Baby’s special treasure box

Babies and toddlers love to explore! Everything is new to them, and they find fun and wonder in everyday things.

They learn by exploring shapes, tastes, smells, sounds, and textures.

In this activity, babies will have fun pulling objects out of a container, and examining them in different ways. By talking with your baby about the items, you will help them to understand new words.

What do I need?

• A box or basket
• A range of things from your house and outside – such as a piece of cloth, some leaves, a cardboard tube, a scrubbing brush, a pine cone a ribbon, etc.

How do I do it?

1. Collect a range of interesting items from around your house, yard, or neighbourhood
   
   Make sure objects are not choking hazards and don’t have any sharp edges. They should be clean, as babies tend to explore objects with their mouths.
   
2. Put everything in your container and give it to your baby to explore. As they pick items up, name and describe them: “That’s a bell. It makes a sound.”

No-one knows your child better than you.  So, choose and/or adapt ideas here to best suit you and your child. Remember it’s the talking and time spent together that matters most.