To not know what a 'Schemer' or a 'Sensory Basket' is??

[catinboots]

SIL came over yesterday with her two DDs (18mo and 6mo)

Her DD1 is very lively and got hold of DS2's tool bench (DS2 is 2)

She was pushing it all around the sitting room - into DS2, into the dogs, into the paintwork, into the plasma TV and into my legs.

When DH told her not to, SIL said that she shouldn't be stopped as 'pushing' was one of her 'schemers' Apparently it follows on from building and pulling - it's a developmental stage

She also asked me if she could have one of my wooden curtain rings. Apparently it is one of the 105 key items needed for a 'sensory basket'. This basket is a necessity for a child's development.

AIBU because I don't know or care what these things are? Am I seriosly disadvantaging DS2? Is DS1 (12) destined for failure in life because he was denied these things?

BTW - it wasn't just a spare curtain ring that was knocking around.

She asked for one off my rail

It's schema

yup, no sensory basket, You. Are. Doomed

Well quite. All my heuristic play items are very happy to live in their allotted places around the house (cutlery drawer, down back of sofa, windowsill). I feel it adds a crucial element of exploration to the child's play journey.

Am guessing from your name this thread is right up your street LittleAlbert :)

I thought they were called treasure baskets too.

I too thought they were meant to be a cheaper option for stimulating kids/keeping them quiet that buying a million toys. Dd has a basket full of bits a tat I found in the house that she unpacks while I have a cup of tea.

Asking for a curtain ring from your curtains is beyond rude! I hope you told her to bog off.

Indeed Catgirl

YANBU to not know about schema or sensory baskets.

YABU to smugly bitch about your SIL because she does.

Some people find that sort of stuff interesting and useful to know about - other's don't. As with most things in life.

sensory baskets made me does she honestly put things in a basket oh some folk are just potty she didnt stop her destroying your house because it was good for her development , is she normally such an arse ,

sensory aids are used for special needs children i didnt know it had crossed over to main stream Im not making light of it but when i worked with special needs children years ago we had felt bags with sensory things in , I just think your sil is being a tad LOONY about this ,

A treasure basket is a basket full of it potential lethal objects that cause choking, as a cm don't use them...

Schema is just the normal way children play a game and stupid adults have labelled it

Lol and good luck with sil, I suspect she will b a competitive nightmare with her littlies

My dds used to make their own sensory baskets ive just remembered , they would collect shite stuff and stash it , usually stones and bits of material flowers and clothes pegs dd2 had a thing for clothes pegs

Yes MrsJay - "Special Things" I believe my DD called them.

My dc never had a sensory (or treasure) basket, but I think they are a great idea. We have one at the nursery where I volunteer and the children adore playing with it.

see in old MN lore this was a wnaky basket

when i worked in a preschool we had a box which we changed everyweek the littlies loved seeing what was in it , TBH i think the idea of sensory things are great but the people who obsess about it are a tad looney especially trying to nick curtain rings

While it's perfectly natural for children to push toys around the room, it is also perfectly natural to stop them from pushing said toys into your baby/dogs/legs and plasma!

A child doesn't need a special basket containing specific items. They just need toys and objects made from different materials. People provide these instinctively for their children and don't generally need to be told to do it. when I was a kid, I played with the mixing bowls and spoons from the kitchen, for example. I doubt my mum would have called it anything special though, she just knew to provide lots of different and stimulating objects.

Indeed karma

Sadly, many parents are worried about letting their children play with things that aren't specifically labelled as toys safe for under 3yos. If letting them call it a 'sensory basket' convinces them to allow their child to have supervised play with fir cones, smelly things, clean kitchen sponges etc. then I don't see the harm.

I'm also surprised how many parents refuse to allow their children to play with dough, paint, collage making etc. in case they get messy - messy being the whole point really.

this just made me think of "it puts the lotion in the basket" a la Silence of the Lambs.

i'll get me coat

Piparabbit, I totally get your point but as a cm I feel I have to b especially careful as other peoples children do I only provide 'safe' toys, we do all the usual art stuff though.

My own Dcs played with any old shite though

The second any item was put in a box or basket within reach it became a "toy"

DD1 refused to have anything to do with toys.

According to her toys were simply for stepping over on your way to the book shelf. There you would find CD, nic nacks, picture frames and if you were very lucky a PEN.

thebody - I agree. That's why I said the play needs to be supervised (and the basket/box/old ice cream tub can be put out of reach when everyone gets bored).

So a sensory basket it just a good old box o' shite then?

Is a sensory basket the upmarket modern day version of a toy box then?

Utter codswallop if you ask me...