Early Atlas

Activity

Sensory Discovery Basket

An infant or toddler explores a basket of safe everyday objects with varied textures, weights, and sounds to learn their properties through the senses.

Ages 4–24 months

Inspired by Montessori Reggio Emilia perception senses texture infant toddler

Supports this milestone

  • uses perceptual information to understand objects, experiences, and interactions. — Head Start ELOF

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Materials

  • A shallow basket or bin
  • Six to eight safe household objects too large to swallow, such as a wooden spoon, a metal whisk, a soft scrub brush, a fabric scrap, a small loofah, and a sealed crinkly bottle

Steps

  • Sit with the child and place the basket between you.
  • Let the child reach in and choose an object to explore on their own.
  • Name what they notice, such as "that brush feels rough" or "the spoon is smooth."
  • Offer a second object and pause so the child can compare how each one feels.
  • Follow the child's lead, letting them mouth, pat, bang, or turn objects over.

Variations

  • Swap in cold or warm items for a temperature theme, or all soft items for a gentle-touch day.
  • Hide one object under a cloth and let the child find it by feel.

Differentiation

  • For young infants, hold one object at a time within reach and describe it.
  • For older toddlers, ask them to find "something soft" or "something that rattles."

Accessibility

  • Choose high-contrast objects for children with visual differences and ones with strong textures or sounds as alternate cues.
  • Stabilize the basket and prop the child for support as needed.

Safety

  • Use only objects too large to fully enter the mouth and free of small or sharp parts.
  • Supervise the whole time, since infants explore by mouthing.

Practices these skills

Evidence

Early Atlas