Coming up with activities for young infants is really difficult to do! I was scrolling through Instagram the other day when I came across this activity that I knew N would love. It reminds me of her Treasure Basket but with a higher level of difficulty, and it’s super easy (and cheap!) to set up.
I brought out a cake pan from the kitchen and filled it with smallish objects that were laying around the house. I criss-crossed some rubber bands around it and voilà — a brand new work!
N immediately began to engage with this work as soon as I put it in front of her, and she didn’t stop until it was time for lunch 40 minutes later. This is more difficult than her regular Treasure Basket because she must maneuver her hands and the objects around the rubber bands to get them out. It is just the right amount of a challenge to require focus and concentration without causing frustration. The rubber bands provide a sensory experience that I hadn’t even considered until I saw how much N was enjoying touching them and listening to the sound they made as she pulled and released them. This work also builds hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. This is perfect for infants who can sit up but aren’t moving much yet.
Prep tme: 2 minutes. Cost: Free! Entertainment time: 30+ minutes multiple times a day. This one’s a winner.
Such a great idea! Simple but so effective x
I must try this!
Just what I needed to see today! Will be trying later this afternoon 🙂
This is not baby safe with so many chokables. How do you manage that?
You can use whatever you are comfortable with when you put this work together. My daughter did not put any of the objects fully in her mouth, and I was always supervising when she was using it.