Easy and Educational Infant Activity: Baby Basket

This is a simple exploration activity. The coolest thing about it is that you can whip it up in five minutes and your baby will have a ton of fun. It is educational and explorative.

Practical Tip: Pack a Mini-SizedTravel Basket for Restaurants, Visits and Outings

Appealing for Infants 6-12 months.

DISCLAIMER: You must sit with your infant and supervise while he or she explores. Also, please CLEAN and disinfect all dirty items and replace anything that comes loose, soiled, broken, splintered. This is a great real-life experience and requires real-life common sense. Good luck!

Adapted from NAMC Infant Montessori Curriculum.

WHAT YOU NEED

A sturdy Basket. Plastic isn’t as exciting to handle so anything with texture that won’t splinter when held and put into the mouth.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO

Gather ten-twenty items from around the house.

Make sure they are NOT plastic toys!

Items should vary in texture, color, weight, scent, material

Items May Include:

* Wooden clothpegs (not the pinchy kind)
* Tea strainer
* Bag with zipper (old clean makeup bag)
* Wooden Beads tied on a thick string
* Tennis ball
* Wooden spoon
* Clean (new) all natural sponge (or make-up sponge)
* Small brush
* Bell (on a string or a bike bell)
* Scarf
* Socks
* Curlers with rough texture
* Silver cuff bracelet or other shiny items from around the house
* Safe mirror
* Rattle
* Large food items like a gourd
* Hand towel
* Wash cloth
* Whatever you have in junk draweres that is child-safe but unusual in terms of texture, weight, color, etc.