In the days before electricity made bright light readily available for 24 hours each day the natural opportunity to feel one’s way about at night arose more frequently.  Feeling their way about in the dark was one of the natural ways children developed their tactile sense. Now that artificial night-light is so common in many parts of the world we can recreate the natural environment by simply turning out the light for some playtime. 

You can have some fun and help your child to develop at this tactile Level by playing games in the dark. One simple game that the average child will thoroughly enjoy is ‘Fun in the Dark’. ‘Fun in the Dark’ is played by simply turning off the lights at night so your child can feel objects in the dark without relying on her sense of sight. For example she can feel a group of objects you prepared in the light and try to identify them in the dark. Change the objects every two, three or four days to create new interest for your child. Some homes can be darkened sufficiently during the day to play these games. 

Play ‘Fun In The Dark’ for only about five to twenty seconds the first time you play. Gradually increase the length of time up to ten minutes each day over about two to three weeks as your child begins to accept and enjoy the game.  When you have been playing for 10 minutes every night for a month or more you can try playing more adventurous ‘Fun In The Dark’ games. For example, encourage your child to feel her way across the room by touching the furniture, a wall or the floor. Draw your child’s attention to the use of her sense of touch as a means by which she can find her way around when you begin to play. Stop and feel objects in the dark and talk about them; search in the dark for a favourite toy, or play ‘find Mummy’, or ‘find Daddy’ or ‘find Toddler’. Over the weeks and months ahead, work towards your child being able to move independently in the dark without holding on to you. Beware of bumped heads and other risks as even a very slight accident can deter some children from continuing and will require building up their confidence again. 

Most children will play ‘Fun In The Dark’ enthusiastically from the start. During the first few weeks cuddle your child close to you when you start the game. Never say anything like “This is scary, I’m frightened”. To the contrary always make statements such as (for the first week at least), “Isn’t it beautiful in the dark. We can hear and feel things. Can you feel my hand? I can feel yours.” 

Obviously games should only be played under safe conditions. Also, for your child’s continuing enjoyment of ‘Fun In The Dark’ it is important that she does not get hurt and never should another person deliberately frighten her. Other children and adults who do not know how to relate well to children will sometimes use fear of the dark as a means of dominating the play or because they don’t know what else to do. It is important to ensure that play remains on the subject of touch-feeling for the required amount of time and it is best not to have anyone except those who you totally trust involved in darkness play; or enjoyment and child development may be disrupted.