Barefoot Feely Path

What you need

• four or five trays or shallow plastic tubs
• things to fill each tray: sand, a little water, grass cuttings, leaves, a wet sponge
• an old blanket to start and finish on

How to do it

1. Fill each tray with something different and lay them in a line on the grass, with the blanket at one end.
2. Shoes and socks off. Let your child walk the path slowly, one foot after the other into each tray.
3. Stop in every tray and ask how it feels: squishy, prickly, cold or tickly?
4. Walk it once more with their eyes closed, holding your hand, and let them guess which tray they're in.

Why it matters

Their feet do the noticing on this path, one tray at a time, with no hands allowed.

What they're learning

Feeling with feet

Squishy, prickly, cold, tickly.

Steady steps

In and out of each tray.

Words for textures

Finding a word for each one.

What to look for

Notice them slowing down to wiggle their toes in a tray they like.

A tip

Check the grass and every tray first for anything sharp, dog mess, nettles and bees on clover flowers. Stay beside them the whole time the water is out and tip it away when you finish.

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