There's probably not enough room to write about all the things you can do with a laundry basket. We have several types - from the small square shaped box type to an extra large Rubbermaid tote, and of course the typical white plastic with holes in it. Oh! the possibilities! ....
Confined Space: Both my boys like to sit in a small basket while watching tv. There's something very cozy and comforting about folding up into a small space. I pull a basket out when we have company over watching a movie - it really helps solve personal space issues.
Heavy Work: Nothing is better than loading up a basket with heavy objects (or another child) and pushing and pulling it around the room. This one is a 2 for 1 activity - the child pulling gets heavy work input and the child being pulled gets vestibular input. I tied a terrycloth belt to the handle to make pulling easier.
Pretend Play: Use your imagination! LM pretends the stand-up hamper is an elevator. He stands up and ducks down and pretends he's in the Empire State building. The big rubbermaid bin is usually a boat (with Daddy rocking it back and forth like waves). A regular laundry basket is often a Social Circle prop - sometimes the firetruck, sometimes a train. Pull out some fireman hats and start pretending!
Laundry Toss: Chores have never been so much fun! Practice tossing clothes into the basket. Notice the difference between throwing a shirt and tossing a ball of socks. You can hold the basket up high or keep it on the floor. And every once in a while I let LM "dive" into a basket of laundry that's still warm from the dryer. Heaven!
Block Bath: (see photo above) Saving the best for last - this is my kids' all time favorite. Go ahead - bury your kids! I use this a lot during clean up time. The boys start filling the basket with their toys, then I let them jump in and I finish filling it up and burying them. The kids get the confined space feeling again, but even better - lots of vestibular and proprioceptive input.
Go ahead - think outside of the basket - and let me know what you come up with!
What a great post Lea! I have pics of my two little guys each sitting in their own laundry basket watching tv, with the older one's arm around the younger one's shoulders. It's one of my favourite 'brother' photos :) Great sensory ideas in this post, we also have a few of the tall stand-up hampers which make great rocket ships right-way-up, and great jails upside-down :)
ReplyDeleteCaitlin
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