We currently live in a two dimensional world of tapping and sliding fingers on screens, but babies and young children need to touch, taste, smell, shake and bang three dimensional objects in order to develop thinking and learning skills. The Treasure Basket and Heuristic play approach is all about offering natural and household objects to babies and young children to play with. This simple approach promotes extraordinary capacities of concentration, intellectual curiosity and manipulative mastery. Full of resource ideas and activities, this book offers accessible explanations of how the under 3’s think and learn, step by step guidance for setting up play sessions and descriptions of the best materials to offer. Featuring original interviews between the author and Elinor Goldschmied, who was the pioneer of the Treasure Basket and Heuristic Play, this third edition of Developing Play for the Under 3s has been thoroughly updated to include: A new chapter with case studies to show how Heuristic Play can be offered to the 2-4 year olds. A new chapter exploring the myths and misunderstandings of this approach. Links to the Forest School movement. Research evidence supported by case studies. The characteristics of effective learning and how the Treasure Basket and Heuristic Play promote these. Information about the Froebel Archive project, bringing the story of Elinor Goldschmied’s work alive through film. Based on a wealth of research into how babies learn and the principles of learning, together with the author’s own personal experience of working with the under 3s, this book will be indispensable for anyone involved in the care and development of children in this age group.

For the littlest learners, everything is an activity--feeling a rock, trying to lick a bubble, smelling a flower, or poking sand. In Treasure-Basket Explorations: Heuristic Learning for Infants and Toddlers, teachers and caregivers of infants and toddlers will learn how these simple explorations support cognitive and vocabulary development. Grounded in the theory of early education pioneer Elinor Goldschmied, the book explains heuristic learning--discovery by trial and error--and how to encourage this type of learning to boost development.Teachers will learn how to set up treasure baskets that encourage heuristic play: containers filled with easy-to-find items that support explorations in emergent language, math, and science skills. Encourage children to discover the sounds that a metal cup makes when banged on the floor. Invite them to feel the velvety texture of soft fabric or the bumpiness of a loofah sponge. Let them explore what a wooden ring and a cotton handkerchief can do together.Through his explorations, the child is answering some fundamental questions: What is this and what can I do with it? Later, he will add to his knowledge: What else can this do and what can this become? This is cognitive development in action!

The treasure basket and heuristic play approach is astoundingly simple; by offering natural and household objects to babies and toddlers you can make a profound impact on their learning capabilities, encouraging concentration, exploration and intellectual development. Based on a wealth of research into how babies learn, Developing Play for the Under 3s shows how using this approach can transform the learning abilities of babies and toddlers. Featuring never before published, original interviews with the pioneer of the treasure basket and heuristic play, Elinor Goldschmied, this second edition includes: Accessible explanations of what babies think and do Links to child development and learning progress A new chapter on supporting the learning of two and three year olds Links to the EYFS outcomes Research evidence supported by case studies Resource ideas and activities for use in the nursery or at home Anita M. Hughes uses her own personal experience of working with the under 3s to guide readers through the benefits of the treasure basket and heuristic play. With clear and practical guidelines, this book is indispensible for anyone involved in the care of children in this age group wishing to create rich learning experiences.

How to encourage investigative, discovery play with babies and children aged 0-5. Heuristic Play is a form of exploratory, investigative play that builds a whole range of skills for all children from birth to five. This guide looks at four age groups from birth to five and provides practical activities for setting up heuristic play sessions. Each session comes with expert advice on: - How to set up the session for each age group - The level of adult involvement - How to plan for these activities within the EYFS - How heuristic play relates to schemas of behaviour This easy to read and practical guide is the only one of its kind and an absolute essential for anyone working in the early years.

People Under Three is an established text for all those training to work with young children or managing day care facilities."--Jacket.

A film for early years practitioners showing how a baby's brain develops through touch, smell, taste, hearing, sight and movement

This new edition of Cathy Nutbrown′s much loved book explains the key ideas and issues in Early Childhood clearly and concisely, keeping students up-to-date with the latest developments in the field. There are brand new entries on: - Attachment - Babies′ learning and development - Children′s Centres - Citizenship - Digital Technologies - Early Years Foundation Stage - Early Years Professional Status - Neuroscience - Sexualities The rest of the book has also been thoroughly updated and revised, and includes coverage of heuristic play, Early Literacy Development and Parental Involvement. The book offers starting points which provide a clear focus, further reading and discussion of research on thirty-five key topics. It is a must for students following courses in early childhood education and care. Professor Cathy Nutbrown directs and teaches on Masters and Doctoral programmes in Early Childhood Education at the University of Sheffield.