Treasure Chest

Every preschooler needs a treasure chest! Why? Because preschoolers love to collect things. They find rocks, seashells, leaves, and other "exciting" things during their exploration of the world that they want to keep. A treasure chest is just the place to keep these items.

Materials You Will Need

Shoebox with a lid
Spray paint or construction paper
Markers, crayons any other materials you want to use to decorate the box

How to Make it

Step 1:
Remove the lid of the shoebox and spray paint it or cover it with construction paper.

Step 2:
Allow your preschooler to color and decorate the outside of the box.

Step 3:
Write your preschooler's name and "Treasure Chest" on the lid.

Step 4:
Now, when you're out and about with your preschooler and they find something or they show you something they find interesting, ask them if they want to bring it home to put in their "Treasure Chest".

How to Liven it Up

Decorate the inside and/or create dividers for the Treasure Chest. Bring out the Treasure Chest when family or friends visit and let your preschooler tell them all about the things they have collected. It's also a good "discussion piece" for quiet time when winding your preschooler down for naptime or bedtime.

My Two Cents

I love showing my preschooler nature items. We collect anything and everything that's not nailed down. It will be a great collection to view under a stereoscope when he's a little older.

Remember...

Although collecting nature items is a great way to learn about our world, it's also important to teach our preschoolers to respect the Earth. Never promote picking of flowers (unless they are your own) or disturbing natural habitats our creatures need for survival.

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I'm Stacey Lloyd, the Executive Editor and one of many writers for PreschoolRock.com. I enjoy writing about preschoolers, and reading your ideas and experiences with your preschooler. If you have any suggestions, ideas or questions about this site, please contact me.

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