How to Teach Kids About Textures

You don’t need fancy lesson plans or expensive props to teach a kid about textures. It can be done with a little imagination and even household items. A trip to your backyard, for instance, gives a kid the feel of smooth pavement, rough rocks, sharp edging and even soft grass, as long as you don’t live in Arizona.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Point out textures around the house. The carpet is fuzzy. The dog is furry. The couch is smooth because you spent thousands of dollars for leather even though you have a small child and a dog in the house.

2. Take a moment to illustrate textures while you walk down the block. The stop sign is hard. The cracked sidewalk is sharp. The chewing gum stuck on the pavement is sticky.

3. Further your texture lessons in a variety of stores, such a supermarket. The apples are smooth. The bread is soft. The ground round is mushy.

4. Take texture-happy outings where your kid will have no choice but to absorb the lessons. These places include hands-on science museums, petting zoos and even fabric stores as long as you don’t wipe grimy paws all over the $5,000/yard silk.

Tips & Warnings

• You can further texture training by asking your kid to make you a collage that includes at least six types of textures.
• Don’t use hands-on lessons for sharp that include spiny cactus, glass shards or a butcher knife.