5 Best Pikler Triangles for Toddlers, According to Parenting Experts
These Montessori-inspired climbers are great for development, under careful supervision!
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Once you get a baby moving, it's hard to slow them down! Creating an engaging play environment that can grow with your child can be challenging. You can invest in the best educational toys and provide open-ended toys to foster pretend play — and that's where a Pikler triangle comes in. These climbing centers offer a minimalist yet versatile approach to play, and toddlers benefit from activities that give their brains and bodies a boost. Piklers are a tremendous piece of play furniture that offer physical and cognitive developmental growth for your evolving child.
What exactly is a Pikler Triangle?
A Pikler triangle is a Montessori-inspired play triangle. Montessori-inspired toys are designed to inspire kids to develop natural interests and activities by doing hands-on and collaborative play, based on the experiential learning fostered by Dr. Maria Montessori. A Pikler triangle is a climbing frame (also known as a climbing triangle) designed to expand in functionality as the child grows and develops. In its simplest construct, it is a triangle with rungs that can be climbed, but some new variants offer more equipment for extended and differentiated play.
Are Pikler triangles safe?
As with all children's products, parental supervision is always paramount. You know your child's capabilities best, and you can monitor the environment for any safety considerations. You can foster a sense of independence and exploration while keeping a close eye on kids to ensure they are executing their movements safely. It's also important to adhere to any age and weight specifications provided by the manufacturer, as each Pikler is designed slightly differently.
What age is best for a Pikler triangle?
Children as young as six months may be able to start experimenting, and children upwards of five years old may still enjoy these apparatuses. When children are really young, they can play underneath it. As they become physically and cognitively more advanced they can use it to pull themselves up, and as they age and develop they can eventually learn to climb up the structure. For more guidance on what your kids might be ready for, check out the Good Housekeeping Institute's age-by-age guide to toys.
What are the benefits of a Pikler triangle?
- Pikler triangles offer a wonderful play environment to help children develop gross motor skills.
- The versatile, open-ended design lets kids grow imaginative play skills and enhance self confidence — they can scale a mountain or hide under their tent while unknowingly nurturing development.
- Piklers can help improve spatial awareness, balance and coordination.
How we chose the best Pikler triangles:
To find the best Pikler triangles for toddlers, the Good Housekeeping Little Lab road tested top-sellers in this category. Our Lab experts looked at ease of assembly, construction quality and whether it was easy to clean the unit. We also took account of any additional features, like if the triangle could be folded or if it had other attachments you could add to extend play options.
These are the best Pikler triangles for toddlers in 2021, based on testing led by our Little Lab:
Little Partners Foldable Wooden Climbing Triangle
Pros
- Fully assembled
- Constructed of solid, durable hardwood
- Adjust and locks open in 3 positions
- Can be combined with other furniture, like a slide
- Easily folds for compact storage
- Greenguard Gold Certified
Cons
Little Partner's Learn 'N Climb Triangle wowed our Little Lab so much, it recently won a Good Housekeeping Parenting Award. You can adjust the stand-alone triangle to one of three different easy-to-set heights. It also allows variable play opportunities thanks to various accessories. For instance, you can link two triangles together with an add-on ramp to form a bridge or attach the ramp between the triangle and our much-beloved Little Partners learning tower.
Dimensions: 26.3" x 38.5" x 32.7"
Age rating: 12 months+
DomusJunior Pikler Triangle for Toddler with Slide
Pros
- Relatively affordable
- Foldable
- Includes the slide
Cons
- May not be as durable as others on list
While the Institute team has yet to vet this climber, we like that this Pikler is designed for our littlest movers to start exploring their environment with a lower overall height than the others on this list. Most online reviewers noted that it was sturdy and easy to assemble, though a couple did note it was not as durable as they had hoped.
Dimensions: 44" x 32" x 35"
Age rating: 6 months+
EZPlay Jungle Gyms Pikler Climbing Gym
Pros
- Quality wood construction
- Triangle + arch + slide for complete gym
- Natural, blue or rose color options
Cons
This multi-piece gym set allows for seemingly endless open-ended play. Kids can explore the pieces while developing their balance and igniting their creativity. The Pikler frame includes handles for young hands to grasp onto to help them ascend, and the slide features side rails to keep kids centered. The brand also makes other great play sets, including a larger slide also designed for toddlers!
Dimensions: 31" x 33" x 35"
Age rating: 18 months+
CoCo Village Montessori triangle climber
Pros
- Foldable and compact
- Quality wood construction
Cons
While we have yet to review this specific Pikler, we have vetted several other similar Montessori-inspired products from this brand. Based upon related testing, we expect this one to be equally well-constructed and durable. CoCo Village's products are all ASTM F963-17 certified, which means that they meet all current standards regarding the materials, chemical components, safety of use and durability.
Dimensions: 36.25" x 30" x 33"
Age rating: 12 months+
Costzon Foldable Triangle Ladder with Ramp
Pros
- Foldable
- Includes ramp for sliding or climbing
- Ladder height can be adjusted
Cons
One of the main differentiators for this Pikler is that the height of the ladder can be easily adjusted, so you can increase the difficulty of the incline as your child develops. It's foldable, so it be tucked away when it's not in use. While available in a natural palette, we're fans of the rainbow ladder rungs!
Dimensions: 48" x 28" x 43.5"
Age rating: 6 months+
What to look for when buying a Pikler triangle:
- Look for third-party safety testing. Check to see if the Pikler has been safety tested to ASTM F963 requirements and 16 CFY Part 1307 for lead, heavy metals and phthalates. While it's tempting to purchase from any seller, you want to ensure that play furniture for your child(ren) has been appropriately reviewed for safety considerations.
- Confirm the age and weight guidelines. Most can be used by children as young as 6 months old, but always check what the manufacturer recommends.
- Take into consideration your height clearance. You'll likely want to buy one greater than 32” so that it can offer continued growth for your child if possible. That being said, a smaller/mini unit may be ideal for a younger baby just starting out or if you’re short on space.
- Note whether it can transform. Several climbing triangles are now transformable so different shapes or orientations are possible. Many also offer additional components like ramps, slides or even rock walls!
- Consider storage. Many Pikler triangles are foldable, which is particularly good if you live in a small space. This is an advantage of many climbing triangles over rockers, as those usually don't fold.
- Factor in accessories. You may want to consider getting a mat for safety and cushioning if your child were to take a topple.
- Determine whether you want to use it outside. While most Piklers are designed for indoor use, a few note that they can be used inside or outside. If you want to keep your unit outside permanently, it’s important to have one that can handle inclement weather.
Rachel Rothman was the chief technologist and executive technical director of the Good Housekeeping Institute for over 15 years, overseeing testing methodology, implementation and reporting for all GH Labs. She also managed GH's research division and the analysis of applicants for the GH Seal and all other testing emblems.
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