Treasure Baskets: A Powerful Learning Tool for Babies & Toddlers
Key Points
- Definition: A treasure basket is a collection of baby-safe everyday objects, interesting toys, or engaging items for babies and toddlers to explore.
- Age Group: Parents and educators typically use treasure basket play with babies and toddlers, but it can be adapted for preschoolers as well.
As a developmental therapist with over 10 years of experience working with babies and toddlers, I love treasure baskets as a simple sensory activity. I use them to observe a child’s skill level and see how I can help them learn and grow.
Let’s explore how parents and early childhood professionals can easily create and introduce treasure baskets to kids.
Definition
A treasure basket is a collection of baby-safe everyday objects, interesting toys, or engaging items for babies and toddlers to explore.
Exploring the Definition
The credit for treasure baskets and heuristic play goes to Elinor Goldschmied, a co-author of the initial versions of People Under Three. In the third edition of this book, authors Sonia Jackson and Ruth Forbes wrote an entire chapter on treasure baskets.
My goal has always been to make information about early child development accessible. But I do want to honor the origins and original definition of treasure basket play. Here’s where the creator’s definition and the version I am sharing align:
Treasure basket play should:
- Be an open-ended activity, led by children’s curiosity and imagination
- Be safe and thoughtfully curated
- Spark a sense of wonder
What Does Treasure Basket Play Look Like?
Treasure basket play is an easy, versatile type of play that grows with children.
For babies, it looks like gazing at the objects in the basket, reaching for objects, or exploring objects with hands, mouth, and feet. Toddlers begin exploring how they can manipulate objects.
In the later toddler and preschool years, treasure baskets can be the foundation for experiments, pretend play, or interacting with favorite books.
Best Age for Treasure Baskets
Initially designed for babies, treasure baskets can be adapted for children through preschool age.
Babies: Treasure baskets introduce babies to simple objects and toys, stimulating their senses and encouraging reaching and grasping.
Young Toddlers (1-2): Toddlers are refining their motor skills, ready to investigate objects and follow their curiosity.
Preschoolers (3 to 4): Older toddlers and preschoolers love treasure baskets to inspire experiments or pretend play.
How to Introduce Treasure Baskets
- Start by choosing objects based on your child’s interests or skill level. Check out this list for inspiration.
- Place the basket on a floor or low table as an invitation to explore. Refer to the role of adults for guidance on supporting treasure basket play.
Activities & Ideas
Download the PDF versions of these lists.
Creating Treasure Baskets
Preparing treasure baskets does require some planning. But to get started, it’s perfectly fine to create a basket, observe children’s play, and then change objects for next time based on your observations.
You can tailor a treasure basket to match your child’s interests or emerging skills. For example, toddlers interested in twisting off lids may enjoy a treasure basket of lids, bottles, and containers.
Role of Parent & Educator
In treasure basket play, parents and early childhood professionals foster children’s learning.
Choosing Objects: Thoughtfully select items and find inspiration from your childhood explorations.
Ensuring Safety: Choose safe, easily cleaned items. Remember that babies and toddlers may explore with their mouths.
Promoting Independent Play: Allow the child to lead treasure basket play.
Providing Support & Encouragement: Celebrate when children persist and accomplish tasks during treasure basket play. Step in with encouragement when children feel overwhelmed and need help.
Observation & Reflecting: Treasure basket play is a perfect opportunity to observe children’s play and note their skill level and interests. Reflect on your observations to find ways to make treasure basket play more engaging or challenging next time.
Choosing a Basket
The original definition of treasure basket play included a very explicitly designed basket. But that is not always practical in homes or classrooms. Instead, I suggest a shallow, woven wicker or rope basket.
The goal is to create an eye-catching activity showcasing the basket’s treasures.
Like heuristic play, treasure basket play is a holistic learning activity with benefits across learning domains. Parents and early childhood professionals can use treasure baskets to introduce skills or foster children’s interests.
Benefits
History of Treasure Baskets
Elinor Goldschmied, an educator and social worker, developed the concept of treasure baskets while working with single mothers and children in orphanages. She wanted to create a safe and independent play experience for very young children. Treasure baskets allow infants to engage in sensory-rich play using everyday items.
As found in Beginning to Play by Ruth Forbes, the original definition of treasure basket play was narrow and specific.
- It is for babies 5-9 months sitting up independently but not yet mobile.
- Use specifically designed baskets that are sturdy, shallow, flat-bottomed, have no handle, are of a specific size, and are made of natural material
- Treasures should be “clean, beautiful, and safe” and include minimal plastic.
- Treasures should be household objects, not toys.
- The basket will be filled “to the brim” with objects (up to 80 objects!).
- The play experience is entirely child-led, and adults closely observe and intervene only when needed.
Click image to download.
Get a simple but incredible introduction to all types of play in early childhood in my ultimate play guide.
