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KAILASH Seagrass Basket

The perfect toy storage solution

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$49.00 AUD
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$49.00 AUD
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    The basket that looks good and works even better — for little hands learning to care for their space.

    A handwoven seagrass basket in two sizes (large and medium) designed to store open-ended toys in a way children can access and return independently.

    See-through weave, intuitive handles and a precise fit for IKEA Kallax and Besta. 

    What it does for your child

    Most toy storage fails children in one of two ways: everything is hidden so they tip the whole basket out to find one piece, or it's so difficult to use they simply stop putting things back.

    The KAILASH basket solves both. The seagrass weave is open enough for children to see exactly what's inside without having to tip it out, so they reach in and take only what they need. The low, wide handles are proportioned for small hands to grip, carry and return comfortably on their own.

    The result is a child who can find what they're looking for, use it, and put it back, without having to rely on Mum or Dad.

    Ideal for: LEGO and building blocks, wooden toys and train sets, magnetic tiles, soft toys, books, balls and loose parts too large for a tray.

    Designed for your home, not just your shelf

    Locally sourced seagrass woven by traditional artisans in North Vietnam. A basket that is warm, textured and natural in a way no plastic tub can replicate. The KAILASH basket brings calm and order to a shelf rather than adding visual noise to it.

    Pairs naturally with the KAILASH Mini Basket Set (sold separately) for a fully organised shelf.

    Which size is right?

    Large (39 × 29 × 24cm): deep enough for bulky items like LEGO sets, train tracks, wooden blocks and larger soft toys. The go-to for your child's most-played-with collections.

    Medium (33 × 29 × 15cm): shallower depth keeps smaller items visible and accessible. Ideal for books, balls, art supplies or clothing and accessories at a self-care station or entryway.

    Many families use one of each to cover different storage needs on the same shelf. Or why not get the complete set of Kailash Large, Medium and Mini Baskets for a discount here?

    Both sizes are thoughtfully designed to fit IKEA Kallax and Besta shelving.

    What you're getting

    Large: 39cm × 29cm × 24cm

    Medium: 33cm × 29cm × 15cm

    Material: seagrass

    Handmade by traditional artisans in North Vietnam (natural variations make each piece unique).

    A tidier shelf. A child who knows where everything lives and puts it back there on their own.

    Product name inspiration: Kailash Satyarthi, who won the Nobel Peace Prize for his struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education.

    Montessori Rectangle Basket Large Seagrass - IKEA Kallax
    Child pulling Seagrass Basket from Ikea Kallax shelf - Montessori toy storage
    Video demonstrating size of Montessori Rectangle Basket Medium Seagrass - IKEA Kallax
    Mini basket set coupled with Large Montessori Rectangle Basket Seagrass
    Montessori rectangular baskets stacked on top of each other
    Montessori Rectangle Basket Large Seagrass - IKEA Kallax
    Montessori Rectangle Basket Medium Seagrass - IKEA Kallax

    Product Details

    Description

    Replace visual chaos and overwhelm with calm and order. Our natural handmade baskets are the perfect toy storage solution for your Montessori home.

    The perfect loose-parts-play toy storage solution for your Montessori shelf.

    Our Kailash Montessori baskets are also perfect for storing and organising:
    - books, balls, soft toys and other large items
    - cushions and blankets in a reading/quiet corner
    - clothing, socks and grooming items in your child's self-care station
    - everyday items at your Montessori entryway.

    Take your toy organisation to the next level with our Kailash mini basket set (sold separately), perfectly paired with our Kailash baskets.

    Handmade by traditional artisans in North Vietnam from locally sourced seagrass.

    Designed to fit most shelving units, including IKEA Kallax and IKEA Besta.

    'Order is one of the needs of life which, when it is satisfied, produces a real happiness.' - Maria Montessori

    ***We currently ship to Australia, North America and New Zealand***

    Specifications

    Large: L 39cm x W 29 x H 24cm
    Medium: L 33cm x W 29cm x H 15cm

    Material: seagrass

    Our trays and baskets are meticulously handmade by traditional artisans in Vietnam, one piece at a time. This means there may be slight variations between each product, making your purchase truly one of a kind.

    Shipping

    We currently ship to Australia, North America and New Zealand. Please contact us for a shipping quote to any other country.

    Your order will be processed within 1-2 business days and dispatched from our Brisbane, Australia Headquarters.

    Refer to our 'Shipping' page in the footer for more information.

    100% Satisfaction Guarantee

    We offer a 30 day 100% Money-Back Guarantee on all our products. 

    Refer to our '100% Moneyback Guarantee' page for more information.

    FAQs

    HOW ARE ELEPHLAY BASKETS & TRAYS DIFFERENT FROM OTHERS?

    Most baskets and trays aren't designed for children's use, which has a significant impact on how children engage with their play space.

    For example, while IKEA offers a wide range of furniture and storage solutions, their baskets and trays are not specifically designed with children and Montessori principles in mind.

    We have trialled and tested countless baskets and trays and have found that:

    • if children can't see what's inside, they don't play with it
    • a basket or tray may look nice but not do the job of keeping a tidy home
    • small design details have a direct correlation to the amount of mess a child makes during play
    • a child's confidence is directly affected by whether they can successfully carry a tray or basket to their destination without making a mess.

    We have carefully observed the effect of different baskets and trays on children and have designed our products to meet their needs. We have meticulously tested and refined every aspect of our designs to give you the best baskets and trays, made for little hands.

    Our products are not mass produced but rather, expertly handmade by Vietnamese artisans.

    WHEN CAN MY CHILD START USING THESE TRAYS AND BASKETS?

    Displaying toys in baskets and trays is beneficial for children of all ages.

    We find that children ages 1-4 gravitate towards tray activities while children ages 1-10+ benefit from open-ended toys being stored in our baskets.

    Baskets

    Our baskets are great for storing toys and children's belongings from birth.

    Once your child is on the move, they will appreciate how easy it is to find what they're looking for when their belongings are stored in storage designed to suit their needs. You might even be surprised at how early they'll learn to put things back, thanks to our purposeful designs.

    Trays

    Our trays are great for confident walkers. Our small Malala tray, for instance, is small and light. Its tray lip has been thoughtfully designed to prevent materials from falling out as your child toddles to their destination.

    We also have a variety of larger and versatile trays that are perfect for displaying more complex activities for older children.

    DO I NEED TO PURCHASE A COMPLETE BASKET & tray SET TO SEE RESULTS?

    No. If you're relatively new to Montessori, you will start seeing positive changes even if you start with just one tray or basket.

    If you're further along in your Montessori journey, you may already have a large collection of trays and baskets. Our minimalist sets replace the need for dozens of mismatched trays and baskets, so you'll always have the perfect one to display any activity.

    SHOULD I BUY BASKETS or trays?

    Our baskets are ideal for keeping things tidy. They are perfect for storing open-ended toys like lego, train tracks and wooden blocks.

    Our trays are ideal for getting your child excited about hands-on learning through play. They are ideal for activities with multiple components.

    We recommend a mix of both trays and baskets depending on the current developmental needs of your child.

    HOW DO I IMPLEMENT THIS IN MY PLAY SPACE?

    Simply display your toys and activities inside your trays and baskets to start seeing and feeling the positive difference of an elephlay home.

    WHY MONTESSORI?

    Montessori education offers a unique approach that focuses on nurturing your child's natural curiosity, independence, and love for learning.

    By embracing Montessori principles at home, you create an environment that encourages self-directed learning, hands-on exploration and independence in daily life.

    Montessori fosters a love of learning that goes beyond traditional education methods, allowing children to develop at their own pace and discover their passions.

    Did you know the following people got their start with a Montessori education?

    • Larry Page and Sergey Brin - Google Founders
    • Anne Frank - Diarist
    • Steph Curry - NBA champion
    • Prince William and Harry - British Royal Family
    • Jeff Bezos - Amazon Founder
    • Beyonce, Taylor Swift - Musicians
    • Will Wright, Simcity Founder
    • George Clooney, Actor

    And so many more who are at the top of their industries!

    IS MONTESSORI-AT-HOME RIGHT FOR ME?

    If you want to create a home that nurtures your child's independence, confidence, contribution, cooperation, and love of learning, then a Montessori home is the perfect choice for you.

    While much parenting advice focuses on the parent-child relationship, a Montessori home recognises the connection between parent, child and environment.

    At elephlay, we help you harness the power of your home environment to build solid foundations through play that will help your child thrive in life.

    What is a play Schema?

    A play schema refers to repetitive actions children engage in during play. It represents a child's natural developmental urge to explore and understand the world around them. 

    Recognising play schemas helps you distinguish between 'difficult' behaviour and natural urges. It also helps you plan supportive learning environments for schema development and mastery.

    The most common play schemas are: connecting, transforming, trajectory, rotation, enveloping, enclosing, positioning and transporting.

    How will it look on your shelf?

    • Natural Shelf

    • Dark Shelf

    • White Shelf

    tidy and orderly Montessori play space holding natural baskets and trays on a 4 cube IKEA Kallax shelf
    Montessori Yunus basket set and spun bamboo trays and bowls displayed on an IKEA Besta shelf
    Calm and orderly Montessori play space with natural baskets and trays on an IKEA Kallax shelf