Strong Smell Gentle Smell

Two plants, one pungent and one mild. Lemongrass against basil works well. The child smells both and you name the difference.

This is a comparison, which is a step up from simply noticing. Strong and gentle are also words that transfer, and we use the same pair later for touch, for voices, and eventually for feelings.

Expect toddlers to prefer the strong one, sometimes emphatically. That preference is fine and is itself data.

The sheet gives four safe pairs, the order to present them in, and a note on resetting the nose between smells, which is simply a breath of plain air and works better than you would think. Do not run more than two pairs in a session. Smell fatigues quickly at any age and a tired nose gives a bored child.