Home > Activities and ideas for Babies 0 - 12 months > Baby Play – Laundry Basket Fun

Baby Play – Laundry Basket Fun

T has taken putting in and taking out to a whole new level this week – she’s decided (I’m very into child led play – so I’ve just been providing alternatives for her to use) that instead of putting in objects she’s going to put in herself. So far we’ve been in the block box – whilst it’s full of blocks, in the toy box once J had emptied it out – but by far the best in and out for her is the Laundry Basket.

Baby Play IdeasThis activity is great for developing gross motor skills and is obviously fun otherwise T wouldn’t keep doing it. She’s at the stage of taking tentative steps everywhere and is able to stand on her own for a while.

Baby developing balance skills
T develops balance skills as she gets into the basket

Each of the stages uses different muscles and T is gaining some real balancing skills from the getting in stage of the play. She tends to hold onto opposite sides as in the picture above, lift both feet off the floor and move one leg into the basket.

Proud Baby
T is so proud when she gets into the basket

Whilst she is getting into and out of the basket we are reinforcing language with her – T get IN, T get OUT. She’s really started to develop her language over the last few weeks and I’ve found it really interesting to read about language development over on Little Stories. So anyway that we can use language in play with her we are.

Baby making decisions
T deciding whether to get out or stay in

Do your children have something that they do over and over again?

Author
Cerys Parker

Cerys is a marine biologist, environmental educator, teacher, mum, and home educator from the UK. She loves getting creative, whether it is with simple and easy crafts and ideas, activities to make learning fun, or delicious recipes that you and your kids can cook together you'll find them all shared here on Rainy Day Mum.

9 Comments

  1. how sweet. we had a baby in a box this week, but she is only 9 months and not yet able to climb in and out. she did love sitting in it and reaching out of it for the toys that lay on the floor! It is lovely to see them learning new skills, and large physical movements are great for learning new things, so she will be taking in all that new vocab!

  2. Currently I have been trying to introduce my 19 mo to the potty. He thinks it is more fun to stand in, than to go potty in. Perhaps he’s not ready. Hehe

  3. I was very impressed watching T last week getting in and out of the toy box. She was definitely developing her problem solving skills. Hands on different sides, one leg in at a time so that she didn’t go in headfirst. Very clever.

  4. Kim @ Little Stories says:

    As I was reading this post I was thinking, what a great language activity! It’s simple, repetitive, and SHE’s enjoying it! You are a living, breathing, language-enricher. In fact, as naturally as this has come for you, I’d say you’d be quite a natural speech therapist if you ever want a second career once these fantastic children are older. Awesome!

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