Sensory Discovery Jars Matching Game

8 small opaque containers with lids

Dried rice, jingle bells, cotton balls, and coins for filling

Tape for sealing lids

Fill containers in pairs — two with rice, two with bells, two with cotton, two with coins.

Seal each one tightly so nothing is visible. Tape lids if needed.

Mix all eight containers on the table.

Ask your child to pick up two containers and compare: shake them, feel the weight, listen to the sound.

Challenge them to find all four matching pairs using only sensory clues — no peeking.

When they think they have a match, open both to confirm.

Celebrate correct matches and keep going until all four pairs are found.

This game exercises auditory discrimination (different sounds), proprioception (weight differences), and working memory (remembering what each jar sounded like).

Start with just three pairs for younger children and work up to six pairs for a real challenge.

Cotton balls and coins are easy to tell apart. Rice and small pasta are harder — that's where the challenge gets interesting.

Add scent pairs for an advanced version: two jars with cinnamon, two with coffee grounds, two with dried lavender.

This is a wonderful quiet-time activity. The concentration required is calming and focused.