Treasure Baskets

[P.J.]

http://www.littleacornstomightyoaks.co.uk/Articles/Treasure%20basket.php

I read an article recently about making little baskets filled with simple objects for your baby to explore. Then last week I visited a friend whose mum had made one for her baby, and I was surprised to see Max playing with it for a long time (for him) ~ maybe 10-15 minutes at a time! He never has such a long attention span, lol! He loved it!!!

So now I'm in the process of making him one. Gathering all the things for it is so much fun~ a real treasure hunt!

It's so simple, you just get little everyday household objects~ like a wooden spoon, a loofah, a whisk, a wooden fingernail brush, etc, as well as natural things like pinecones, walnuts, chestnuts, shells, rocks, etc. and maybe some ribbons and fabric of varying textures, and put it all together in a little basket for the baby to explore. I'm keeping mine to all wood, metal, and fabric things as well as stuff found in nature. Besides the stuff I've found on walks or laying around the house, all the things I've bought are all very inexpensive.

For those into Waldorf this is a great way to introduce "toys" that do not have only one function but are rather open-ended. And for those of us who try to keep the play to natural materials, this is perfect!

...Just thought I'd pass the idea on to those who've never tried it before, as Max and I are so far having a good time making and playing with our treasure baskets!

[Knitting Mama]

Great idea! I love it!

[mommariffic]

LOVE this idea!!! I am going to make one today : ) 

[angela67j]

Fun! My mom just recently did this for my daughter but she put the treasures in a box that she taped up and cut a flap so she could open and close it and grab the stuff out.

[Terrilein]

That sounds like a great idea!

[expat-mama]

Going to make one of these this week!

Thanks!

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[Laurski]

Love this idea!  I started putting one together today for the Bean as one of our snowy day activities.  She loved it!

[MamitaM]

Sounds great! I'm going to make one for my son soon.

[P.J.]

Here is Max digging into his treasure basket, which I just completed today. Yay!

[Buzzer Beater]

Super cute! 

[Terrilein]

That's one awesome basket you got there!

[cocoanib]

What a cute pic. Looks like he's about to have alot of fun!

I guess we do something like this, but more free form.

For example, when DD is in the kitchen with me, I will put her in her wagon along with

bowls, measuring cups, sealed bags of beans or seeds(she likes the feel), etc to explore while we are in there.

If I'm in the bathroom into her wagon goes a spray bottle, her brush, hair scarves, bag of cotton balls...

Maybe I'll try a basket and see how she likes it.

[megannt]

I did this with my daughter and she LOVED it. she was so interested, it was really neat to see.

[peacelove&camping]

awesome suggestion! we sorta had two of these going already--her kitchen toys are kept in a basket, and she can pull out which ones she wants, and then she has her 'recycling box' :) cool packages that she has laid claim to.

but we have now made a purposeful one of these with cool, more random things i dug up for her. and bonus--i used a tin instead of a basket, so she can bang the lid! :)