Mystery Touch Box Guessing Game
Cut a hole in a box, hide objects inside, and challenge your child to identify each one by touch alone — a thrilling sensory guessing game.
What You'll Need
- 1Cardboard box
- 2Scissors (adult use)
- 3Old sock (optional)
- 4Tape
- 55-8 familiar textured objects (pinecone, rubber ball, sponge, block, cotton ball, spoon)
What You'll Need
A cardboard box
Scissors (for adult use)
An old sock (optional, for covering the hole)
Tape
5-8 familiar objects with distinct textures: pinecone, rubber ball, sponge, wooden block, cotton ball, plastic spoon
How to Play
Cut a hand-sized hole in the side of a cardboard box.
Tape a sock over the hole if you want to prevent peeking — the child reaches through the sock.
Choose objects with obvious textures your child will recognize by touch.
Place one object inside without letting your child see.
Ask them to reach in, feel carefully, and guess: "Is it smooth? Bumpy? Soft? What do you think it is?"
Let them pull it out and celebrate whether they guessed correctly.
Replace and repeat with each new object.
Tips
Start with easy, very different objects (sponge vs. rock). Increase difficulty by choosing more similar items.
The descriptive language your child uses — rough, smooth, squishy, hard — is vocabulary gold. Encourage it.
For an extra challenge, put two objects in at once and ask them to find a specific one by feel.
This game builds stereognosis — the ability to identify objects by touch — which is important for buttoning clothes and finding things in a bag without looking.
Let your child take a turn hiding objects for you to guess. They love being the one in charge.
Age Adaptation Tips
Preschoolers can follow multi-step instructions. Ask open-ended questions and encourage them to predict what will happen next.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does this activity take?
This activity takes about 15 min, with 10 min of preparation time beforehand.
What materials do I need?
You'll need: cardboard box, scissors (adult use), old sock (optional), tape, 5-8 familiar textured objects (pinecone, rubber ball, sponge, block, cotton ball, spoon).
What age is this activity for?
This activity is designed for 3-5 years. You can adapt it for younger or older children by adjusting the complexity.
Can this be done indoors?
This activity is designed for indoor play, making it perfect for rainy days or when you're staying inside.
How difficult is this activity?
This is an easy activity that requires minimal setup and supervision. Great for busy days or when you need something quick.
Ratings & Reviews
Sign in to leave a rating or review.
Add to Your Weekly Plan
Schedule this activity into your family's week. It takes about 15 min.
Free account required to save plans
Explore More
Love this activity?
Create a free account and add it to your weekly planner. Discover hundreds more activities matched to your child's age.