When teaching new words to young children, it is important to find ways for them to actively manipulate and explore objects as they are learning to name them. There are neural differences when children are active versus passive, and these differences result in different rates of learning. When motor areas of the brain are activated at the same time that children hear a new word label, these same motor areas are more likely to be activated later when children passively hear the word and see its referent again.
With this in mind, as you share textured books with your little one, help your child to stroke and touch the texture and while you repeat a descriptive word such as “smooth”, “bumpy”, “rough”, “soft”. The following books are textured and available to borrow:
