In and Out Basket Climb
In and Out Basket Climb is an active early concepts activity for toddlers aged 12–20 months (corrected age). Your toddler climbs into and out of an empty laundry basket and drops a ball in and out, hearing 'in' and 'out' tied to their own body. It takes 5–10 minutes, needs no prep and works indoors.
Updated
In and Out Basket Climb
Your toddler climbs into and out of an empty laundry basket and drops a ball in and out, hearing 'in' and 'out' tied to their own body.
- Ages (corrected)
- 12–20 months
- Time
- 5–10 min
- Prep
- No prep
- Where
- Indoors · Active
You need
- an empty, sturdy, low laundry basket
- a large soft ball
Steps
- Set the empty basket on a rug, drop the ball in and say 'In!'
- Tip the ball out, say 'Out!', then sit back and watch what your child does.
- Wait a few seconds; when they reach for the ball or the basket, say the word for what they did.
- If they want to climb in, steady the rim and say 'You're in!', then 'Out!' as they climb back out.
- Repeat while it stays fun and stop as soon as they wander off.
Safety first
- Use a basket with no cracked plastic or gaps that could pinch fingers, on a soft rug away from stairs.
- Stay within arm's reach while your child climbs in and out; baskets tip easily.
- Keep cords, detergent and laundry pods well away from the play area.
No level picked yet. The 0–4 scale is a learning log, not a test.
Not yet: show it once, then let them explore
Watch for the first sign: puts the ball in the basket after watching you once.
Not yet is information, not a verdict. Do it once yourself while they watch, pause, and offer it again in a few days.
Simplify one step
Next time: skip the climbing and just take turns dropping the ball into the basket and tipping it out.
Give the least help that works: wait first, then point or show, and guide hands only briefly.
Repeat the same version and fade your help
As you step back, watch for: climbs in or out with one hand on the rim.
Pause a few seconds longer before you model, and swap showing it for a point or a gesture.
Offer it once more, then add one change
When it is easy again: add a second object, such as a rolled-up sock, so there are two things to put in and take out.
Change only that one thing and keep everything else the same.
Ready for one step up
Add a second object, such as a rolled-up sock, so there are two things to put in and take out. Or carry it somewhere new: use 'in' and 'out' at the car seat, the bath and the shopping cart.
Starting it on their own or using it in a new place is the strongest sign. Still change one thing at a time.
Stop and rest this one
In 2-3 days, come back with the simpler version: skip the climbing and just take turns dropping the ball into the basket and tipping it out.
End with something calming together. One hard moment never means a delay.
Stop on a good note
Keep this version and keep it short next time: 5 minutes is plenty.
They can do it, but it was not fun today. Add difficulty only once it feels easy and enjoyable again.
How to play In and Out Basket Climb
5 steps, about 5–10 minutes of focus time, no prep.
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Set the empty basket on a rug, drop the ball in and say 'In!'
-
Tip the ball out, say 'Out!', then sit back and watch what your child does.
-
Wait a few seconds; when they reach for the ball or the basket, say the word for what they did.
-
If they want to climb in, steady the rim and say 'You're in!', then 'Out!' as they climb back out.
-
Repeat while it stays fun and stop as soon as they wander off.
What you need for In and Out Basket Climb
| What you need | An empty, sturdy, low laundry basket and a large soft ball |
|---|---|
| Prep | No prep |
| Focus time | 5–10 minutes |
| Where | Indoors |
| Energy | Active: counts toward the day’s movement time |
| Ages (corrected) | 12–20 months |
| Domains | Early concepts, Gross motor |
| Low-prep menu | Yes: no prep and 10 minutes or less |
| Fits the day | On a rainy day indoors or in the morning |
Easier and harder versions
Change one thing at a time. Drop to the easier version when In and Out Basket Climb stalls; move one rung up only once it looks easy on a few different days.
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Easier
Skip the climbing and just take turns dropping the ball into the basket and tipping it out.
-
As written
The 5 steps above, for 5–10 minutes.
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Harder 1
Add a second object, such as a rolled-up sock, so there are two things to put in and take out.
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Harder 2
Say 'Ball in' without dropping it first, so your child acts on the words alone.
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Hardest
Turn the basket upside down and add 'on' and 'under' for a ball on top or hidden underneath.
What to watch for
The signs of progress in In and Out Basket Climb, mapped to the 0–4 learning scale the family plan uses (a tracking aid, not an assessment).
| Level | What it looks like here |
|---|---|
| 2 · After a model | Does it right after you show it or point. Watch for: puts the ball in the basket after watching you once. |
| 3 · Independent | Does it when offered, with no demonstration. Watch for: climbs in or out with one hand on the rim and puts the ball in when you say 'in' without showing. |
| 4 · Spontaneous | Starts it unprompted or in a new place. Watch for: says or approximates 'in', 'out' or 'uh-oh'. |
Try it somewhere new
Level 4 means the skill travels. Once In and Out Basket Climb is easy, change the place, the person or the material:
- Use 'in' and 'out' at the car seat, the bath and the shopping cart.
- Ask another caregiver to play the same game with a big cardboard box.
Words to model
During In and Out Basket Climb, say “in”, “out”, “ball in” and “all gone” at the moment they happen, one at a time, then pause so your child can answer with a look, a gesture, a sign or a word.
Safety for In and Out Basket Climb
- Use a basket with no cracked plastic or gaps that could pinch fingers, on a soft rug away from stairs.
- Stay within arm's reach while your child climbs in and out; baskets tip easily.
- Keep cords, detergent and laundry pods well away from the play area.
Why it works
AAP's toy report counts ordinary household objects as good play materials when an adult joins in, and climbing in and out adds to the varied active play WHO recommends across the day. The position words are exposure, not a test.
Evidence rating: Good: published guidance supports the approach. Cited: AAP clinical report: Selecting Appropriate Toys for Young Children in the Digital Era (Pediatrics, 2019) and WHO guidelines on physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep for children under 5 years (2019).
Skills and ages
In and Out Basket Climb practises spatial words, climbing on and off furniture and following directions with gestures and fits ages 12 to 20 months. Each month below opens more activities for that age.
Skills practised
Activities by month (12–20 months)
Milestone checklists nearby
Activities like In and Out Basket Climb
Cushion Mountain Climb is the closest match: it also practises climbing on and off furniture and spatial words. It suits 12–22 months, takes 5–12 minutes (a little longer than In and Out Basket Climb) and needs 2 minutes of prep. For an older child, Throw into the Hoop runs to 36 months.
Ranked by shared skills, materials and ages
Frequently asked questions
What age is In and Out Basket Climb for?
In and Out Basket Climb suits 12–20 months, using corrected age for a child born early. For a younger or hesitant child, start with the easier version: skip the climbing and just take turns dropping the ball into the basket and tipping it out.
How long does In and Out Basket Climb take?
About 5–10 minutes of focused play over 5 steps, with no prep. Stop while it is still fun and repeat it on another day.
How do I make In and Out Basket Climb harder?
Change one thing at a time. First: add a second object, such as a rolled-up sock, so there are two things to put in and take out. Then: say 'Ball in' without dropping it first, so your child acts on the words alone. Hardest: turn the basket upside down and add 'on' and 'under' for a ball on top or hidden underneath.
How do I keep In and Out Basket Climb safe?
Play it only with an adult within arm’s reach. Use a basket with no cracked plastic or gaps that could pinch fingers, on a soft rug away from stairs. Stay within arm's reach while your child climbs in and out; baskets tip easily. Keep cords, detergent and laundry pods well away from the play area.
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Monitoring, not medical advice. Talk to your pediatrician about any concern. Our sources and method.