Treasure Baskets

Anni McTavish
< 1 min read

Are you ready to embark on a sensory expedition like no other? Buckle up and join our treasure basket expert, Anni McTavish, as she unravels the fascinating world of treasure baskets.

Treasure baskets are a type of sensory-rich play resource for babies and young children, particularly those in the early years of development. Introduced by Elinor Goldschmeid and Sonia Jackson in the 1980s, this concept aims to encourage exploration, sensory development, and independent play.

A treasure basket is typically a shallow container filled with a variety of everyday objects made from different materials, textures, shapes, and sizes. The key idea is to provide infants and young children with a safe and engaging environment to explore using their senses—sight, touch, taste, smell, and hearing. The items in the treasure basket are carefully selected to stimulate the child’s curiosity and help them learn about the properties of different objects.

Let’s get busy creating treasure baskets. All you need are some everyday materials, a sprinkle of imagination, and a hint of creativity. This action lab will offer a starting point for creating your own treasure baskets to stimulate those little minds.      

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Anni McTavish
Anni McTavish
Anni McTavish is a freelance workshop leader and presenter, with over thirty years in the field of early education. She has been a practitioner, deputy, and manager, and has worked across the UK and Europe. Trained originally as a fine bookbinder, she also ran her own business as a designer hatmaker. An associate of Early Education, she has written books and articles and works on a range of projects. With a background in education, arts, and humanistic psychotherapy, her approach holds a focus on children’s emotional health, resilience, and well-being.
Disclaimer - This resource has been produced independently of and not endorsed by the IB. Toddle’s resources seek to encourage sharing of perspectives and innovative ideas for classroom teaching & learning. They are not intended to be replacements for official IB guides and publications. Views and opinions expressed by the authors of these resources are personal and should not be construed as official guidance by the IB. Please seek assistance from your school’s IB coordinator and/or refer to official IB documents before implementing ideas and strategies shared within these resources in your classroom.