I think you guys have a wider variety of Montessori over there - I don't think use of the name is well policed. Look round the ones you can get to and see if there is one that isn't as strict in the not using the materials for anything other than their intended purpose. Where I am all the Montessori schools ate owned and run by the same person and she is a strict adherent who would insist that if the equipment were being used incorrectly the child be diverted to something more appropriate. I considered it for ds6 but not for ds4.
