Have you ever gotten a whiff of someone’s perfume as they walked by, or a certain flower, or a rainstorm that’s about to begin, or freshly cut grass (can you tell we’re dreaming of outside)—and suddenly you’re transported to another time?
That’s because the scent of smell, also known as the olfactory sense, is powerful. In fact, it’s the sense most attributed to memory formation—which is why a smell may trigger an intense, vivid memory, sometimes out of the blue.
Smell is also deeply connected to emotion—our brains form strong connections between particular scents and powerful emotions, which is why smelling something can feel so suddenly intense.
What does this have to do with your kids, or parenting, or play? Well, we’re bringing you an at home activity that is all about how you can explore this powerful (and often overlooked) sense with your kids in the comfort of your own home (while reinforcing and building literacy skills).
Breathing in Memory
Ages: 5 and up
Goals:
Explore the connection between smell and memory
Reinforce and expand literacy skills
Children will:
Smell different scents
Write a story that’s inspired by one or more of the scents
What you’ll need:
A few pieces of paper. If you can, fold them in half to create a book for children to write in.
Some safe things to smell: spices, fruit, condiments, cleaning products, etc. If you have a pet, invite them over!
How to:
Put the things you’ve collected on a table and take turns smelling them. Encourage your child to close their eyes and just think about memories as they smell each thing. If your pet is friendly, you can also give them a whiff!
Invite your child to tell or write a story about what one or more of the smells made them think about.
If your child is still learning to write, be their scribe. Print their words, leaving room for your child to add pictures.