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You are here: Home / Kids Activities / Sensory Activities / Texture Blocks

Texture Blocks

By Melissa Lennig on July 24, 2013 13 Comments. This content contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Happy, happy news! I have a brand new niece, Baby R! She is simply adorable with a head full of floppy brown hair and lovely bright blue eyes. I can’t wait to make her bows and felt food, and generally, spoil her rotten! I’m starting with Texture Blocks, handmade with love just for her. So yes . . . this means that on this blog of mud, bugs, and superheroes, you will begin seeing tutus and pink.

Lots of pink!

texture blocks

(For your convenience, this post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own.)

Texture Blocks are pine wooden blocks, decorated with a wide array of fabric, wood, and paper. They are like touch-n-feel books, but in block form! I purchased all of the supplies for my texture blocks from Hobby Lobby.

Materials:

  • 3 large wooden blocks
  • textured scrapbook paper
  • bright, patterned scrapbook paper
  • wool felt (I used a felted cuff of an old pink sweater)
  • wooden shapes and letters
  • Glossy Mod Podge
  • scissors
  • 2 3/4″ circular paper punch
  • glossy acrylic paint and brushes
  • tacky glue

texture blocks 1

Directions:

Take your time when creating these blocks. I worked with just one side of a block at a time, then moved onto a different block while I allowed the other one to dry.

I used the paper punch and my scissors to cut circles and squares to glue onto the wooden block. Every inch of wood was covered in Glossy Mod Podge, so the blocks have a nice shine that makes them appear finished and professional. I used the tacky glue to attach wooden cutouts (a blue bird and the letter R), and some of the thicker fabrics, like the wool cuff circle. I spread Mod Podge over the flat sheets of black and white paper, and over the burlap to prevent it from fraying. The blocks dried very fast!

texture blocks 2

Babies and young children learn with their senses – that is why sensory play is so important! Parents can gently place their baby’s finger on one side of a texture block and share descriptive words like bumpy, soft, or scratchy. Stimulating a child’s senses helps their cognitive development and strengthens neural pathways for all types of learning. All sensory play, including Texture Blocks, should be supervised by an adult.

texture blocks 4

When my boys were infants, they were excited by objects that were black, white, and sparkly! For Baby R’s set of sensory blocks, I chose sparkly grey, soothing greens and blues, neutral tones, black, white, and pink!

As you engage in sensory play with your baby, speak gently and show that this type of play is fun with smiles, laughter, and reassuring words. When my son was a baby, he looked worried when I handed him a handmade texture card that had strips of fine grain sandpaper glued to it. I softly told him, “It’s okay! This card feels rough. See? Rough.”

texture blocks 6

Texture Blocks can be personalized to a child’s nursery theme, such as the Jungle Themed Texture Blocks pictured below.

texture blocks 7

Texture Blocks are a handmade keepsake that will be enjoyed for many years. I can’t wait to watch Baby R play with them!

Filed Under: Sensory Activities

About Melissa Lennig

Melissa is a mom of two boys, a former Elementary School Counselor, and the author of Sticks and Stones: A Kid's Guide to Building and Exploring in the Great Outdoors. She shares easy crafts, activities, recipes, and parenting tips on her blog, Fireflies and Mud Pies. Follow her on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.

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Comments

  1. Jade says

    August 26, 2015 at 6:20 am

    hi, love this idea of making own! Just wondering where we can source the wooden blocks from?

    Reply
    • Fireflies and Mud Pies says

      August 26, 2015 at 9:50 am

      I grabbed them at a local craft store. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  2. DELLA says

    May 6, 2017 at 2:10 am

    I want to recieve your update newletters i was getting them then they stopped coming please help me resubscribe i love recirving them thank u

    Reply
    • Melissa Lennig says

      May 8, 2017 at 3:28 pm

      Hi Della,

      You can subscribe to emails here: https://firefliesandmudpies.activehosted.com/f/1

      Thank you!

      Reply
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Trackbacks

  1. Recycled Play Series – DIY Baby & Toddler Toys says:
    November 21, 2015 at 4:18 pm

    […] Texture Blocks – Fireflies & […]

    Reply
  2. Baby Art Playground: Texture Blocks | Library Bonanza says:
    February 5, 2016 at 9:08 am

    […] received my inspiration for texture blocks from Fireflies + Mudpies, two very inspirational […]

    Reply

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