Babies (and toddlers) learn so much through their sense of touch. I had a few latex gloves that had gone unused for quite awhile that I decided to use them for this sensory experience for Possum.
I don’t own any birds but had a box of seed that was calling out to be used. Using a simple funnel I added the seeds until the hand was almost full. You can see how these are great for sensory development in children, especially those with special needs.
Like a balloon I simply tied it at the end to seal in the contents. You might find that you have a pocket of air inside but that makes little difference to the over experience when your little one is using it.
Next I decided to use flour! It was a completely different sensation when it was felt through the glove to the seed. There were no grains just a soft texture that almost felt like nothing.
I had a few cotton balls laying around and so I decided to use them inside my final glove. It was probably the most difficult to push into the glove but with a little patience it worked. I’m actually really glad I chose cotton balls because you could feel them separate in the glove and feel like squishy balls.
My husband said that they looked ‘weird’ and to be honest, they kind of do, however, they made for an interesting and educational experience for little Possum and she enjoyed pressing and exploring each finger of the gloves she was presented with.
Friendly Warning
Please ensure that when your little one does play with these they are actively supervised at all times. They are obviously not for eating. Some children can have allergies to latex and so I would suggest you use a different material than the ones I’ve used.
So what else could you use? Of course you don’t have to use bird seed, flour or cotton balls but instead let your imagination run wild with all the great options you might find in your cupboard.
I hope I’ve encouraged you try this yourself. See how your little one reacts.
Kate xo
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Thanks for posting: I’ll try. Easy to set up and interesting. I’d probably use rice, or beans – we’ll see.