Montessori Themed Baby Sensory Basket - 15 objects

Themed Sensory Basket - Carla’s Treasure Themed Basket 

This treasure basket includes a collection of 15 sensory-rich objects ~> ideal for sensory, heuristic or loose parts play ~> great to be explored, to be examined and to be handled.

It comes in a handmade willow basket (D 25cm).

*Colours may differ.
*The objects that go in the basket are the ones from the picture according to availability. If an item becomes unavailable it will be replaced with another object that provides a similar sensory experience. 

Treasure baskets are very popular among Montessori homes or nurseries and are being used for educational purposes and always under supervision.

Safety Information: Children/Babies must be supervised at all times when playing with these items. Adults must regularly check the contents of the basket for damage and assess which items are suitable for their child depending on their age and ability.
Warning: These are real objects and have not been designed as toys, please always assess the risks of using these items. Items should be thrown away if broken or considered dangerous.
The parent/caregiver assumes full responsibility for ensuring that the product is used in a safe manner.
It is the responsibility of the parent/caregiver to make a collection of suitable objects and to make sure the objects are cleaned regularly and replaced when necessary.

The Treasure Basket and Heuristic Play
by Carla’s Treasure
OPEN ENDED PLAY:
~>5-10 months: babies around a treasure basket can be totally absorbed as they examine, handle, mouth and shake different objects: ͞What is this object like?͟.
- gaining pleasure and satisfaction from exploring the objects for their own sake
-Babies should be physically comfortable, alert and refreshed, emotionally calm and content,
-15 minutes-60 minutes play session,
-minimum of disruption,
-daily basis.

~>10-20 months old babies want to find out what they can do with the objects by placing, filling, emptying, piling,
pairing – (functional learning/Learning Tools) : ͞What can I do with it?͟ ͞What else can I do with it?͟.
-Heuristic Play session – up to one hour,
-daily basis,
-the role of the adult is to be attentive, responsive and unobtrusive.

~>20 months-3 years old children begin to understand and use language, they want to use their imagination to find a
functional use for the objects : ͞What can this object become?͟
-excellent stimulant for language,
-interactive and social way of using the basket.

~>3 years and upwards – extend children’s vocabulary by not only naming the objects themselves, but also their
characteristics, categories, functions. Children can be encouraged to find similarities and differences between
objects (function, material, shape).
-Other games: Kim’s game, drawstring bag game, themed Treasure Baskets, props for imaginary games

~>Heuristic play and Treasure Basket materials can be used with children with special needs.
-It requires adult support, encouragement or direction (appropriate model play) to help stimulate their play.
-feeling of safety and togetherness in the experience.

!!! Treasure Baskets needs to be used under supervision of an adult.

How the Treasure Basket promotes learning?
 Enriches a baby’s experience (by handling and exploring the sensory rich objects)
 Stimulates a baby’s curiosity and interest
 Offers a baby the experience of making choices
 Promotes concentration skills
 Facilitates conceptual learning (babies and toddlers learn a range of concepts to do with the physical
qualities of objects, such as coldness, smoothness, heaviness and prickliness)
 Facilitates social interaction if two or three babies/children share the same basket
 Provides the foundations of language development

References:
Hughes, A.M. (2006) Developing Play for Under 3’s, London: David Fulton Publishers

Instructions for use: The adults role in the use of the treasure basket is to sit near by and be attentive, responsive and unobtrusive.
The treasure basket should not be left out 24/7 for your baby to play with. Ideally it is good to offer a session lasting between 15 minutes and an hour with the minimum of disruption on a daily basis. It is important to make sure that the babies/children are physically comfortable, when they are alert and refreshed, calm and content.

I am happy to add a gift message and gift wrap and I can send it directly to the recipient. Please write me a message if you require so or for any further assistance.

Happy open-ended play!