Basket of Treasures

Every day seems to be a treasure hunt for Lachlan. Each room he goes into has something interesting to offer and his little hands are always eager to explore. The developmental milestones which he has accomplished thus far are allowing him opportunities to see more of the world around him. He works for objects by rolling over, reaching and leaning. He can also sit up which allows him to play with toys more freely. Lachlan was about 6 months when he began sitting on his own without support. I was very excited about this milestone because I was so eager to start introducing more little treasures for him to explore.

I've talked before about how important sensory development is in the early years of live. A child's neurons are not fully developed until the age of two; this is why you see children constantly putting things in their mouths all the time. The mouth is the most sensitive part of their body; with it they are able to explore the sense of taste and also texture. They generally pick up an interesting toy, stick it straight in their mouth, remove the toy to examine it visually and then back in the mouth it goes and the process continues. Allowing your child access to a variety of safe objects will help foster his sensory development.

Creating a 'treasure' basket is a wonderful way to provide various items for your bub to explore. The basket should be shallow enough for your baby to comfortably sit and lean forward to reach for objects. The objects should be small enough so an assortment will fit into the basket and also so your baby can easily grasp and play with them. The best thing about a treasure basket is that you can use various items around your house that are safe for your baby. Be creative. Think about all the different textures that you can introduce; soft, smooth, bumpy, course, fluffy- the list could go on and on! Take a look around your house and I'm sure you will find numerous things that would be appropriate for your baby to play. Here are some ideas for your basket to get your creative juices flowing:

• Ribbons
• Silky or Sheer Scarves
• Sea Shells
• Wooden Rattles
• Wicker Balls
• Pom-Poms
• Small Glass Jars (filled with beans, rice, or beads)- Sealed Securely
• Pine Cones
• Large Gum-nuts
• Spice or Salt Shakers (filled with lavender or rosemary leave, vanilla or cardamon pods, or coffee beans)
• Fruit such as a lemon or apple

As with all toys, please supervise your child while he is playing. Ensure that any bottles that contain small pieces have lids that are securely tightened with glue or tape. It is also important to frequently inspect your child's toys for signs of damage to prevent hazards.

Your child will enjoy freely exploring his special basket filled with the many interesting objects you have given him. Glass jars will feel cold and smooth to the touch. Pine cones will feel bumpy and spice shakers filled with leaves of rosemary will waken his senses. The basket itself will likely be examined also. Baskets made out of natural fibers such as wicker or bamboo are more stimulating to the touch than regular plastic baskets. After three or four weeks, change out the objects with different ones to perk his interest. If there are particular items he favors, keep those in the basket and replace the rest. As your child gets older, add more challenging objects such as containers with lids he can open and close. You can also change out the open basket to one with a lid. Sewing and picnic baskets serve this purpose well and your child will be surprised when he peaks inside!