What is a Treasure Basket?
A treasure basket is a simple yet powerful play resource designed for babies and young children, particularly those in the sensory-motor stage of development. It’s essentially a shallow basket filled with a carefully selected variety of everyday objects, chosen to stimulate all the senses — things to touch, smell, shake, look at and even mouth.
Rooted in heuristic play, treasure baskets allow children to explore and discover at their own pace. There are no instructions, no right or wrong ways to play — just curiosity, choice and wonder. This kind of exploration builds early cognitive development, fine motor skills, concentration and confidence.
What to Include in a Treasure Basket
The beauty of treasure baskets lies in their simplicity. Most of the best items are inexpensive and often already found around the home or setting. When choosing objects, think natural, sensory, household, and safe.
Natural Materials
- Pine cones
- Loofahs
- Smooth driftwood/log slices
- Dried fruits (whole/slices)
- Large shells
Metal and Wooden Objects
- Wooden spoons
- Curtain rings
- Measuring cups
- Stainless steel tea strainers
- Bangles
Sensory & Reflective Items
- Old CDs/DVDs
- Sensory bottles (filled with water, beads, rice etc.)
- Crinkly foil or emergency blankets
- Fabric scraps (silk, velvet, cotton)
Themed Treasure Baskets: Play with Purpose
Treasure baskets can be adapted to suit themes or learning focuses, helping keep play fresh and relevant.
Colour Focus
Create a colour themed basket by collecting a number of everyday coloured objects – stimulating the child/baby’s sense of colour recognition and visual exploration. It might include:
- sensory scarves
- Coloured balls
- Whole fruit/vegetables (eg. a carrot for orange)
- Sensory bottles
Seasonal Exploration
An autumn basket might include:
- Crunchy leaves
- Conkers
- Cinnamon sticks
- Pine cones
Sound Discovery
Include objects that make interesting sounds:
- Bells
- Rice shakers
- Wooden castanets
- Maracas
These themes can gently introduce concepts like colours, seasons, and cause and effect, all through hands-on exploration.
Treasure Baskets for Older Early Years Children
Treasure baskets aren’t just for babies — they can evolve with the child. For older early years Young Ones, consider transforming them into discovery baskets or story baskets, filled with open-ended, curiosity-sparking items.
Pirate Adventure Basket
- Mini treasure chest
- Coins, beads and old keys
- Maps (you could include paper and pencils to create their own too!)
- Shells
Nature & Discovery Basket
- Fossils, stones or replicas
- Pine cones and bark
- Magnifying glasses
- Notebooks for observations
Texture & Pattern Basket
- Embossed tiles or textured rollers
- Fabric swatches
- Natural materials for printing or rubbings
- Play dough for imprinting
These baskets provoke deeper thinking, storytelling, role-play, and early scientific inquiry — perfect for education settings or at-home learning.
Incorporating Books: A Literacy Boost
Pairing a themed basket with a book adds a rich literacy element, connecting language and sensory play.
Example Pairings:
- Pirate basket → “Ten Little Pirates” or “We’re Going on a Treasure Hunt”
- Nature basket → “A Rock is Lively” or “Peep Inside the Forest”
- Colour basket → “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?” or “Wow! Said the Owl”
Read the book first, or explore the basket and then dive into the story and allow the children to look at the books independently too. This dual-sensory experience helps children link language, ideas, and objects — and encourages storytelling and comprehension.
Sustainability in Play: Treasure the Earth, Too
Treasure baskets are not only child-friendly — they can be planet-friendly, too. Instead of buying plastic toys, re-use and repurpose household items, making your basket both sustainable and affordable.
- Old kitchen tools like whisks, pastry brushes, and silicone muffin cases make great sensory items
- Reuse fabric scraps, ribbons or natural finds like pebbles and shells
- Visit charity shops or car boot sales for unusual treasures
This not only helps reduce waste but also teaches children the value of sustainability and the creativity of reusing.
Final Tip
Rotate items every week or two to keep interest fresh. Observe how children engage — what they’re drawn to, what they ignore — and adapt accordingly. The best treasure baskets respond to the child’s curiosity, not the other way around.
Treasure baskets celebrate curiosity, nurture development, and remind us that the simplest things often bring the greatest joy. Whether you’re a parent at home or an educator, these little collections of wonder offer endless opportunities for learning, connection, and discovery.
DISCOUNT OFFER – The Little Coach House has kindly offered our blog readers a discount off their amazing resources (including the beautiful mindfulness heart board pictured in the treasure basket)! QUOTE: YO10 at checkout to receive your fabulous discount.
Guiding The Young Ones 
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