B a r b a r a s h e r I l L u s t r a t I o n s b y r a L p h

Pokey Pudding Hole
Infants’ fingers go from chubby little things to precise instruments that can
start picking lint off the floor and later type on keyboards. The first step in
digit development is isolating the index finger. Babies who point have
learned to do that. You can help your little one learn that first important
trick in a most delicious way using the Pokey Pudding Hole.
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Small packaged pudding or yogurt cup
Knife
D
I R E C T I O N S
Buy a small pudding or yogurt cup in the refrigerated section of the gro-
cery store. Remove the plastic lid and cut the foil lining of the container so
that there is a small hole just a little bit bigger than the size of the baby’s
index finger. Make sure the edge of the hole is smooth to the touch.
Let your baby experiment with poking her finger in the hole. Because
curious babies check out everything they touch by putting it in their
Games for Infants
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mouths, your child won’t need much encouragement to
taste the pudding or yogurt and suck it off her 
finger.
V
A R I A T I O N S
When the yogurt is no longer usable and she’s
done with that game, wash out the container
and put different things inside for her to
poke and explore: cotton balls, soft cloth
in different textures, and so on. (You
might need to retape the foil lining.)
Any substance that isn’t harmful and
will stimulate her curiosity will work.
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