I've heard about heuristic (sp?) play, does anyone know about it please?

[saythatagain]

For the life of me I can't even remember where I heard it being discussed, or maybe I was just ear-wigging! It sounded very interesting so first port of call for advice is, of course, mumsnet. TIA

Oh here she is, I thought I heard the sound of distant jingling

LOL, I have just got back from a folk festival and am several items up in the jewellery department

I recommend The Document btw, it really is a very worthy missive

Yes, I am expecting you to come equipped with your own trailer next weekend, in order to cart around the vast quantities of metallurgical detritus that you will no doubt be bringing with you

Message withdrawn

Hi, would someone mind sending me the document? my email address is helene dot ferrer at caselogic dot com, thanks ever so much!

A great source of stuff for treasure baskets/ heuristic play is your local 'Scrapstore' if you are lucky enough to have one. I got scraps of fur, leather, cotton reels and spools, cardboard tubes, bit of cane and loads of other bits and pieces at mine. A (full to overflowing) basket at my local one only costs me £4.50, and it has the advantage that you can get large quantities of the same item at the same time.

didn't realise until reading this thread but my dd1 's bedromm can officially now be classed as " a heuristic treasure chest" instead of an absolute pigsty full of "stuff" - she loves getting together collections of things she has found and often uses them for play in many ways ... I will stop cleaning them up, am gogin to buy her a basket to keep it allin, thus satisfying my control freak, anti-clutter ,stuff tendencies and her must keep every stone/feather /pine cone i find tendencies - hurrah. BTW she is nearly 8

oh wow

after Pekkala's Scrapstore tip I not only found a handy geographical list of them, but have discovered one where you can actually shop online.

look at the links on the left under 'Scrap products' here - lolly sticks, corks, sawdust, card offcuts, buttons, felt scraps...

[rolls on floor in glee...]

Just wanted to say I have found this thread really interesting. DDs 1&2 have never been that bothered about playing with their bought toys but at the moment they are both sat with ds making loads of noise with some bits I have thrown together in a box for them!

They are 6,3.8 and 18 months

www.elc.co.uk/toy-34502?&parent_category_id=536

DS wanted to buy this today - now, thanks to this thread he can make his own with a few straws and our cutlery drainer! Thanks F&Z and mumsnet.

Also, a while ago I was in Starbucks trying to pay, when I realised that a lady was telling DS off for posting straws into the rubbish bin. I am pleased to learn that he was mearly acting age appropriately and was not the straw wasting delinquent that she accused him of being.

have a look at www.natureplay.org.uk/httpdocs/heuristic-play-objects.htm

MrsBadger OMFG

that is a SUPERB link, thank you so much. My local scrap store is good and I am 99% sure I recommend scrap stores in TD

I also name check the Nature Play site; a beautiful resource. They inspired me to start my own classes, really. The book they sell is very good - and the woman in charge is lovely and gave me lots of support when I was starting up my own group.

MadameP LOL we have that game (ds insisted on buying it with his own money) - it is crap

Sweetboy The Range or Wilkinson's are good for baskets if you have either near you.

Danae and alternately

MrsB thanks again and Pekkala thank you so much for mentioning scrap stores!

Mrs Badger my DH is going to love you for that site he is always looking for things like that for bases for his models [geek emoticon]...and I might get some things for DS too

Mrs Badger my DH is going to love you for that site he is always looking for things like that for bases for his models [geek emoticon]...and I might get some things for DS too

I just went mad in scrapstore online too! 'Random mixer bits'. = baby heaven.
Think they'll notice all these sudden referrals from MN?!

OMGOMG where is 'random mixer bits'??

Ah, but you can't use them in heuristic play cos they're plaaaaaastic...

Franny, let me know when you have finished slogging through all the emails requesting "The Document" and I will email you for a copy

An activity that I remember doing with some SN kids which was fun was this:

A deep tray with some washing up liquid/ bubble bath in it (not v good for skin I suppose). Put in a rubber glove filled with runny jelly and tied at the wrist. then slodge and squeeze to hearts content

have just gone back for a bit more of a browse...

oh god, they have wallpaper sample books
do you know how hard they are to find these days?
and carpet samples!
astroturf squares!
shower hose!
96well tip box inserts! (ooh, I wonder if they'd like mine from the lab, we generate a couple of hundred a week...)

That site is amazing!