Treasure Basket Activities

Treasure Basket Activities

Treasure baskets are a wonderful way to introduce your infant to different objects and textures. You can compile your own Treasure Baskets from found objects at home with a variety of different textures. These baskets can contain a range of different objects or follow a theme such as ‘yellow’ or ‘kitchen.’ The possibilities are endless! Through sensory exploration, infants begin to understand the world around them using their hands, mouths, and eyes.

Please ensure you select objects that are child-safe and not a choking hazard. Treasure basket activities should always be supervised and tailored to your child’s developmental stage. Treasure baskets are best explored in a quiet, uncluttered space where your child can focus and concentrate. Choose a time of day when your infant is alert and content, not overly tired or hungry, to make the experience as positive and engaging as possible.

To support your child’s engagement, see our video demonstration of how to introduce a treasure basket. The educator models how to gently present the basket to the infant while seated with support, allowing for eye contact and connection. Each item is offered slowly and with intention, giving the child time to explore at their own pace. This encourages concentration and builds trust in the learning environment.

All of the items used in the video are commonly found at home, such as wooden spoons, textured fabric, natural sponges, and small boxes. The focus is on real-world materials and rich sensory experiences. When used consistently, treasure baskets support early development of sensory perception, hand coordination, language, and independence.

You can also include some household items with gentle sounds, such as a small rattle or a spice jar filled with dry pasta (secured with a lid). These introduce auditory stimulation alongside tactile input. Always test items for safety before including them.

Home Lesson One

1. Locate a range of different objects from around your home and place them in a basket
2. Show your infant one object at a time and allow them to explore the object  (younger infants will attempt to mouth objects)
3. Add language to describe the objects such as “soft” and “hard”

This simple lesson promotes focus, language development, and fine motor exploration. Try to sit at your infant’s eye level and use a calm, reassuring voice.

Home Lesson Two

1. To extend on this activity vary the types of objects in your treasure baskets to encompass a variety of sensory experiences
2. You can rotate items weekly to maintain interest and highlight different textures, sounds, or materials

Themes such as ‘natural materials,’ ‘metal items,’ or ‘soft fabrics’ can introduce categorisation and contrast, laying the groundwork for later sorting and matching skills.