Sensory introduction to the world around them - what box?

A treasure trove is simply a basket filled with different sensory materials.

For babies its often better to use a small soft sided box, so they can easily access and discover the box for themselves.

Toddlers and older children love a good old shoe box. They can decide to personalise the box with stickers, painting, drawing, or even sticking their special treasure to the outside.

At treasure troves we use a plain shoe box, so that children can change and decorate them as they see fit. The idea is for them to have a sense of ownership and responsibility for the box, and this is more likely to happen if they make decisions about how it looks. Its also just down right fun to help them decorate the shoe box.

Hidden in each shoe box we have a small safety mirror stuck to one of the internal faces. This gives them a chance to see both their own expression and yours at times while they are busy playing.

Troves give them the chance to expand their sensory experience, and can really help their development. I am going to write a seperate post about development, so bare with me.

Each of our boxes comes with some standard items such as wooden utensils, blank CD, pine cones. This is a base for you to then help your child to find and add new things as time goes on.

Our boxes are mixed, but you can create a themed trove around a topic that interests them eg nature, green things, pairs of objects.

Tresaure troves really are a great present for any child!

Growing with your child

What to put in your treasure trove?

Each box comes with some standard items such as wooden spoons, pine cones and bubbles.

These are the base for you to jump right into using the trove.

Your child will love the treasure trove just as it is, but the idea is to help them to find new treasures, or to come up with your own bright ideas about items to add.

Fussy eaters and treasure troves

Treasure troves at Grandparents houses

It can be a huge struggle for grandparents to have toys in their house to keep their various grandchildren amused.

Treasure troves can be a great solution as they are:

- Compact, and easy to store
- Good value
- Easily changed and renewed content
- Can adapt and use as they grow
- Great adventure to find and add new items
- An activity you can watch, and that does not take a huge amount of physical energy.

Hints and tips to make the most of your treasure trove.

Obviously a treasure trove is yours to use as you decide, but these hints and tips may help you to ensure that your child really gets the most out of them.

In general babies should be free to use the trove as they decide, but the parents role is a little more set:

• Put the basket where the child can easily reach it and its content.

• Be on hand if needed, both to watch and to ensure their safety, but try to sit and observe rather than directing their play.

• Put the trove away, they are not designed to be left out to play with 24/7, they enjoy short sessions with the box so much more.

• Wait for the moment to be right: are they chilled, happy and ready to play?                                                       are you chilled and do you have time to watch them?

• Ensure there are plenty of items in the basket for them to choose from

• Change the items aroung on a regular basis, and let your child help you to find new items to include.

• Avoid adding plastic items ( they may look different, but plastic generally looks, smells and feels the same).

Treasure troves and child development.

Babies and children all love to explore different sights, sounds, tastes and textures. This exploration is fun for certain, but it also helps to aid their development.

- Gives them the opportunity to learn how to make decisions and choices.

- Teaches them about different tastes, sounds and sights.

- Inspires them to want to explore.

- Can teach them facts, eg colours.

- Encourages speech and language development.

- Lets them learn at their own pace.

- An understanding of the world and often an awareness of nature.

- Focus and concentration.

- Supports fine and sometimes gross motor skills

Answers to the age old question- why do children always prefer the cardboard box?

Cardboard boxes, the best toy ever!

 

 

Every mum or dad has at some time noticed how much their child loves to play with any cardboard box they can get their hands on.

I have wondered if mine just do this to drive me bonkers, after I have spent a fortune on the contents of the box, which they have decided to chuck to one side.

 

Some of the reasoning behind this behaviour, is the same reason why they adore treasure troves:

 

because they are so full of play potential. Cardboard boxes allow them to use their imagination, and take their play in any direction they fancy. They have a great sensory appeal with aspects such as the corrugated cardboard, their depth, and the flaps.

I have to agree with the kids on this one that cardboard boxes do indeed rule!

 

 

 

 



Opportunities for children to explore, develop and learn

Treasure troves - what are they?

Basically a treasure trove is a box filled with a nice variety of different textures and sights for a child to explore :

 

Here is my first prototype of a treasure trove box.... work in progress

 

 

The idea of treasure boxes have been used for a while now in childcare and early years settings. These boxes are fun and a great aid to support a child's development. They are sometimes used to support children with special needs, and can also be known as sensory trays.

 

They are widely used in Children's centres, and this is where I was first introduced to the idea. Its amazing to watch a child exploring a treasure box, and its stunning to see the interest they can find in some of the objects. The imagination of children always has and always will amaze me.

 

Despite being hugely impressed by the idea, it took me 2 children before I eventually got around to creating one at home for the first time. Its not that they are impossibly hard to put together, its more about those mummy good intentions against a sheer lack of time ( or energy).

 

My very slow progress in creating boxes for my kids inspired me to set up treasure troves. We create a treasure trove full of interesting items for a child to explore. The huge benefit of having a kick start into the world of treasure baskets, is that once you have one you can adapt it as they grow.

 

Aidan my oldest lad is now 9, and his now contains lots of little treasures that he finds himself, such as bits of metal, screws, washers.

 

 

The girls are 5 and 4 and their boxes are full of natural items, beads, coins, ribbon and pretty things. Although I am not sure you would describe the barbie heads and bits of dolls that they find and insist on adding to their boxes as pretty!

 

While my babies is still full of those lovely simple textures for him to experience such as wood, or a soft piece of material.

 

If you would like to ask about treasure trove baskets, or make any comments about the brilliant ideas behind them then please do add a comment.