourages children to practice gross motor development skills and physical challenges at their own pace. It can be used by babies as young as six months old, as they pull up on the rungs and learn to stand. As they get older, they can slowly teach themselves to climb up and over.

2) Increases spatial awareness

Spatial awareness is knowing where your body is in space, in relation to objects or other people. The key to promoting spatial awareness in children is to allow them to explore their surroundings. Spending a lot of time in nature is ideal, but with the weather as it is in the UK, the Pikler triangle offers great opportunities for developing spatial awareness while indoors.

3) Develops balance

Learning to master the Pikler Triangle is a great exercise in balance, and that is an essential gross motor skill in a child’s development. It allows children to play sports, develop better posture and prevent falls and injuries later in life.

4) Promotes physical self awareness

The Pikler triangle gives children the opportunity to explore their body, discover their own boundaries and fulfill their need for movement.

5) Enables open-ended play

Aside from being used as a climbing structure, the Pikler triangle can double up as a teepee, a castle, a helicopter - the only limit is your child’s imagination!

How to use the Pikler Triangle?

The Pikler Triangle should be positioned on a soft surface like a rug or mat, to provide a soft landing surface in case of falls. Children should always be supervised when using the Pikler triangle, preferably from a distance so they can explore it independently. It can be placed in a child’s environment from birth, but they should never be placed on it or forced to use it. They will approach it when they are ready, and will not view it as something to be afraid of.

Is it Montessori?

The Pikler Triangle is not technically a Montessori material, but it is often found in Montessori-inspired homes and classrooms. It aligns perfectly with the Montessori philosophy of allowing children to develop gross motor skills at their own pace, and has many other benefits, as listed above.

Is it worth the investment?

Due to the wide range of ages that can use the Pikler triangle, I definitely think it is worth the investment. My son, Ryaan, has had the Pikler Triangle in his environment since he was born, and started using it when he was about six months old. He is now 3.5 years old and continues to use it occasionally. In a few months it will start to get more use as my daughter, Dayna, starts to pull herself up on it.

I got our Pikler Triangle from a German company called Basisgemeinde because it wasn’t readily available in the UK four years ago. Now there are several shops on Etsy selling it, such as weselldream, OutOfTheChickenShed and ShopPomPom.