What is a treasure basket?
A treasure basket contains a variety of household materials that babies/young toddlers can explore. The concept is that they provide more open play opportunities and use a range of senses, unlike a plastic shape sorter which can be only used as a shape sorter. As you probably notice babies and young children are drawn to anything but toys, your phone, tv remote, keys! Here's a fab little article that explains it in more detail Treasure basket article
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What can be learnt?
The learning opportunities can be endless.
Extends cognitive development whilst gaining a sense of volume, size, weight, quantities, and temperatures,
Develops all the senses, though textures, smells, colours, noises and taste sensations,
Promotes own choice, investigation, self esteem and independent play,
Experimentation and problem solving,
Fine motor skills through grasping and handling objects of different sizes.
This is a perfect explanation quoted from Community Play Things. Give this website a read, it has some great resource ideas too.
'When toddlers make an enjoyable discovery – for instance when one item fits into another, or an interesting sound is produced – they often repeat the action several times to test the result, which strengthens cognitive development as well as fine muscle control and hand/eye coordination.' (Heuristic Play)
Themes
To extend your babies learning and keep it interesting you can create various themes. Here's a few ideas to get you going, but your baby may have a particular interest, so just follow their lead, mix it up and have fun. I have included a few examples you could put in each. I have also linked in where you can directly buy certain products, just click the link. The foil blanket, that many of you have asked about is located in the metal treasure basket section!
Black and white - perfect for young babies as they are highly attracted to black and white. (Teddies, books, fabric)
Metal treasure basket - always a good one for teething babies as items are usually quite cold! (Foil blanket, mirror, bracelet, Shiny metal balls )
Textures - variety of fabrics (you can get free samples of fabrics, ribbons, carpets online)
Wooden - (curtain rings ,Pastry brush, cork, fur cone)
Colour - all items are of the same colour, red, blue, green or whatever colour you fancy
Natural - (shells, Natural bath sponge, Peacock feather)
Scents - (lavender/ rosemary/ cinnamon you can tie them in baby socks)
Photo shared from @george_treetotsmusic from Instagram
Create your own
Treasure basket can be simple to put together. there are multiple ways to can put one together either raid you home for suitable objects, buy individual items from homeware stores, or buy ready made treasure baskets online. Here's a few links of ready made ones - Amazon treasure baskets and Ebay treasure baskets
Photo shared from @george_treetotsmusic from Instagram
Safety!! - must read
Never leave your baby alone with a treasure basket, adult supervision is required at all times. Be careful not to included anything too small, has sharp edges and dyed using toxic paint. It is also very important to regularly check the contents of your treasure basket to ensure nothing is damaged that could pose a risk to your child. But this can be done alongside exploring it with your little one.
Enjoy and have fun! Tag me in your baby play activities I would love to see them!
Find me at...
On instagram @The_mummy_business
Pictures used with consent from @george_treetotsmusic her page is full of lots of wonderful baby play ideas go and give her a follow!
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