Skill: Tactile Perception

Tactile Perception (sometimes referred to as touch perception) is the brain’s ability to understand (perceive) what the hands are feeling.

Sticky Cup Pom-pom Stuff

Toddler using her pointer finger to press a pom-pom into a paper cup lined with sticky masking tape

Steps:

  • Turn a piece of masking tape into a loop with the sticky side facing out.
  • Place the tape loop inside the bottom and sides of a paper cup.
  • Give your toddler a bowl of fuzzy pom-poms to hold.
  • Ask them to use their pointer finger to push a pom-pom into the cup.
  • Encourage them to press it hard against the sticky tape.
  • Once the cup is full, show them how to peel the pom-poms back out!

Safety Tip:
CHOKING HAZARD: Pom-poms and tape are small parts. Always supervise your toddler closely and ensure they do not put materials in their mouth.

Shiny Shape Impression Match

Shiny Shape Impression Match

Steps:

  • Tape a large sheet of aluminium foil onto a flat piece of cardboard.
  • Select five buttons with different shapes or textures from your collection.
  • Ask your child to press each button firmly into the foil to leave a mark.
  • Remove all the buttons and place them into a small basket.
  • Challenge your child to pick a button and match it back to its shiny foil home.
  • Encourage them to feel the foil marks with their fingertips before choosing.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Small buttons are a choking hazard and should be kept away from the mouth.

The Foil Bead Wrap Rescue

The Foil Bead Wrap Rescue

Steps:

  • Tear off several small squares of aluminum foil, about the size of your hand.
  • Place one colorful bead in the center of a foil square.
  • Show your toddler how to use their fingertips to crumple the foil around the bead until it is completely hidden.
  • Place all the finished ‘silver balls’ into a bowl.
  • Ask your child to pick up one ball using their pinching fingers.
  • Challenge them to use both hands to carefully unwrap the foil and rescue the bead inside!
  • Once rescued, drop the bead into a separate tray and start the next one.

Safety Tip:
CHOKING HAZARD: This activity uses small beads. Always supervise your toddler closely and ensure they do not put any materials in their mouth.

The Sticky Bottle Bead Roll

The Sticky Bottle Bead Roll

Steps:

  • Take an empty plastic bottle and make sure it is clean and dry.
  • Wrap a long piece of masking tape around the middle of the bottle.
  • Make sure the sticky side is facing out toward you.
  • Secure the ends of the tape with two smaller pieces of tape so it stays in place.
  • Scatter a handful of colorful beads inside a flat plastic container.
  • Show your child how to hold the bottle with both hands.
  • Ask them to roll the bottle over the beads until they stick to the tape.
  • Once the bottle is decorated, have them use their fingers to peel the beads off one by one.

Safety Tip:
CHOKING HAZARD: This activity uses beads which are small parts. Always supervise your toddler closely. Ensure they do not put beads or tape in their mouth.

The Texture Match Mailbox

The Texture Match Mailbox

Steps:

  • Help your child cut three small rectangles from the felt, fabric, and foil.
  • Glue one of these texture samples next to a small slot you cut in the shoe box lid.
  • Cut several more small scraps of each material and put them in a pile.
  • Ask your child to feel a texture on the lid first.
  • Challenge them to find the matching scrap from the pile using their eyes and hands.
  • Once they find a match, have them push it through the correct slot!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child while they are using scissors. Ensure all material scraps are large enough to be handled safely and not placed in the mouth.