Playing with Treasure Baskets I


n a world of commercial, plastic, noisy toys, which children get bought an abundance of, the Treasure Basket is a real joy like no other item your child will have. It's like the cardboard box as opposed to the contents - children will play with a box for far longer than they will the toy inside which I expect you have seen before!


Babies can explore treasure baskets from the time when they can first sit up, propped by cushions for steadiness. At this stage babies are "rooted to the spot" and often get frustrated by their inability to reach the things they see. They are learning fast and need to be stimulated. Once you see a baby engrossed in a Treasure Basket, you will realise the power the activity has.


Favourite Fairy Tales


for your toddler Young children love the magic of fairy tales and never tire of hearing them – again & again & again! Why not make them part of your daily routine? The top 5 fairy tales, as voted by mum & dad members of Small Steps Online, are:


1. Three Little Pigs 2. Cinderella 3. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs 4. Jack and the Beanstalk 5. Beauty and the Beast


You can buy, or borrow from the library, young children’s versions of these stories, packed with vivid


illustrations to bring the stories even more to life!


Happy Reading with your little one, from The Small Steps Team


Small Steps 21


Treasure Baskets for babies can contain collections of objects that are usually natural or made from natural materials, such as rolling pins, fir cones, feathers and fruit.


Babies learn initially through their senses and giving them a wide variety of items to feel, suck, see, listen to and smell helps their brains to make the necessary connections and offers intense but flexible opportunities to learn.


ALWAYS supervise Treasure Basket play and never leave a baby or young child alone with the contents. Feathers and pine cones, being in their natural state, can break off and choke a child if not supervised closely.


✩ ♥


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