Aims:
Refinement of the stereognostic sense.
Material Description:
- Bag 1: Wooden cubes and square cuboids (10 to 12 of each)
- Bag 2: Three groups of small objects (4 to 5 of each) contrasting in three aspects (shape, size, and texture)
- Bag 3: Three groups of small objects (4 to 5 of each) contrasting in any two aspects
- Bag 4: Three groups of small objects (4 to 5 of each) contrasting in any one aspect
- A blindfold.
Activity Description:
The child is invited and instructed to bring the materials to the working area. Each object from one bag is felt, and the child is also invited to feel them. All items from the bag are removed and placed randomly. Headings are created by placing one object from each bag away from the others. The blindfold is put on, and each item is felt and placed under its respective heading. The blindfold is then removed, and visual confirmation is made. All the items are mixed together. The child is invited for their turn. The child is asked to work with other bags on subsequent days.
Suggested At-Home Activities:
- Mystery Box: This sensory activity helps children develop tactile discrimination, descriptive language skills, and spatial awareness.
- Sensory Tray: Create a sensory tray filled with various materials such as rice, sand, dried beans, or fabric scraps. Bury small objects in the tray and let your child search for them using only their hands. Encourage them to feel the shapes and textures, then guess what each item is—no looking! It’s a fun way to sharpen their sense of touch and observation skills.
- Object Sorting: Collect a variety of small objects with different shapes, sizes, and textures. Blindfold the child and provide different containers or bowls. Let your child explore the objects using only their hands and sort them into containers based on how they feel. They can group items by texture (smooth vs. rough) or shape (round vs. square), making it a fun, hands-on learning experience!
- Sensory Scavenger Hunt: Create a sensory scavenger hunt by providing a list of different textures, shapes, or objects for the child to find and touch around the house or in a designated area. They can check off or describe the sensations and properties of each item they discover.
Remember to provide a safe and supervised environment during these activities, especially when working with small objects or unfamiliar textures. Modify the activities to match your child's age and skill level, ensuring they stay engaged while learning through play!
