If you’re pregnant, have a baby, or are expecting a new grandchild, this is the perfect time to make something found in Montessori infant-toddler programs – a treasure basket.
A treasure basket is simple and inexpensive to create. It contains a number of items found in your home and in nature. (Try to avoid plastic.)
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Treasure Basket Ideas from How to Raise an Amazing Child the Montessori Way
A treasure basket encourages your baby to use his or her senses to explore and make new discoveries independently. In How To Raise An Amazing Child the Montessori Way, Tim Seldin introduces a section on making a treasure basket with:
All around your baby is a magical world of objects just waiting to be discovered.
Once your baby is able to sit and hold things she will love to explore a ‘treasure basket.’ This is a low basket or sturdy box you have filled with lots of interesting household objects and things from nature. The objects must be large enough not to be swallowed and free from sharp edges or anything else that might be harmful when they are touched and quite possibly mouthed by a young child. Older toddlers enjoy the treasure basket, too – just keep introducing new objects.
The book recommends using items that are:
- Metal
- Natural
- Wooden
- Fabric and leather
The book warns against:
- Small choking hazards
- Objects with sharp edges
- Objects with loose threads or pieces
- Anything that might be harmful if mouthed
- Materials with non-colorfast dyes
How to Raise an Amazing Child the Montessori Way (Book Review)
Treasure Basket Ideas from Around the Blogosphere
Here are some sites with great ideas for treasure baskets:
Treasure Baskets for Babies (Photo from NurtureStore)
Confessions of a Montessori Mom Blog
E’s Treasure Basket (Photo from Chasing Cheerios)
Chasing Cheerios Treasure Basket1 Chasing Cheerios Treasure Basket
Baby Treasure Basket (Photo from H is for Homeschooling)
Themed Treasure Baskets for Babies (my roundup post)
Kitchen Treasure Basket for Babies (my post)
Ball Treasure Basket for Babies (my post)
Have fun watching your baby learn through the simplicity and beauty of a treasure basket!
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I love everything about this – simple, effective, inexpensive! Will be making our own this weekend, I think!
this is such a great idea- another thing my kds ( aged nearly 6, 3 1/2, and 7 months) all love is our silks basket– we have a basket full of different silk/nylon and other material scarves that they love to play with ei: making outfits for whatever they are playing – to dancing with them – to just tossing them – or in the 7 month olds case just chewing on them – best part is I paid only $3 at a second hand store that was going out of business for about 30 or so scarves!
Thanks for your comment, Beth! Your silks basket is a wonderful idea! Thanks so much for sharing. 🙂
My sister is about to have her second child, Deb. Do you think that a treasure basket would be a great present to give her for your little boy or girl from the get go or is there a certain age that it’s best to introduce them to the treasures?
That’s great, BJ! A treasure basket would be a wonderful baby present, although a newborn wouldn’t be able to use it. A treasure basket is awesome once the baby is interested in toys, though. 🙂
What a neat idea! This would be a cool and unique gift idea for sure! And there’s no limit to what you can do with it, too. You can be very creative with this.
Thanks for your comment, Julia! It’s true that you can be very creative with a treasure basket! I love that you can make it appropriate for infants through toddlers by varying the items in the basket.
What a wonderful idea. Thank you for sharing this great idea. Have a blessed day.
Thanks, Lynda! I hope you have a blessed day, too!
I think these make wonderful baby shower gifts!
Thanks so much for the GREAT idea! A treasure basket would be one of the best possible baby shower gifts!
What a sweet idea! Thanks for all the great links too.
Thanks for your comment, Michelle! I’m looking forward to creating treasure baskets when I have a grandbaby (hopefully sometime in the next few years)!