Texture Collage

Soft, bumpy, scratchy, smooth. Today your little one makes a collage they can feel with their fingers. They choose materials from around the house, glue them down, then touch each one and name how it feels.

What you need

• A piece of cardboard or heavy paper

• Glue (a glue stick for paper, white glue for heavier items)

• A mix of textures, like:

  • Soft: cotton balls, felt, a scrap of fleece

  • Bumpy: bubble wrap, a piece of egg carton

  • Scratchy: sandpaper, a clean kitchen sponge

  • Smooth: aluminum foil, wax paper, a ribbon

• Child-safe scissors

How to do it

1. Feel first. Put all the materials on a tray. Let your child touch each one and say what it feels like.

2. Sort them. Make little piles: soft, bumpy, scratchy, smooth.

3. Glue them down. Your child chooses where each texture goes and presses it on.

4. Touch tour. Once it's dry, close your eyes and touch the collage. Can you guess which texture you're feeling?

Why we love it

Touch is a big way young children learn about the world, and this project turns it into words. Describing words like rough, smooth and fluffy are important for early language. Sorting the materials also builds early thinking skills.

Tips from our table

• Grown-ups do the cutting. Sandpaper and foil can have sharp edges.

• Keep small items like buttons and beads out of reach of kids who still mouth things.

• Hang it low on the wall or fridge so little hands can keep touching it.

Shop these items

Everything mentioned in this post, in one place. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

• Elmer's glue sticks

• Elmer's washable school glue

• Cotton balls

• Felt squares

• Bubble wrap

• Sandpaper

• Wax paper

• Crayola toddler safety scissors

• Kids art trays

• Shop everything for Week 4: My Senses

• Starter supplies: the basics we use most weeks

• See every week in our Amazon storefront

More for this week: see all our Five Senses activities, Letter D activities and Number 4 activities.

Every child is different. Please use your own judgment about what's safe and right for your family. Always supervise children during activities and while eating, and adjust foods for allergies, dietary needs and your child's age and chewing ability. Sprocket & Sprout shares these ideas for fun and learning only. We are not responsible for any injury, allergic reaction, damage or mess that may result from trying them. This post may contain affiliate links; if you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.