What really matters- Exchanges with Paper- We all have a bunch of paper and cardboard stuff around the house and I found it always seemed to attract the attention of Whitney. What I think interested her was what a different set of features paper has to her usual plastic, metal and wooden objects. She could rip paper, crumple it up, make it float, make loud neat sounds with it. By exploring it together she really got to experience the “personality” of paper and what makes it such a different material of the world.

How to put it into practice- So take advantage of those times your baby goes for the paper towel. Don’t be afraid of her checking it out with her mouth as well. She needs to figure how this paper stuff works.

1. -Tear it (see video)- As Whitney tears it in half she seems fascinated that she makes two out of one. She keeps making more with each new tear. It’s division and early math!
   

2. -Toss it (see video)- Whit seems fascinated by the “floating” characteristic of this piece of paper. It is so different from all those other objects that just fall immediately to the ground.
   

3. -Crumple it- Crumbling is a little like tearing. You take this big flat sheet of paper and easily transform it into something different, a small ball.
   

4. -Make music- While crumpling, tossing, tearing and banging the paper can produce some fascinating sounds.
   

Through all of these explorations, Whit really seemed to be figuring out the distinct personality of paper and truly enjoying the effects these properties made for her.

(read more about I3 Dev Focus: Exchanges)