Touch Something Soft, Touch Something Rough
Children move around the room to the drum and, when it stops, find and touch something with the texture the teacher names: soft, rough, smooth, cold. It builds tactile discrimination, attention and moving through space.
How to play
- The teacher shows two examples in the room: the curtain is soft, the doormat is rough (1 min).
- Walk to the drum beat; when it stops, the teacher says “Something soft!” and everyone goes to touch something soft (1 min).
- Keep going with “Something rough!”, “Something smooth!”, “Something cold!”, “Something squishy!” (2 min).
- Change how you move: tiptoe, giant steps or tiny mouse steps (1 min).
- Finish in a circle and each child shares what they touched: “I touched the wall and it's cold” (1 min).
Rules
- Touch with an open hand, gently.
- Don't touch anything on the teacher's desk or any outlets.
- If a spot is crowded, find another one.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, use only “soft” and “hard,” with the teacher pointing out examples first.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, add rough, smooth and cold, and touch with the hand the teacher names.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, touch with other body parts (elbow, foot) and combine two cues: “something smooth and cold.”
Adaptations
- Visual impairment: a buddy holds hands and guides them to objects; touch is their strength here.
- Limited mobility: place textured objects within reach so the child can search and touch too.
- Hearing loss: pair each cue with a picture card (cotton ball for soft, sandpaper for rough).
Learning goals
- Tell soft, rough, smooth and cold textures apart.
- Move around the room responding to a signal.
- Wake up body and attention at the start of class.
Equipment for a class of 25
- Hand drum: 1
Teacher tip
Walk the room beforehand and put away anything fragile or sharp. Kids tend to rush to the same object: praise whoever finds a new one.
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