Tactile Bucket

This is an easy and fun activity that can be changed up depending on the items you have handy or to support a holiday/seasonal theme. When you give your child a chance to explore items it offers them access to interesting textures, engaging features, and the opportunity to compare. (i.e.: soft/hard, cold/warm, bumpy/smooth, wet/dry. Encouraging the use of all different types of hand skills also helps build hand and finger strength, as well as coordination.

Materials

• A metal bucket for great sensory feedback (Home Depot, dollar store)

• Big bells (craft or dollar store)

• Cat balls with bells (dollar store)

• Big pom poms (craft or dollar store)

• Shaker eggs (Amazon)

• Ping pong balls

• Dried beans, rice (with supervision for smaller children)

• Sand

• Flax seeds – these are very silky

• Wooden beads (dollar store, Amazon)

• Light up flashing balls and/or puffer balls (dollar store)

• Smooth stones, marbles

• Small toys (cars, animals)

• Large nuts and bolts – great for fine motor!

Instructions

• Place a variety of items in the bucket and let your child explore.

• I.e.: pom poms, bells, and marbles – sand, rice or flax seeds, small toys

• Talk about smooth, soft, fuzzy, hard, jingle, shake, in, out, under etc.

• Be creative and have fun!

Credit: Blind Beginnings, PRCVI, BC Blind Sports, Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada
Photo Credit: Photo by Phil Hearing on Unsplash