For a child who is in the toilet training process, an important concept to learn is to feel the difference between wet and dry. Nothing teaches this skill better than actually feeling and touching items that are wet and dry.

What you’ll need

• wet items (wet dish towel, juicy piece of fruit, cup of water, wet hands, soggy cotton ball, etc.)
• dry items (dry cotton ball, fabric, dish towel, stuffed animal, piece of paper, Pull-Up®, piece of clothing, etc.)
• scarf, bandana or piece of fabric for blindfold

What to do

Sit your child in a chair at the kitchen table. Put the blindfold over his eyes and make sure he cannot peek! Explain to him that you are going to hand him objects that are either wet or dry, and he has to tell you which is which. One at a time, hand him an object, such as a wet cotton ball. Let him manipulate it with his hands and then tell you if the item is wet or dry. Ask him why he made that decision. Continue until you go through all your objects.

After the game is over, talk to him about how things get wet, and what things really need to stay dry, like his Pull-Ups®. Hand him the wet and dry cotton ball. Which feels the best? Which is the softest? Which one is the lightest? Why?

To add more fun and continue the learning process, walk around the house together and find items that are wet and dry. Or point out objects that really should never get wet.