Awareness of External Mechanical Contact

For a 20-month-old (approx. 89 weeks old), 'Awareness of External Mechanical Contact' is profoundly developed through active exploration and the differentiation of varied tactile inputs. The selected Edushape Sensory Ball Set is globally recognized as best-in-class due to its superior design for promoting tactile discrimination, proprioception, and body awareness through engaging play.

Justification for Selection:

1. Active Tactile Engagement: At this age, children learn most effectively by doing. This set encourages active manipulation – rolling, throwing, squeezing, bouncing – each action providing distinct mechanical contact feedback (pressure, vibration, impact). This actively links the child's motor actions with the resulting sensory experience, solidifying their understanding of external contact. It moves beyond passive reception to understanding cause-and-effect in sensory input.
2. Varied Sensory Input for Discrimination: The set comprises balls of various sizes, textures (e.g., spiky, ribbed, smooth, bumpy), and densities. This rich variety allows the child to actively compare and contrast different forms of mechanical contact. This is crucial for refining their tactile discrimination skills, teaching them to identify and categorize sensations of pressure, grip, and surface quality.
3. Body-Object Relationship & Mapping: Through consistent interaction, the child experiences mechanical contact across various body parts (hands, feet, tummy, back). This helps them build a more refined internal map of their body in relation to external objects, enhancing their proprioceptive awareness and understanding of where and how contact is occurring. The safe, soft nature of the balls allows for full-body exploration without risk.

Implementation Protocol for a 20-month-old:

1. Supervised Free Play: Offer the entire set of balls in a safe, open play area. Encourage the child to explore them freely – rolling, bouncing, squeezing, and holding them. Observe which textures or actions they prefer.
2. Tactile Naming & Description: As the child interacts, use descriptive language. For example, 'That's a bumpy ball!', 'Feel how soft this one is?', 'Can you squeeze the spiky ball?', 'The red ball feels smooth.' This helps connect the sensory experience with vocabulary.
3. Body Part Exploration: Gently roll or press different balls onto various parts of the child's body (arms, legs, back, tummy, feet), naming the body part and the sensation. 'Bumpy ball on your arm!', 'Feel the soft ball on your foot.' This reinforces body awareness and the localization of mechanical contact.
4. Cause-and-Effect Games: Demonstrate actions that produce distinct mechanical contact sounds or sensations. For instance, 'Listen when the ball bounces!' or 'Feel the vibration when I roll it quickly.' Encourage imitation.
5. Sensory Integration Activities: Place the balls in a 'feely bag' or under a blanket and ask the child to identify them by touch, describing what they feel. This further hones tactile discrimination without visual cues.

This approach leverages the child's natural curiosity and motor drives, turning play into a powerful developmental experience for understanding external mechanical contact.