(Our United States basket.)
I’ve been thinking that you folks might like seeing the continual progression of my kid’s library. It has really been a blast pulling this room together. So for the remainder of the week I’ll share some useful ideas from the room that you could use for your child’s creative space as well.
Today’s idea is using Montessori-style baskets for encouraging learning, play, and discovery. Of the many different influences on our approach to homeschooling, I love Montessori’s idea of setting up a learning environment for children to explore freely. This particular idea is to organize interesting groups of things that can be discovered in one place. They can be switched out, added to, together in one place, or placed throughout your home for your child to discover on their own.
I started with my IKEA baskets and chose what categories I thought would be fitting for my girls interest and exploration right now.
I whipped up some simple vinyl sleeves to hold the category name for each basket. I wanted to use my large grommets on the top of the label to attach to the basket but realized that I wouldn’t be able to switch out labels as we learn and grow.
If you have clear vinyl, just stitch up two sides of a long piece to create a pocket, print your personal basket labels, insert, and then hole punch the top to thread ribbon through.
Caroline helped come up with the labels and coloring. We chose topics that we’ve been already discussing in our home freely so the baskets will keep them exploring more about each topic.
After hanging your labels, fill your baskets.
Our Telling Time basket. (The book, Telling Time, goes through clocks to years to decades, etc. Very thorough.)
Our Counting basket. We also keep some fun counting games here, like dominos.
Our Nature basket. This is added to with each new season, based on nature’s collectables. I’d like to add much more to this basket.
I’m planning to make a sewing basket just for my twin toddlers with yarn, big buttons, fabric scraps, etc., for them to explore when I’m sewing. An older version could have lacing cards and basic embroidery tools as well. (Visit Simply Montessori for lacing card ideas. Her blog is a great resource for all things Montessori. Also, Playful Learning is an excellent resource for organizing your home for learning. I loved her e-workshop.)
Other ideas:
a treasure basket for babies to explore and a great article about creating them for babies
There you have it: baskets that can grow with a child. What would your child’s baskets look like?
Tomorrow I have something to share for the young artist to have close at hand in his creative space.
the sleepy time gal
I love this idea!
Thank you! 
Lovely! I’m sure your girls will have tons of fun with those this summer! ♥
I need to have some more baskets around for the little twins, like the treasure basket.
What great great ideas! I love, love, love posts on organization!!!! I need them lol.
This is a cute idea, where did you get the basket, target again??
Can t wait to read more on organization!!!
When we buy our home I hope to have lots of shelves!!!
Love the post!
Wow. this is just awesome. You put me to shame.
Our expedit shelves have the same baskets, but are crammed to the top with toys. You have inspired me to clean them out and fill them a little more purposefully. We have so many wonderful books and toys–how much more inviting to have them paired and accessible for my girls.
I write a children’s book blog–would you mind if I shared one photo and a link back to your post? Let me know.
vanessa
Yes, let me know how the decluttering goes!
I love to incorporate montessori style teaching techniques whenever I can. We used to have a similar system of “baskets” at a preschool I worked at in college. What a great idea, I love the time one.
[...] missed the earlier ideas from this week’s series on children’s creative/play areas, see here and [...]
Great ideas! I’m definitely going to have to try this with my girls.
[...] The Library: Montessori-Style Baskets :: The Sleepy Time Gal [...]
I am loving this idea. We are currently reorganizing the kid “stuff” in our house and setting up the childrens play space to be more constructive. This would be a great way to promote happy play by following along with their natural curiosity!
Zoe
Like this idea a lot…it’s nice to see things we already have utilized in new ways. I’ve been debating what basket/bin to get for my Expedit unit. Do you like these baskets in general? I love the look of these, but I worried that small things would fall through the openings.
This is such a wonderful idea. I love that the baskets are Montessori inspired, yet are so tailored to individual interests. The baskets can also hold so much more than just one activity! I hope that I can remember this idea in a year or two when my family will be ready for them.
I love this idea! I just put together some baskets for my little girls and we’ve been spending half an hour rotating them for quiet time every day after lunch. It’s great! Thanks for the great idea
[...] me to The Sleepytime Gal was the post I discovered about her kids’ room, including her montessori-style baskets and library nook. Seeing the beutiful Persimmon & Pink prints displayed in the room inspired [...]