Barefoot on the Grass
What you need
- a blanket to sit on, and somewhere to leave their shoes
How to do it
- On a mild, dry day, take off their shoes and socks on a patch of grass.
- Let them stand and step about, with your hands close by to steady them.
- Try a few different things under their feet: grass, a paving slab, a few dry leaves.
- Say how each one feels: soft, tickly, cold, crunchy.
Why it matters
Bare feet feel the ground in a way shoes never let them, and every new surface is a surprise.
What they're learning
- Feeling with their feet
- Grass, stone and leaves each feel different underfoot.
- Balance
- Uneven ground asks feet and ankles to adjust.
- Describing words
- Soft, tickly and cold come with something to feel.
What to look for
Watch for them lifting a foot and putting it down again to feel the grass.
A tip
Check the grass first for anything sharp, dog mess, nettles and bees on clover flowers.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: sit them on a blanket on the grass and let their feet touch it
Harder: walk a little loop: grass, path, leaves and back
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