Need Toddler Play Ideas?
We spend loads on toys, but toddler play ideas often involve our shoes, the remote control, or coasters, right?
They are trying to figure out how the world works, and they learn best through play. I've found that little ones love to explore and discover everyday items, leading to creative play ideas.
Heuristic play enables children to discover, experiment, problem-solve, and evaluate through trial and error. Child psychologist Elinor Goldschmeid developed heuristic play over 40 years ago.
Many early years settings provide babies with a in the UK, which is the most well-known aspect of heuristic play. Treasure baskets invite little ones to explore what the items are. Are you ready to discover toddler play ideas the heuristic way?
There is so much potential for children to figure out solutions through loose parts play. These heuristic play object ideas provide a variety of textures, temperatures, smells, weights, and sounds of various natural materials bumping together.
Toddlers can experiment with what items can do and how the natural playthings can interact. The basic premise of heuristic play is that we provide safe household objects and pieces of nature, allowing the children to decide how they want to play with them.
Typically, there is a 45-60 minute session where only these items are available. The most traditional heuristic play invitation includes items displayed in categories on the floor for a group of toddlers. I have often provided these toddler play items on a cloth to one or two little ones in my care.
As you can see in the photos, I bend the heuristic play rules by adding plastic household items or natural open-ended toys. I found that many treasure baskets in daycares aren't purely natural objects either. Use what you have for these toddler play ideas because, as long as it is safe and open-ended, it will work.
Toddler Play Ideas Heuristic Play Objects
Nature:
- Large, sturdy pine cones
- Pebbles (not small enough to fit in a toddler's mouth but not too heavy either)
- Large, sturdy shells
- Large luffa (check regularly)
Brushes with Wooden Handles:
- Clean paintbrushes
- Hairbrush
- Dish brush
- Pastry brush
- Nail brush
- Wooden comb
Random Household Items:
- Wooden or metal chunky napkin rings
- Wooden eggs (found with craft supplies)
- Wooden curtain rings (without any screws)
- Coasters
- Wicker balls
- Empty wooden bobbins
- Empty leather/cloth coin purses / wallets
- Cupboard tubes from tape/toilet paper/kitchen roll
- Feather duster
- Wooden handheld massage tools
- Small wicker baskets
Safe Kitchen Items:
- Metal food containers
- Metal colander
- Metal sieve
- Metal tea strainer
- Tea ball (for loose tea)
- Wooden spoons
- Metal bowls
- Wooden bowls
- Enamel bowls
- Enamel mugs
- Metal beakers/'glasses'
- Metal jugs/pitchers
- Metal measuring cups
- Metal measuring spoons
- Metal condiment dipping bowls
- Wooden or metal egg cups
- Metal shot 'glasses'
- Metal muffin or cupcake trays.
These are just suggestions. I've never managed even half of these things, yet they keep toddlers busy for 30-60 minute sessions.
When I need to cook and clean the kitchen and a toddler isn't letting me, I pull out safe kitchen items. I let them play on the floor while I'm very careful.
With their short attention spans, check out more Activities for 1-year-olds or Activities for 2-year-olds that little ones love!