Treasure basket
As babies grow, the world they explore also grows. Make a game of finding different objects, supporting pēpi to focus, increase vocabulary, take turns and build fine-motor skills as well as strengthening their relationship with whānau.
Why do it?
- Towards the end of this time in baby’s development, they can sit up with some support — say between their parent’s legs — freeing both their hands for exploring objects.
- This is a perfect time for sharing attention with baby, which strengthens the relationship between them and whānau.
- Baby is now able to choose something from the treasure box for themselves.
- Baby will hear the words that match their actions and what they’re focusing on, building their understanding of language.
How to do it
- Sitting between a grownup’s legs is ideal for doing this activity.
- Get a container (bowl, box, pottle, basket, rourou) and put 2–3 objects in it (for example, a little ball, something safe from a kitchen drawer and something natural).
- Let baby explore in their own way. Use parallel talk to describe what baby’s looking at and what they’re doing — for example, ‘Ball, you’ve got the ball!’ and ‘Spoon, you’re banging the spoon!’
- Baby will notice the tone of voice grownups use when talking about the basket of ‘treasures’, and from that will decide how interesting the items are.
- Parents can take their cue from baby about when they’re ready for new objects to explore, and then change the objects for new ones.
Using more te reo Māori
| Te reo Māori | English |
|---|---|
| Noho | Sit |
| Pā | Fort |
| Tohu | Point |
| Torohē | To examine, explore |
| Ringaringa | Hands |
| Waha | Mouth |
| Matimati | Finger |
| Karu | Eye |
| Ngutu | Lip |
| Kete | Basket |
| Rourou | Plaited food basket |
| Ipu | Container |
| Pouaka | Box |
| Titiro mai, he aha tēnei? | Look here, what’s this? |
| Ngā taputapu tākaro | Play things |
| Taonga tākaro | Toy |
| E hiakai ana koe? | Are you hungry? |
| Rongo | Hear |
| Hongi | To smell |
| Mitimiti | To lick |
| Ngau | To bite |
| Paoro | Ball |
| Motukā | Car |
| Waka | Boat |
| Makimaki | Monkey |
| Pukapuka | Book |
| Pepa | Paper |
| Karapu | Glove |
| Putiputi | Flowers |
| Hua rākau | Fruit |
| Āporo | Apple |
| Rēmana | Lemon |
| Riki | Onion |
