What you'll need

Tick them off as you find them.

A sturdy box or basketFind it →
8 to 12 safe items tied to a hobby or job: fishing floats and a reel without hooks, seed packets and garden gloves, knitting needles and yarn, a tape measure and paint chips, recipe cards and wooden spoonsFind it →

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How to make it

Safety

Remove fishhooks, blades, small batteries and anything with cords longer than 6 in.

1
Think about their story
Pick one theme from the person's life. A trade, a hobby, a garden or a kitchen all work.
2
Gather real items
Use real, everyday objects where you can. Familiar weight and texture matter more than looks.
3
Check each one
Leave out anything sharp, heavy, breakable or small enough to swallow.
4
Pack the box
Lay the items in loosely, so there's something to dig through.
5
Set it within reach
Put the open box on a table next to their chair. Let them find it.
6
Join in, or don't
Pick up an item and say what you notice. If they'd rather explore alone, let them.