Instructions

Gather several materials with different textures. A hand towel, onesie, wet or dry wipe, a silk scarf, or a fluffy throw are all great options. Support your baby so they are standing upright and allowing their feet to touch one of the fabrics, and then move them over to a different one. Watch your baby’s reaction and see if you can discern a preference. If your baby is already walking or about to walk, you can set up a pathway of different textures, and hold their hand as they step across them.

The Science

Allowing your baby to experience different tactile experiences through this sweet and gentle exercise will activate their brain and enhance communication between multiple, complex neuronal networks. Indeed, tactile stimulation in infancy has been linked to visual-motor functioning, gross motor development, and emotion regulation in childhood.