Growing numbers of nurseries, preschools and childminders are abandoning plastic toys in favour of heuristic play,as a recent article on a early years industry website reports. Elinor Goldscheild first defined learning through real world play back in the 80s, and the practice of creating heuristic treasure baskets for young children to explore has been growing in popularity ever since.
The benefits of exploring a large variety of textures and experimenting with real/ natural objects are now widely recognised, that the practice has gone beyond Montessori and into the mainstream. Sure start centres nationwide have heavily invested in professionally produced treasure kits, just like the early year providers in the article
Heuristic play needn't be restricted to professional settings though. Sensory treasure baskets are easy to make and can be change frequently in order to keep them interesting. All you need is a container (doesn't have to be a basket- a shoe box or paper bag will do) and a selection of different objects. I have a large amount of resources for you right here on this blog
Introducing Heuristic play
Beach themed Heuristic play
Bath Time Heuristic play
Frozen Heuristic play
Farm themed Heuristic play
Travel heuristic play
Play dough heuristic play
Printing with treasure basket items
Beach themed Heuristic play
Bath Time Heuristic play
Frozen Heuristic play
Farm themed Heuristic play
Travel heuristic play
Play dough heuristic play
Printing with treasure basket items
You can build your kit with my list of 88 free, found and borrowed sensory play things