Treasure Baskets 101
By: Sophie Booth
Heuristic play is all about giving children the opportunity to explore and learn about different
materials by themselves. It is a simple approach to helping babies and children learn using
natural and household objects which they can experiment with and discover independently.
Treasure baskets are a great way for babies and infants to engage in Heuristic play. It gives
them a wide range of experiences and allows them to make independent choices about what
they want to explore. It is also a great way to develop fine motor skills when grasping objects
and improves hand eye coordination.
A treasure basket should contain 30 – 50 objects made from natural materials such as metal,
wood and cloth. They should be materials which are safe for babies to explore with their hands
and with their mouths.
Some resources you may want to include in your treasure basket are:
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Natural sponges
Wooden spoons in a variety of sizes
Lace material
Cotton fabric
Metal bowls in a variety of sizes
Metal colander
Metal sieve
These materials are put into one
basket and presented to the child
to choose what they want to touch
and explore. As a practitioner, it is
not your job to give suggestions or
scaffold ideas, you are there to
ensure that the child is kept safe.
www.eyes-me.com
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Metal ladle
Rolling pin
Large shells
Leather wallet
Loofa
Wooden dolly pegs