Feely Bag

What you need

• a cloth bag
• a spoon, a cup and a sock to go inside

How to do it

1. Put a few things they know well into the bag.
2. Let them reach in and pull one out.
3. Name it as it comes out: "a sock!"
4. Put everything back and go again; the same things are fine.

Why it matters

Pulling out a thing they know is a little surprise, and that moment is when a word is most likely to come out on its own.

What they're learning

Naming real things

Real objects are easier to name than pictures at this age.

Feeling and finding

Hands in the bag keep them curious.

A word of their own

The surprise is often when a first word pops out.

What to look for

Watch for them saying something as the thing comes out, before you do.

A tip

If a word comes out, however unclear, say it back clearly and add one more: "ball" becomes "big ball". Never ask them to repeat it.

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