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MTA’S top 10 new resource trends this year
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Marketplace Editor
Feb 14, 2025
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From indoor wonderlands to natural colour palettes, let’s take a look at what Modern Teaching Aids (MTA) is bringing to early childhood education and care services in 2025.
As an educational specialist, MTA aligns with the latest early years curriculum and pedagogy, transforming insights into quality resources that hit the latest trends. MTA looks to learning environments, home fashions and the retail sector to uncover global trends. MTA then applies lenses of inclusivity, sustainability and cultural authenticity to build a tailor-made range of products. They also talk to thousands of early childhood professionals each year to build community connection and representation in their ranges.So, drum roll! What’s trending this year?
- Solid timber furniture
This trend is about tangible quality, aesthetic appeal and stylish furniture pieces. With solid timber, you can feel the difference through weight and touch.
Spearheading this trend is The Harmony Education range, designed in-house by MTA. The Harmony Education Solid Timber Open Frame Shelf (double shelf measures 80 (L) x 40 (D) x 62 (H) cm) with its open frame design and easy accessibility makes it a robust storage solution for early childhood environments. It’s crafted from solid ash timber, while the shelves are finished with a quality polyurethane lacquer, ensuring durability and easy maintenance. The sturdy construction ensures that this shelf can withstand the rigours of daily use in any busy educational space.Hit the solid timber trend with the Harmony Education Solid Timber Stackable Chair (35 cm seat height suits children aged 3+ years). It pairs perfectly with tables at 55 cm heights, providing an ergonomic seating arrangement for children as they engage in learning activities. Look out for the subtle backrest angle too which ensures comfort and promotes good posture throughout extended sitting periods.
- Dreamy feature rugs
This is a trend that will bring joy to any early childhood setting. Rugs are having their moment with a dreamy aesthetic and tonal colours that soothe the eye. Rugs create a focal point for learning and play, create zones, as well as foster a calm and engaging environment.
The Botanical Rug, measuring 3 m x 2 m, is a nature-inspired addition to MTA’s range. Featuring a 24 square grid, this design provides an opportunity to explore botanical themes, making it a great tool for teaching about nature or the environment. Just as importantly, the rug's non-woven dotted anti-slip backing ensures safety and stability, while its 720gsm pile and 7–8 mm depth offer a comfortable surface for sitting and playing. MTA has joined with Aboriginal artist Caitlin Trindall this year to create a vibrant range that includes this 200 cm diameter Camp Site Round Rug. With cultural significance, this rug offers children a unique opportunity to explore Aboriginal culture. Entitled ‘Always Connected’, the artwork reflects the central meeting place where families and communities come together to share and celebrate Aboriginal traditions.
- Homelike touches
Come in. Would you like a cup of tea? For many early childhood education services, the hottest trend is to create inviting spaces that conjure up a ‘home away from home’ atmosphere, whether it’s through family photos, lamps, plants or vases.
Exclusive to MTA, the Natural Spaces Home Corner Set meets this trend in spades with its beautifully crafted fireplace, buffet and coffee table set with elegant marble-look tops. It creates an inviting way for children to role play everyday activities and develop social-emotional skills. The set suits children aged 3+ years.This Stockholm Spaces Modular Sofa Kit is a standout MTA exclusive this year. As stylish as it looks, it’s also a versatile seating solution thanks to its modular design (just like you may have at home!). With a seat height of 30 cm and dimensions of 60 (W) x 60 (D) x 60 (H) cm for the corner and straight sections, and 60 (W) x 60 (D) x 30 (H) cm for the ottoman, this sofa is the perfect size for little learners. Embracing the homelike trend, the kit is upholstered in tan faux leather. Each piece is built with a sturdy internal timber frame, foam padding and gently curved backrests for added comfort. Home sweet home!
- Play with natural and soft tones
Softer colour palettes and natural tones are trending – some say the trend is about using only colours or materials you can see out the window – think sage green, pebble grey, sky blue, sunshine yellow and natural timber.
MTA’s Sand and Water Play Set reflects these tones in its colour palette. It includes 48 pieces designed to enhance sensory exploration through tactile play with a variety of buckets, shovels, moulds and sieves. This eco-friendly set allows children to experiment with cause and effect by sieving sand and moulding shapes, providing a hands-on learning experience that promotes problem-solving and brings the fun! Suits children aged 18+ months. The Sandy Bay Wooden Sand & Water Table embraces this trend through its FSC®-certified, sustainably sourced timber (built to last and resistant to wood rot and insect damage). The beautiful nesting tables are designed for compact storage, making them perfect for smaller outdoor spaces. Together, they invite exploration and sensory play.
- Imaginative balancing and climbing equipment
From parkour to stepping stones, it’s easy to climb aboard this trend: balancing sets and climbing frames have become more imaginative and captivating than ever.
The Mini Parkour Mega Set is a 25-piece balance activity kit that introduces children to the world of fun physical challenges. Designed for children aged 3+ years, this super-engaging set helps young movers develop balance, strength and confidence through play. With adjustable difficulty levels, children can create and modify their own balance courses. Hop up onto MTA’s new Leaf Stepping Stones Set with five soft, realistic stones in varying heights. Exclusive to MTA, the natural colours and gentle textures provide a soothing sensory experience while promoting physical development. This set is ideal for an indoor space offering a fun challenge as children step from one soft stone to the next. Developing gross motor skills with a hop, skip and a jump has never been so much fun. For children aged 3+ years.
- Contemporary nursery aesthetics
Did someone say designer vibes? The youngest ones in any service will benefit from sleek innovation, high quality materials and calming hues that are trending in nursery essentials.
Meet the change mat game changer. The Max & Rosie Foam Baby Change Mat in Pebble is the perfect blend of comfort, style and practicality. With its velvety surface, it offers a soft, supportive nappy change area, while the mat's raised edges provide added security. This hygienic change mat has all bases covered with non-slip rubber feet and a water-resistant, easy-clean surface. Hit the road in style! MTA’s Caravan Quad Stroller Wagon in Seaford Blue also meets the trend with its on-the-go style and ultimate comfort. It seats up to four passengers, has multi-position reclining seats and a spacious footwell. The all-wheel suspension and large rubber wheels ensure smooth manoeuvrability across various terrains. This smooth ride is ideal for children aged from 6+ months up to 22 kg per seat.
- Indoor wonderlands
This trend is about bringing the fun indoors. It’s about embracing flexible, multi-use play spaces that can be adapted to suit different ages, and support children as they develop spatial awareness, coordination and confidence.
Hello cubes, curves, blocks, bridges, cylinders, beams and arches! This SafeSpace Toddler Motor Skills Set is a soft but hard-wearing playset featuring 10 foam components in a calming blue and grey colour combination. Suitable for children aged 6+ months, this indoor wonderland encourages active play and exploration.Rock and roll! Another new indoor wonderland is this SafeSpace Toddler Climbing Set. With a triangle climbing frame, climbing pebbles, ramp and arch bridge/rocker this would make a popular addition to any service. Crafted from lightweight wood with rounded edges for safety, and a smooth, non-toxic finish. The set helps to encourage physical activity, balance and strength as children climb, rock and explore. Suitable for children aged 1+ years.
- Soft and silicone sensory resources
Trending in sensory: supersoft fabrics and smooth silicone! While sensory resources have been trending for a while, this trend leans into washable fabric or non-toxic silicone as the base for a beautiful new range.
Feast your eyes on this adorably delicious Giant Washable Fruit Stacker (suitable from birth onwards). With a fresh take on fruit salad, this stacker offers a colourful way for children to develop skills while having a ball! The jumbo-sized stacker features six squeezable, soft rings shaped like fruit. As children build their tower, they explore sizes, colours and shapes. The soft, machine-washable design makes it ideal for lots of usage, while the large rings are perfectly sized for small hands to grasp and stack.A new sensory resource bound to spark creativity is this Silicone Rainbow Stacker & People Set (suitable for 6+ months). It features 12 vibrant silicone pieces and includes stacking rings and adorable figures. The colours are soft, and the pieces are perfectly sized to help promote fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination and imaginative play.
- Innovative STEM and construction resources
STEM and construction resources have stepped up to the plate to bring innovation into early childhood education like never before with incredible materials and uses.
Children can explore the concept of colour mixing by rotating the crystal-clear cuboids in their hands with the Original Crystal Polydron CMY Set. As they combine the primary colours cyan, magenta and yellow, they will witness a stunning range of hues come to life before their eyes. This set is perfect for hands-on learning, while deepening understanding of colour theory in an interactive way. Suitable for children 3+ years.The innovative Wooden Cabin Blocks Set comes with a whopping 165 pieces, to let children build their own wooden cabin. It’s crafted from real wood, and ideal for both indoor and outdoor play. Use the blocks for collaborative group projects, to promote teamwork, incorporate into storytelling sessions or as a tool for teaching basic engineering concepts like balance and structure. It is also suitable for construction-loving and STEM-loving engineers aged 3+ years.
- Beautiful authentic cultural pieces
Authenticity is trending in cultural resources, and demand for First Nations resources (from puzzles and books to cushions and rugs) has never been greater. MTA has long collaborated with creators to develop resources designed to bring inclusion, inspiration and education around First Nations perspectives.
One of the most beautiful new cultural resources is the Mirii Art Round Aboriginal Cushions Set, designed by Caitlin Trindall. Through her designs, Caitlin celebrates Aboriginal culture and storytelling. The symbols featured on the cushions allow children to explore the depth of Aboriginal art while adding cultural richness to their surroundings. Each cushion measures 60 cm diameter and is perfect for reading nooks or play areas.Art puzzles are a wonderful way to introduce children to the rich cultural heritage of First Nations people, so this Pemulwuy Aboriginal Art Puzzles Set is ideal. The six puzzles feature artworks inspired by Aboriginal traditions, offering young learners a visually captivating way to engage with Indigenous culture while developing key cognitive skills.
To learn more about MTA’s 2025 range of early childhood education resources, toys, tools, play spaces and furniture, or see the full range of MTA products, visit teaching.com.au. To connect with your local consultant, reach out to MTA by phone on 1800 251 497 or email sales@teaching.com.au
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