Learning Resources Teachable Touchables (Educational Insights) - EI3049

The library that my toddler and I go to has a wonderful selection of books and educational tools for kids.  One of the educational tools they have are backpacks full of books on a particular subject and within the backpack are some toys that go with the subject.  We have borrowed this one particular backpack many times already and one of the included toys is the Teachable Touchable Texture Squares by Educational Insights.

The Product
Teachable Touchable Texture Squares is a set of 20 texture squares.  There are ten diferent pairs of different textured pairs made of various materials.  It retails for about $25.

Educational Insights States
"Teachable Touchable Texture Squares are a fun, hands-on way to encourage young learners' awareness of their sense of touch.  Plus, as children enjoy examining and talking about teh squares, they are building their descriptive vocabulary."

Contact and Miscellaneous Information
- Website = www.educationalinsights.com
- Questions? Comments? 1-800-995-4436
- Made in China
- Ages 3+
- Grades Pre-K+

Product information taken from product packaging.

My Experience
The Teachable Touchable Texture Squares set is a fun activity for toddlers and has countless ways to play.

The Teachable Touchable Texture Squares comes in a yellow cotton bag with a drawstring on the top.  The bag is rectangular and measures approximately 11.5 x 7 inches.  There are ten sets of different textured squares inside the bag.  The squares are roughly the same size and are slightly over 3 by 3 inches.  The different textures include bumpy, fuzzy, smooth, soft, shiny, etc.  The squares fit easily into the yellow bag for storage.

My toddler likes to play with the Teachable Touchable Texture Squares.  Every few weeks we check the backpack out from the library and she is very excited to see the yellow bag each time.  We get to keep it for three weeks at a time, which is a good amount of time for us to get our fun in with the set.  When we first got the set, we spent a while feeling the different squares and describing them (color, feel, etc).  We like to play matching ("Find the other one") and then speed matching ("Who can find the other one first").  We also like to close our eyes and feel the different squares and describe them with our eyes shut.  My kid likes to take the squares and build sandwiches for her stuffed animals.  It's rather hilarious to see three or four or the squares stacked on top of each other and the stack of squares on a plate for a stuffed animal to eat.  I like that there's a variety of different ways to play with the Teachable Touchable Texture Squares.  We can played structured games like matching and also imaginary games.  We have also played hide and hunt the squares.  Fortunately we have not lost any of the squares!

I like the Teachable Touchable Texture Squares set, but the $25 price is a bit steep for a set of 20 different textured squares.  I'm glad that we can check this set out from our library to play with for three weeks and then return.  The novelty of it wears off into the third week, so it isn't missed much once it is returned.  However, when we do check it out again, my kid is always happy to see the set and plays with it again for another two to three weeks.

Overall Thoughts
The Teachable Touchable Texture Squares set offers up many ways to play with the 20 textured squares.

Thanks for reading.
Pooks
Copyright 2012