Gross motor development
An older infant moves on mats of two different textures.
Be Prepared: This activity is for an infant who can creep, crawl, or walk. Prepare a multi-surfaced play area by placing two different mats on the floor side by side. Put several toys near the edges and two toys in the center of each textured mat. Possibilities for two mats of different textures include: a braided rug; an infant play mat with waffle texture; a soft, bumpy infant bath mat; and a small area rug with unique textures.
[Invite an infant to join you at the textured mats. Describe the play area, including toys. Example: “This soft mat is a fun place to play. I put a toy doggy here for my friends.” Sit on the floor facing the infant.]
Here is a place you may crawl. The mats feel different. This mat is bumpy and soft.
[Point to each mat as you talk about it.]
There are (names of toys) on the mats if you would like to get one.
[Enthusiastically describe an infant’s actions and the mat texture. Example: “Isaiah, you are crawling on the bumpy mat to reach the puppy dog.”
You may wish to manipulate a toy slightly to draw attention to it. Example: animate the toy dog. “Doggy is saying ‘woof.’ Please come play with me. ‘Woof, woof!’”
If an infant does not crawl onto the mat, place your hand on one mat or rug, describe how it feels, and invite the infant to feel the texture. Example: “Our rug is smooth. It has wooly patches. Would you like to feel this rug with your hand?”
It is not necessary to coax an infant onto a mat. Acknowledge the infant’s choice. Example: “I see you looking at the (name of toy). I think you do not want to crawl on the mat. That is okay.”
An infant may change his/her crawling or creeping style while moving on the mats. An infant may enjoy sitting on the mats to play with a toy. Support the infant’s interests and actions.
Acknowledge an infant’s efforts to try something new.]
[Offer a brief summary of the infant’s actions during the activity. Example: “You crawled a long way on your hands and knees to get the doggy. You crawled on the tile floor and on the soft bumpy mat. You got up on your toes and hands on the mat.”]
Gross motor development
Older infants adapt motor movements to different textures.
Be Prepared: Arrange different mats and rugs end to end to make a road for infants in an open area where walking infants will not encounter barriers. Mat possibilities include: a braided rug; an infant play mat with waffle texture; a soft, bumpy infant bathmat; and a small area rug with unique textures.
Invite walking infants to an informal gathering near the mats. Greet each infant by name. Show the mats and talk about how each mat feels different. Kneel at the beginning of the “texture road” and encourage infants to crawl to the opposite end. Describe textures the infants can feel with their hands. Next, encourage infants to walk over the textured mats or rugs. Offer an infant your hand for extra support. Describe the sensation of walking on each mat. Example: “Our feet go down into the soft mat.” On another day, fold over a play mat to create a double thickness. Encourage infants to crawl over the folded mat.
Imagine walking without shoes on different surfaces, such as dry beach sand, tall grass, or a tiled floor. Without thinking, you would adapt your steps to accommodate the surface. Even with your eyes closed, you would be aware of differences between sand, grass, and tile because of your sensory perception. Sensory learning is central to all areas of infant development. Touch helps infants learn new ideas and concepts.
Most infants will be curious about the new play arrangement. Some infants may be very interested in being on the textured mats and naturally make accommodations to the mat. Example: On a soft mat you may see an infant balance weight on feet and hands, as if walking like a bear. Other infants may want to pursue their curiosity by observing. The toys provide a reason to get on and stay on a mat, although an infant may carry a toy off the mat. An Extra Support tip suggests that you move a desired toy to the edge of a mat for an infant who seems reluctant to get on a mat.
Several infants may want to get on the mats at the same time. Adjust the activity so you can talk with each infant, one at a time.
Extra support
Enrichment
Materials Needed: texture toys and items including bears and balls, basket, and books with textures
The sense of touch is key to infant learning. Provide similar toys with different textures to emphasize texture differences. An infant who holds a stacking ring and is then offered a cloth ring will sense a difference between the toys. Explain as the infant mouths or manipulates the toy, “Our ring is soft. Our other ring is smooth.”
Display books with textures. Encourage infants to touch as you turn the pages and describe each picture. During play and care routines, highlight the feel of play materials, bibs, jackets, and other tactile objects the infants experience. Emphasize words that describe textures, such as bumpy, silky, smooth, soft, and fuzzy. Everyday experiences can provide infants opportunities to learn through senses.
Items that are ordinary to adults are new and interesting to infants. Combine play materials in new ways to create interesting experiences for infants. Example: Place texture bears and texture balls in a basket or bin.
Materials Needed: texture mats, items of different textures, cloth bag, ribbon scraps, different kinds of paper, seeds, buttons, and leaves, heavy paper, glue, touch and feel books—Tickle Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter, Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt, First Words (Baby Touch and Feel) by DK Publishing, On the Farm (Bright Baby Touch and Feel) by Roger Priddy
Toddlers may enjoy walking with bare feet on the texture mats. Use textured rugs to define play spaces for animal figures. Preschool-age children will be interested in identifying items by how they feel. Gather related items with different textures and place them in a cloth bag. Help children take turns reaching into the bag. Depending upon your location, a “fall feely bag” might contain: apple, leaf, pine cone, and acorn. Use items that are familiar to most children. Other bags could contain: a small book, tiny ball, toy car, and a marker. Older children will enjoy making feeling bags with play materials they select themselves.
A texture collage is a fun project for preschool-age and older children. Collect ribbon scraps, different kinds of paper, seeds, buttons, and leaves. Once you begin to gather collage items you will be surprised how many everyday items can be used! Provide heavy paper and glue in an area away from infants.
Create a special arrangement with touch and feel types of books, such as those listed in Materials Needed. You might consider putting the texture books on the sofa after rest time. Sit and look at pictures in the books. Encourage pointing and touching.
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