Heuristic play is about playing with real-life, everyday objects and providing children with an opportunity for open-ended discovery. Even in this age of technology there are still fun things around your house that children can use to explore and experience different textures and sounds.
When children are involved in heuristic play, they are using familiar objects in different ways. It is the process of exploring the different ways to use the objects that is important in the play. The word ‘heuristic’ comes from the word ‘eurisko’ which means to learn, discover or reach an understanding of something.The phrase ‘heuristic play’ was a term coined by child psychologist Elinor Goldschmeid in the 1980’s to describe the activity of babies and children as they play with and explore the properties of objects from the real world.
For babies and toddlers, Goldschmeid’s approach to heuristic play revolves around them using their senses and exploring a treasure basket filled with real-world objects made from any material (apart from plastic) that comes from nature and around the house.It is through handling and exploring these objects that babies and toddlers begin to make their own choices and decisions and start to gain an understanding of the world around them.
Examples of heuristic objects to put in your treasure basket include:
- Egg boxes, small boxes with lids, cardboard tubes, greaseproof paper
- Rubber door stops, corks, rubber balls, measuring spoons
- Napkin rings, metal teapots, metal whisks, keys on a ring, metal cookie cutters
- Shower puffs, pot scourers, bottle brushes, pieces of flannel or material, coloured ribbons, pasty brushes
- Pumice, coconut shells, large pebbles, driftwood, bark, pine cones, feathers
- Wooden bowls, wooden spoons, wooden pegs, wooden curtain rings
- Small mirror, bells , measuring spoons, tea strainers, a lemon or orange
An adult’s role in heuristic play is to sit back and be unobtrusive, interacting only when invited.
Children should be able to move freely and explore without any encouragement or distraction. Children will have a much richer and more stimulating experience when they can explore at their own pace.
Please remember health and safety - especially when they are constantly putting the items in their mouth and are susceptible to choking!
