DIY Pikler Triangle 101

The DIY Pikler Triangle was our gift to LO on her first birthday. My husband and I are huge DIY enthusiasts that we’ve done several of them together in our home. This Pikler Triangle is no exception too. My husband did extensive homework in designing this and did the carpentry while I did the accent milk paints and sealed the surfaces. Check out my video reel on Instagram highlighting the features of our DIY Pikler Triangle.

Ever since I posted the video reel of our DIY Pikler Triangle, I received questions from many of you and in this post I address the most frequently asked ones.

What is a Pikler Triangle?

It’s a climbing frame for children developed by a Hungarian Pediatrician, Dr. Emmi Pikler, almost 100 years ago. Pikler observed the needs of babies and toddlers and designed this material to encourage children to develop a variety of gross motor skills and dexterity at their own pace and in a safe way.

Why is it considered to be safe?

Babies and toddlers will only reach the height which their bodies are capable of; they learn their own physical boundaries by exploring. Also the Pikler triangle is about 3 feet high from the ground and is typically set on a soft surface. This is not the case with playground equipment where we may tend to physically challenge young children in a way that is not appropriate for them; those equipment are designed for older children.

What is the appropriate age to introduce the Pikler Triangle?

It is suitable for babies from birth to almost 6 years. The rungs can be used to hang mobiles or play scarves for newborns. Babies around 6 months may begin to pull themselves up and stand by holding onto one of the lower bars, followed by climbing up a few rungs and finally climbing to the top and getting down on the other side when they are ready. That being said, we’d never put LO up on the climbing frame; she’d do whenever she’s developmentally ready. But we’ll always be around to ensure her safety when she’s working on it.

Is it only for climbing?

No, it is more than just a climbing frame. In fact older children enjoy several forms of open-ended play not limited to creating obstacle courses, building tunnels, teepes, castles.

Time and cost to do the DIY

Assuming you have the required carpentry tools, the DIYs would cost between $100 - $200 depending on the choice of wood. Our DIY was around $120. We sourced the wood from Home Depot and the milk paints for accent from Real Milk Paint Co.

It took around 12 – 15 hours for the carpentry work and an extra 2 – 3 hours for the 2 coats of accent paints and sealant.

Do you have a plan for the DIY?

My husband followed this YouTube tutorial and purchased the plan as well. Here’s a free Pikler Triangle plan from Montessori in Real Life.

And I'd like to debunk a Pikler Triangle myth …

Myth: Pikler Triangle is a Montessori material

Fact: Pikler Triangle was designed by Dr. Emmi Pikler and not by Dr. Maria Montessori. Both their philosophies revolves around nurturing the child’s natural development, providing freedom of movement and allowing children to explore the environment safely. However, the Pikler Triangle has commonly been associated with the Montessori environment. Let’s thank Dr. Pikler instead. ❤