Why do it?

  • Baby will be interested in the sounds and the different sensations when they touch the scrunchy stocking.
  • When it makes an interesting sound, they’ll be encouraged to repeat the action.
  • Baby is learning that they can make something (a noise) happen, and when they repeat the action, they get a similar result (cause-and-effect learning).

How to do it

  • You need a leg section of pantyhose and 3 or 4 items that make noise and/or have different textures, to stuff into the piece of pantyhose. For example:
    • a noisy/crunchy biscuit wrapper
    • a ball of wool
    • some milk bottle lids
    • cotton reels.
    • Push one item into the toe, knot the pantyhose, add another item, knot the pantyhose, and so on. Continue until you run out of pantyhose.
    • Place the scrunchy toy where baby can reach it when they are on their tummy on the floor.
    • Give baby the words that go with the sounds they make — ‘noisy’ ‘scrunch’ ‘crackle’, ‘quiet’, ‘rattle’, and so on.

Using more reo Māori

He aha tēnei? What’s this?
Titiro mai ki te taputapu nei Look at this toy here
   
He aha tō pirangi? What do you want?
He aha ngā mea pai ki a koe? What things do you like?
   
Ka rawe Awesome
Ka mau te wehi That’s amazing
   
Arohia Focus on
Anō Again
   
Takoto Lie down (face up)
Tāpapa Lie down (face down)
Puku Tummy
   
Tatangi To rattle
Touch
Pana Push
Kōpēa  Squeeze
Kopenua Crush/crumple
   
Turituri            Noisy
Hoihoi Be noisy
Pakepakē Crunching sound