This week in Toddler House 2 we were introduced to our very first mystery bag! In traditional Montessori terms this material is called a stereognostic bag. The stereognostic sense is defined as the ability to identify an object based on it’s touch, texture, and consistency alone, without seeing it. This material is a lot of fun for toddlers because they get to use their hands!
The child is introduced to a small cloth bag with one hole at the top for the child’s hand to fit through. The child then reaches into the bag and feels around for the objects. They practice taking items out one by one and naming them. The child is encouraged to explore the bag without looking inside, but occasionally the child will peek inside, which is okay, because who wouldn’t want to see such an exciting material! We start with a small amount (only 3 or 4) familiar and distinguishable items in each bag, but as we continue to explore this material and sense together we will add more items and make them more and more challenging to identify!
We were so excited to be introduced to this classic material and look forward to learning more about it!
