Safety

  • Every object must not fit the small parts test cylinder (1.25 in. × 2.25 in.).
  • Any ball must be at least 5 cm across; balls under 1.75 in. (4.4 cm) are banned for children under 3 by US federal rule (16 C.F.R. 1500.18(a)(17)).
  • Use a bag with no drawstring or cord.
  • No objects with sharp points or edges, because the child cannot see what they are touching.

Presentation

  1. 1

    Take out each object, name it, and let the child hold it.

  2. 2

    Put the objects into the bag one at a time.

  3. 3

    Put your hand into the bag without looking in; look at the child instead. Feel one object slowly.

  4. 4

    Say what you feel: "I feel the ball. It is round." Take it out and look. Point of interest: taking the object out to see.

  5. 5

    Put it back and invite the child to reach in and take out any object; name it together.

  6. 6

    Then ask for one object: "Can you find the spoon?" The child feels without looking and takes it out to check.

  7. 7

    Put the objects back in the bag and return it to the shelf.

Extensions, easiest to hardest

  1. Change to three other familiar objects
  2. Use four or five objects
  3. Use two bags with matching pairs: feel an object in one bag and find its match in the other

Control of error

Taking the object out of the bag shows whether it is the one asked for.

Ready to move on when the child…

  • Keeps their eyes off the bag while feeling
  • Takes out the named object from three
  • Names objects by touch before taking them out

Try “pink tower”, “tummy”, “diaper”, “grace and courtesy”, or “October”.