TinyStepper

Smell and Guess Game

At a glance: Smell foods and spices with eyes closed and guess what they are — sensory learning for curious noses. A 8-minute, low-energy indoor activity for ages 2y–4y.

Built by a parent of toddlersBest for 2y-4y

Field-tested ideas shaped by direct parenting experience and advice from reputable sources, including NHS Best Start in Life and NSPCC child development research.

2y–4y8 minslow energyindoornone mess

Gather a few items with distinctive smells — a lemon, cinnamon, mint leaves, vanilla, an orange, fresh bread — and let your toddler smell each one with eyes closed (or just looking away). Can they guess what it is? This playful sensory exploration builds familiarity with food aromas without any pressure to taste, creating positive food associations through the safest sense.

Best for this moment

for calmer, lower-pressure moments, especially when you need an indoor option.

Parent tip

Set out plastic containers before inviting your toddler in so the first minute feels smooth.

What success looks like

A good outcome is a few minutes of engaged play, some back-and-forth with you, and a small sign of progress in cognitive skills.

Instructions

Get ready
  • Gather 4-5 items with strong, safe scents from the kitchen
  • Good options: lemon, cinnamon, mint, banana, bread, vanilla extract on cotton wool
  1. Gather 4-5 items with strong, safe scents from the kitchen
  2. Good options: lemon, cinnamon, mint, banana, bread, vanilla extract on cotton wool
  3. Have your toddler close their eyes or look away
  4. Hold each item near their nose: 'What can you smell?'
  5. Give clues if they are stuck: 'It's yellow and sour...'
  6. Reveal each item and let them smell it again with eyes open
  7. Talk about the smell: 'Do you like that one? It smells sweet/sharp/warm'
  8. Let them test you — toddlers love being the one giving the quiz

Why it helps

Smell is the most primal and least threatening sense for food exploration. Building positive scent associations is a well-established step in the 'food chain' approach to overcoming picky eating: look, touch, smell, lick, taste. The guessing game format makes it cognitively engaging, and naming scents builds descriptive vocabulary.

Variations

  • Include non-food scents too: a flower, soap, a leather shoe.
  • For older toddlers, sort smells into 'like' and 'don't like' categories.
  • Repeat over weeks with different items — familiarity grows each time.

Safety tips

  • Avoid strong spices that could irritate eyes or airways (chilli, pepper).
  • Don't force smelling — let your toddler control how close they get.
  • Keep small items like whole spices out of reach to prevent choking.

When to pause and seek extra support

Stop if your child becomes distressed, unsafe, or consistently frustrated by the activity. If play, behaviour, or development worries keep showing up across settings, check in with a qualified professional.

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