Why Make a Heuristic Play Basket?

When I need to cook and clean the kitchen, and an older baby isn't letting me, I pull out the heuristic play basket. I let them play on the floor while I'm very careful. 

We spend loads on toys, but there they are playing with our shoes, the remote control, or a water bottle, right? 

These types of baby play ideas arise because they are trying to figure out how the world works, and they learn best through play. I've found that little ones love to be allowed to discover and explore everyday items. 

What is Heuristic Play?

Heuristic play enables little ones to discover, experiment, problem-solve, and evaluate through trial and error. Child psychologist Elinor Goldschmeid developed heuristic play over 40 years ago. 

Many early years settings provide babies with treasure baskets in the UK, which is the most well-known part of heuristic play. 

Heuristic play baskets invite little ones to discover what the items are using all their senses. These heuristic play objects provide a variety of textures, temperatures, smells, weights, and sounds of various natural materials bumping together. 

 What is a Heuristic Play Basket?

The basic concept of a heuristic play basket is to provide safe, natural household objects and pieces of nature and let babies explore them in their own way.

The sturdy basket is wide and shallow so babies can lean on the edge without it tipping and easily reach the heuristic play objects. These baby play ideas are designed for infants aged 6-12 months. If your baby is older, check out the Heuristic Play for Toddlers page.

I found that many treasure baskets in daycares aren't made up of purely natural objects. Use what you have for your heuristic play basket because, as long as it's safe and open-ended, it will work. However, for safety's sake, if in doubt, leave it out.

What's in a Heuristic Play Basket?

Safe Kitchen Items: 

• Small metal food containers 
• Small metal colander 
• Metal sieve 
• Metal tea strainer 
• Wooden spoons 
• Metal measuring spoons 
• Metal measuring cups 
• Metal condiment dipping bowls 
• Wooden or metal egg cups 
• Metal shot glasses 
• Metal glasses or beakers
• Metal jugs or pitchers 
• Metal bowls 
• Wooden bowls 
• Enamel bowls 
• Enamel mugs

Brushes: (with wooden handles)

• Dry paint brushes 
• Hair brush 
• Dish brush 
• Pastry brush 
• Nail brush 
• Wooden comb 

Nature: (check if they’re sturdy regularly)

• Large sturdy pine cones 
• Large sturdy shells 
• Large tough luffa 
• Pebbles (not small enough to fit in a baby's mouth nor too heavy) 

Random Household Items: 

• Wooden or metal chunky napkin rings 
• Wooden eggs (found with craft supplies) 
• Wooden curtain rings (before any screws are drilled in) 
• Coasters (check the bottoms for choking hazard dots that prevent scratching tables) 
• Wooden handheld massage tools (check if they could trap tiny fingers)
• Wicker balls (check for scratchy parts) 
• Empty wooden bobbins (make sure they're not too small)
• Empty leather or cloth coin purses or wallets 
• Cardboard tubes from tape (only use very sturdy cupboard that can't fit in your baby's mouth)
• Feather duster (check it can't be pulled apart)
• Small wicker basket (check for scratchy parts) 
• Small rice basket (check regularly it's it's still sturdy)

These are just options. I've never seen a heuristic play basket that even has half of these items. See what you can find.

With little ones' short attention spans, check out more Baby Play Ideas that infants love!