Rethinking Early Years Storage: Beyond the Wicker Basket
by Dr Robert Dillon
If you’ve ever worked in an early years setting, you know one truth: storage matters. Not just for tidiness, but for safety, durability, and learning. And yet, too often, we’re relying on materials like wicker baskets that look beautiful… until they don’t. Wicker might feel warm and “natural,” but in reality, it breaks easily, splinters over time, and often becomes a hazard, especially in busy early years environments where furniture takes a daily beating. Loose strands, sharp ends, and broken handles aren’t just annoying, they’re unsafe for little hands.
On top of that, wicker is hard to clean properly, which raises concerns around hygiene, especially post-pandemic, when we’re all more aware of the importance of wipeable, non-porous surfaces in shared environments. Early years settings need more than charm. They need practicality, resilience, and safety. We need storage solutions that are built for purpose: easy to clean (because snack time happens), tough enough to withstand daily wear from curious explorers, and designed to reduce risk, not increase it.
And just as importantly, our storage should support independence and agency in young learners. The right design invites children to select materials, tidy up, and take ownership of their space without adult help, and without risk of injury. We can, and should, expect more from the tools we use every day. Because in early years classrooms, storage isn’t just a container for materials, it’s part of the learning environment. And that environment deserves to be as safe, supportive, and functional as possible.
Takeaways & Quick Wins for Rethinking Early Years Storage
Check for broken edges, splinters, sharp handles, or unstable containers that could tip easily or pinch fingers.
Replace just one or two of the most problematic containers with something more durable
Place the most-used materials at child height in open containers to promote independence and reduce clutter at transition times.
Label containers with pictures and words, and model how to safely carry and organize items to build confidence and classroom responsibility.
Too many materials can overwhelm kids and make storage harder to manage. Rotate materials seasonally or monthly to simplify access and clean-up.
