How
to use your Contented Child Basket
.
Choose a time when your child is alert and there is
enough time so that the activity is not rushed.
.
Seat your child in an area where s/he is comfortable.
Set the basket near to the child to allow him/her
to reach objects easily.
.
Sit close enough to the child to deal with any problems
but, not so close that you interfere with the child's
activity. You should not break the child's concentration
or thought process by interrupting or trying to help
unless s/he clearly needs attention.
.
Check the contents of the basket regularly, cleaning
objects and removing any damaged items.
.
Change and rotate the items in the treasure basket
from time to time.
What
to remember:
Your
child is trying to work out what the sensations being
experienced are. By feeling, seeing, mouthing and
manipulating objects, babies begin to collect information
that will later lead to identification and naming
of objects. Mouths, eyes, ears and skin are the vehicles
that babies use to learn with. S/he may therefore
need to repeat what s/he is doing several times. For
this reason, the concentration levels of the child
may be much higher than would normally be expected
and the child may not play with many objects. You
should not confuse this concentration or low number
of objects examined with a lack of learning or boredom.
When a child is bored he s/he will stop doing whatever
it is.
WARNING
