Guide to Choosing and Playing with Texture Toys

I think introducing babies to different textures is necessary for tactile stimulation. After all, babies learn about the environment surrounding them by touching and feeling. Tactile stimulation is therefore very crucial for infant development.

Realizing how important it is to have tactile stimulation, many toy manufacturers develop infant toys specifically geared towards this. These toys are called texture toys.

These baby educational toys come in different variety. Some are specifically designed only for 'touch and feel' play. But most of them are incorporated into other common infant toys including rattle, play gym and baby activity center.

Texture books are also plenty nowadays. It is specifically designed to give a touch and feel. These books have a variety of texture inserted into them with animals fur being the most common texture used. Dorling Kindersley has a series of such book, called Touch and Feel series. They are small board books with different textures embedded in each page.

However, you don't have to buy texture toys or texture books to give your baby tactile stimulation. Instead, try to make your own texture book. It is not difficult to do that. Cut out fabrics of different textures: denim, silk, cotton, velvet, etc. Sew them together to form a book, and let your baby feels each page. Alternatively, if you really like sewing, why not try to make your own texture blanket/quilt ? Your baby will sure love it .

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