Texture Talk Treasure Basket

A low basket or bowl

5-6 taste-safe objects with different textures: silk scarf, wooden spoon, crinkly fabric, rubber ball, large smooth stone

All items must be large enough to prevent choking and safe for mouthing

Fill a low basket with 5-6 taste-safe textured objects.

Set the basket in front of baby while they're sitting.

Let baby reach in and choose. Don't direct — follow their lead.

Describe the texture as they touch: "That's the silk scarf — it's so smooth! Smoooooth."

Add action words: "You're squeezing the ball! Squeeze, squeeze. It's squishy!"

Narrate transitions: "Now you have the wooden spoon. Feel how hard it is? Tap tap tap!"

If baby mouths an object, describe that: "You're tasting the spoon! It's cool and hard."

Rotate objects every few sessions to introduce new vocabulary.

Treasure baskets are a Montessori staple, but the language twist is what makes this special. You're pairing every sensory experience with a word. Baby is building connections between what they feel and what they hear.

Use exaggerated descriptive words: "Sooooo soft" with a gentle voice, "CRINKLY!" with an excited voice. The emotion helps the word stick.

Keep the basket to 5-6 items. Too many choices overwhelm babies. A curated collection leads to deeper exploration.

Great items to rotate in: a natural sponge, a metal measuring cup, a fabric ribbon, a wooden ring, a leather coaster. Variety in material is key.