Invite children to explore the chosen material first with their five senses before introducing  available tools they can use to further explore.

Ensure all children can access the sensory experience. Placing the materials in a bin on the floor with tarp underneath is one option.

• Provide gloves or a stick to investigate materials with if children have sensory aversion to any materials.
• Choose materials children are comfortable with.
• Provide a variety of tools that support grasping including ones with long and short handles.

• Use visual supports both to support learning and for children to use to communicate their findings. Provide visuals that represent descriptions of the materials like rough, smooth, etc., and visuals to guide children to explore the materials and tools.
• For some children, you may take a step-by-step approach while exploring new materials. First, have the material next to the child, then let the child explore with a stick, then try gloves, so the child is able to get used to exploring the material.