Child Activity – Discovery Baskets
This is the first in a series of discovery baskets providing for the younger children. We selected a lidded basket because E is obsessed with opening and shutting lidded boxes, containers, laptops etc.
The first discovery basket has been filled with various fruits and vegetables.
The idea is that E is free to explore the resources, unrestricted.
Hopefully her explorations will make use all of her senses.
At first the focus of her attention was the lid. She lifted and shut, lifted and shut, over and over.
She then decided she would like to explore the contents, but it took a while for her to coordinate the actions of both hands, opening the lid with one and reaching in for the contents with the other.
Eventually, after persevering she cracked it and retrieved an apple!
Exploring the feel.
Possibly exploring the smell, even if accidentally!
Managing to coordinate her actions and hold a fruit in each hand.
Discovering what she could do with each item. Finding that lemons roll.
Exploring with toes!
E discovered that if she shook her hands before releasing the fruit traveled further.
This in turn encouraged crawling to retrieve the fruit.
Interestingly E never attempted to taste any of the fruit or vegetables!
E was joined in her explorations by the toddlers.
Children learn a lot from watching each other play and explore.
