WHAT IS HEURISTIC PLAY?
Heuristic means the encouragement to discover, and heuristic play refers to a baby engaging in discovery and exploration.
When we refer to heuristic play, we usually mean sensory objects that are safe for baby to play or mouth. Objects are not purpose-built toys, but more natural or basic household items.
Heuristic play is becoming more and more popular, and used in play centres and other child care facilities and learning environments. Once your baby can sit (supported or not), its a good time to introduce a basket.
USING HEURISTIC PLAY
Heuristic play is easy to introduce in the home. Create a treasure trove for your baby with a reasonably flat basket, and gather items to fill it. Sensory objects that feel soft or squishy, make noise when shaken, can be pulled or touched, can be bitten, feel hard or rough, are plastic, metal or natural, and can be easily cleaned are ideal items. Check out our list for ideas!
The idea of heuristic play is to dedicate a special time, and place your baby in a safe, comfortable and quiet area. Using a mat or rug is ideal. Then, place your open basket filled with items in front of your baby and let them discover and explore. Adult interaction and other interruption should be kept to a minimum.
The great thing about using heuristic play is that your baby can pick and choose items. The next time they are introduced to the basket, it looks different, and so they discover more! Its great to give yourself a few minutes of time out as baby becomes so immersed in their discovery!
Safe Heuristic Play
Never leave baby with the items, and as with all toys, check regularly for damage. Remember that anything that can fit in a film canister is unsafe, as is anything that can break off, or is sharp.
Heuristic Play and Baby
The concept of heuristic play is easy with your baby! Using a treasure basket encourages baby to explore different textures and shapes, with their hands, eyes and mouth.
Begin by making a treasure basket of safe odds and ends for your baby. A shallow, wide basket or tray is preferable. Check out our list of suggestions to fill the basket (and please email us if you have more!).
For a younger baby that cannot yet sit, lay baby on the floor and offer a couple of different items to them. Allow them to pick and choose and play with an item for as long as they like.
Place an older baby (that can sit, either with cushions or unsupported) on a mat on the floor and put the basket in front of them. Simply observe as they pull out items, replace them, finger and mouth them, go back to certain items and experiment with them.
More Play Ideas
• Small drink/liquid bottles filled with glitter/marbles/coloured water and taped closed
• Wooden spoons, pegs, plain blocks, thick sticks, beachwood, shells
• Different fabric swatches like leather, lace and knitted squares
• Little beanbags (use with close supervision), golf ball, tennis ball or other round objects
• Knotted ribbon or rope, kitchen whisk, curtain rings, tin cans with safe edges
• Sets of keys, inner wooden rolls of masking tape or paper rolls, blank cds
• Small plastic containers or jugs, lids, metal bowls, lengths of chain, small wooden boxes
Toddlers will delight in home-made heuristic play items! You’ll need a selection of boxes, lids, formula tins, plastic jars, bottles, kitchen rolls, pegs, scarves etc as well as some tape and a pair of scissors to make some of the following items:
*Filled Bottles: Use different sized bottles and fill with stones, coloured buttons, glitter, bouncing balls, coloured water etc. Close tightly and tape closed to ensure they are safe!
*Posting Boxes: Use a film canister to trace a circle on a lid of a formula tin, and cut out. Replace the lid and let baby post canisters into the tin. This requires baby to learn to hold the container a certain way to get it to fit. (Tape the canisters closed if necessary)
Use a clean milk bottle and pegs for the same concept, or cut wide slits into a box and use jar lids.
*Stacking boxes: For an older toddler, paint numbers onto boxes and get baby to stack or arrange in order. Again, formula tins are great for this!
*A hole in the lid of another formula tin makes a great hole to pull a length of scarves through!
Try using coloured duraseal or magazine pics to co-ordinate all your new toys, and store them in one container – great distraction on rainy days!!
