Smell Party!
Here's What To Do
1
Gather things with strong scents for me to smell. Examples:
- spices (nothing peppery or too spicy)
- condiments like mustard or peanut butter (put on a small spoon)
- scented lotion or soap
- scented candles (unlit)
- perfume or cologne (spray on your hand)
2
Show me how you smell things. Hold one item up to your nose and make an exaggerated "sniffing" action.
3
Hold the same thing up to my nose and see if I react to the smell. Describe the smell for me.
4
Repeat with different smells until I show you that I’m done.
Put PEER Into Action
P
Pause:
- Hold me or sit me in a high chair (if I'm old enough) so I can try out different smells easily.
E
Engage:
- "Daddy's smelling the mustard. (sniff sniff)"
- "Smell Mama's lotion. It smells good, like flowers."
E
Encourage:
- Describe my reactions to various smells, like: "Oooh, you like that one!"
- Help me notice smells throughout the day- like when we're cooking or eating, or if we smell grass or flowers outside.
R
Reflect:
- Did I react differently to the different smells?
Not quite ready?
Even if I don't seem to be reacting very strongly to smells, my sense of smell is fully developed. Keep having "smell parties" with me, and I'll begin to make different smell connections.
Ready for more?
Keep pointing out smells we encounter in everyday life, especially if it's a new smell for me.
As your child masters this skill...
They will begin to notice and explore different smells.