What to use for Treasure Baskets and Heuristic play

Part 2-Objects and items to use in treasure baskets and Heuristic play

There are many suppliers who advertise ready made treasure baskets and heuristic play items, however you can find many of these objects in your local stores. In order for a treasure basket to be effective it needs to contain a range of different objects, this is to give children a variety of different learning opportunities

Heuristic play is a little different to treasure basket play, items used can be a mixture of containers and groups of small items, however don’t forget to vary the objects. Always remember safety when considering what items to use.

What to put in Treasure baskets

Try and use natural manmade materials such as;

• Wooden utensils
• nail brush
• make up brushes
• wooden tongs
• small wooden bowl
• wooden curtain rings
• wooden scrubbing brush
• wooden pasting brush

You can also use metal objects such as;

• Metal spoons
• Teaspoon
• Metal bowls
• Tea strainer
• Sieve
• metal trays

Other items to add;

• Leather and fabrics
• natural objects eg fur cones, dried fruits
• Bathroom objects such as scrunchies, loafer, sponges

Check out our suggestions for a treasure basket

It is best to have set baskets eg a metal, a wooden, etc. Always rotate the baskets around and add new resources to each basket.

Ideas for Heuristic play

Heuristic play is all about using everyday object including objects from treasures baskets

Other items you can use are;

• Containers- metal or cardboard
• Holders and tubes such as cardboard tubes, a mug tree
• Saucepans
• funnels of different sizes
• Cardboard boxes with and without lids
• Metal trays

Smaller items;

• Bracelets
• Corks
• wooden curtain rings
• shells
• wooden dolly pegs

PART 3 COMING SOON-How to display treasure baskets and Heuristic play