Your Child Will Learn
Independently explore a homemade book with different texture
Here’s What to Do
- Gather safe and child-friendly materials with different textures to create a homemade book for your child (examples: corrugated cardboard, bubble wrap, fabric, recycled plastic, etc.)
- Cut the materials into squares and assemble as a book with 3-4 pages; secure the book with non-toxic glue, a staple, or ring
- Create simple pictures for a story on top of the materials with drawings, paint, or collages
- Give the book to your child for them to explore on their own
Put PEER Into Action
PAUSE
- Make the book when you are relaxed and feel inspired to be creative; save this book as a keepsake for you and your child to remember
ENGAGE
- Watch your child as they touch, play with, and explore the book
- Ask “what do you see” and “how does that feel”
ENCOURAGE
- Your child may put the book in their mouth, drop it on the floor, or be rough with it–this is okay, that’s the point of making a safe and child-friendly homemade book for them
- Model feeling the textures in the book
REFLECT
- How did your child react to the book? What can you do next to extend this activity?
Not Quite Ready
Your child may not touch the book right away or may throw it on the floor many times – this is developmentally appropriate
Ready for More
Introduce board and soft books and model how to turn the pages
As Your Child Masters This Skill
Hold and grasp books, point to and touch the pictures in books
Time to Complete
20 minutes
Materials Needed
safe and child-friendly materials with different textures (corrugated cardboard, bubble wrap, fabric, recycled plastic, thin foil), non-toxic glue, scissors, drawing and coloring materials