A treasure basket, in its purest sense, is a round basket containing objects made from mostly natural materials that are attractive to babies. It is full to the brim so that babies can delve in, select what appeals to them and explore the texture, weight, shape, size and smell of the objects. The idea was pioneered by Elinor Goldschmied in the 1940s when she observed children's natural interest in collections of household objects. Her work has inspired many practitioners and parents to create their own treasure baskets.
Goldschmied's approach is quite prescriptive, particularly when it comes to the size and contents of the basket. She recommends a round basket not less than 14 inches (351mm) in diameter and four to five inches (101-125mm) deep for use with babies who can sit up but not yet crawl.
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