Play Everyday! Laundry basket edition
Today is the second in our series called “Play Everyday” where we take everyday items found at home and turn them into therapy tools to help your little one meet their milestones and goals. For this edition, we are using a laundry basket! Pop over to the Blanket edition to see the first in this series.
Remember, you don’t need to spend a fortune on toys! (Shhhhh don’t tell the toy stores I told you this!) Anyone who has a bebe can relate to them grabbing for your keys, your paper, or the holy grail—your cell phone—rather than their toys. Babies are naturally inclined to pay attention to and be interested in their surroundings...so use what you have to provide developmental play opportunities!
Rather than breaking down skills by age, I have categorized them based on developmental stages. Please choose the activity that helps support your baby’s current developmental skills and goals, regardless of their age! (This is because age-based milestones are not inclusive, as you know from my previous posts.)
Developmental stage: floor play
When baby is playing in sidelying (a very important developmental play position, by the way!), place the textured part of the basket within their reach. Help them reach for it and explore the sensation and texture that the rough basket offers! If you don’t have a Dock-a-Tot or Pack ‘n Play, you can also create a supportive nest for supine play in the basket.
Developmental stage: floor mobility
Hang simple toys, your keys, or some tissue paper through the slots on the side of the basket, or prop a mirror up against the basket to keep it stable. When your baby is working on tummy time, place this just in front of them as motivation to look up at and encourage reaching and sensory play!
I’m imaging the instructions like a Bop It (remember Bop It? Anyone??) Lift it! Push up! Reach out! BOP IT!
Developmental stage: sitting
Sit your baby in a safe and well-supported position inside the basket and put toys within reach for baby. You can also take them for a ride! The movement will provide important vestibular input (the body’s balance system) and movement experience for your little one. Push or pull them around the room, swing them gently side to side, or spin them around in the basket safely to challenge their sitting balance and core stability!
Developmental stage: standing and walking
If your baby is working on standing and walking, a laundry basket may be the perfect side-kick! Place some books inside the basket to give it some weight if needed, and use it as a push walker for your cruising baby! It is likely a good height for them to hang onto as they practice standing stability and work on taking their first steps.
You don’t need a fancy toy walker. Just look at her smile—this will do just fine!
(Try practicing this on laundry day for increased chore efficiency!)
How great is it to use what we have to help your baby grow?! You’ll never look at your boring laundry basket the same way again. Next up in our “Play Everyday” series: pots and pans!
TL;DR
You don’t have to spend a lot of money on toys! Babies are naturally interested in their environment, so use what you have to provide developmental play positions.
A laundry basket can be a helpful therapy tool for all ages—who knew?!
Developmental stage—Floor play: when baby is playing on their side (an important play position), place the textured side of the laundry basket within reach for them to explore sensations and textures.
Developmental stage—Floor mobility: hang simple toys, keys, tissue paper, etc through the slots on basket to encourage baby to look up, push up, and reach during tummy time!
Developmental stage—Sitting balance: prop baby in sitting with support as needed in the laundry basket and take them for a (safe and gentle) ride!
Developmental stage—Standing and walking: the basket is likely a good height to help baby stand with support. Also, use the basket as a push walker to help baby take some early steps!