We can't start talking about treasure boxes without first acknowledging
Elinor Goldschmied.
"Elinor Goldschmied (1910-2009) was a trailblazer in the field of early childhood education, leaving a lasting impact on both UK and international early years policy. Her professional contributions included the development of the Treasure Basket, Heuristic Play, and the Key Person Approach.
Trained as a teacher and psychiatric social worker, Goldschmied was a prominent figure in a lineage of esteemed early childhood educators. Her unique ideas, pedagogy, and training methods were influenced by the Froebelian traditions, emphasizing play as the primary mode of learning in childhood and the nurturing of creativity. Goldschmied's work revolutionized early years policy, shaping the landscape of early childhood education in significant ways.
Some key aspects of her innovations that have had a profound impact on the field are Treasure baskets, Heurisitic play and key person approach." Froebel Trust 2024.
- Treasure Basket: By providing infants with a variety of natural and everyday objects to explore through touch, taste, smell, and sound, the Treasure Basket encourages curiosity, problem-solving skills, and creativity. This hands-on approach allows babies to make their own discoveries and connections with the world around them, fostering a sense of independence and self-confidence. Additionally, the sensory stimulation provided by the Treasure Basket helps to develop neural pathways in the brain, laying a strong foundation for future learning and cognitive development. Overall, the Treasure Basket is a simple yet powerful tool that can greatly benefit infants in their early years as they begin to explore and understand their environment.
- Heuristic Play: Goldschmied’s approach recognises that children learn best through hands-on experiences and experimentation. By allowing children to freely manipulate objects and materials, they are able to make their own discoveries and connections, fostering a sense of independence and confidence in their abilities. Heuristic play also encourages children to think critically, take risks, and come up with innovative solutions to challenges they encounter. Overall, this approach promotes a holistic approach to learning that values the unique interests and capabilities of each child.
- Key Person Approach: This approach ensures that each child has a dedicated caregiver, fostering secure attachments and emotional well-being. It has become a cornerstone of early years practice, promoting personalized care and stronger relationships between children and caregivers.
Lets reflect on these three key concepts of Goldschmied’s and the emphasis on play and her focus on nurturing prioritizes child-centered, play-based learning environments. When we unpack Goldshmied's ideas we can clearly see how they continue to early years education, ensuring that we continue work to ensure children’s developmental needs are met in a holistic and supportive manner.
Lets look how Treasure Baskets for Infants embed the three of Goldschmied's key concepts.
Sensory Exploration for Infants
The wonders of treasure baskets can be a transformative experience in early childhood education. These curated collections of sensory-rich materials offer a unique opportunity for young learners to engage in exploratory play and stimulate their senses. Understanding the significance of sensory exploration for infants is key to unlocking the potential of treasure baskets as valuable learning tools. In this article, we delve into the essentials of setting up treasure baskets for our youngest of learners and explore the considerations that educators and caregivers need to keep in mind to create enriching and safe play experiences. Treasure boxes promote hands-on exploration and by allowing children to freely manipulate objects and materials, they are able to make their own discoveries and connections, fostering a sense of independence and confidence in their abilities we can see Heuristic play entwind with Treasure Baskets.
Selecting Appropriate Materials for Treasure Baskets
Drawing on the concept of the Key Person Approach, regular educators draw on their observations and interactions with the children to be able to choose objects that are safe for the individual children and are age and ability appropriate. Educators search for objects that are able to be mouthed within harming children. Objects are choosen that can be banged and shaken without breaking.
Incorporating a Variety of Textures and Materials
When creating a treasure basket for babies, it is important to include sensory-rich objects that will help stimulate their senses and promote cognitive development. Some items you could consider adding are a soft, textured fabric square for touch, a wooden rattle for sound, a rubber teething toy for taste and mouth exploration, a small mirror for visual stimulation, and a scented sachet or dried herbs for smell. These objects will engage the baby's senses and encourage them to explore and interact with their environment. Additionally, incorporating a variety of textures, shapes, colors, and sizes in the treasure basket will provide a diverse sensory experience for the baby. Overall, carefully selecting sensory-rich objects will help support the baby's overall growth and development in a meaningful way.
Facilitating Adult-Child Interaction and Bonding
When you engage in planning with intention and co-learn with treasure baskets, you will learn and observe alongside young learners while using Treasure Baskets. By observing how babies interact with the items in the basket, educators can understand their interests and developmental needs. Verbal engagement is crucial in promoting language development and cognitive skills. Educators should focus on providing a safe environment that encourages independence and agency for babies to explore and make choices. By interacting verbally and staying close to babies during the exploration process, educators can foster secure attachments, trust, and optimal learning outcomes.
We would love to hear from you and how you use treasure baskets.
Janine Kelly