Hi, welcome to silkysteps.
Heuristic play is a term Elinor Goldschmeid introduced more widely as a way to provide interactive experiences that children can immerse and explore for themselves, discovering the properties of materials/resources using all their senses that supports play, learning, imagination creativity, problem solving and development.
One importance is that children gather information independantly that is wholly relevant to their own individual learning and development needs.
This is a good read -
Cauldwell Surestart
Heuristic play is interesting as the concept recommends resources for play that can continually challenge how a setting provides for children's positive outcomes - parent partnerships, percieved levels of risk, fur, leather, types of tins/containers used to house items ...
It might be useful to check your
local gov.uk website to see if they offer any short courses for heuristic play and treasure baskets.
Developing play for the under 3s is a good title if you can access it xx
Best wishes, enjoy the site xx
Heuristic play
& 
Linear Mode
