Materials Suggestions

Everyday objects often seem mundane to adults, but are precious touchpoints for young children. We're grateful to our contributors for offering their insights on culturally and geographically relevant suggestions for materials collection.

This list is organised alphabetically by region and updated periodically

Afghanistan

Pouring:  Rice, barley, sesame seeds, mung beans, chickpeas, lentils, cowpeas, azuki beans, urd beans (also called black lentils/maas), faba beans (also called fava beans)

Spooning: Rice, barley, sesame seeds, mung beans, chickpeas, lentils, cowpeas, azuki beans, urd beans (also called black lentils/maas), faba beans 

Polishing: Two parts olive oil + one part lemon juice, or two parts vinegar + two parts olive oil + one part lemon juice

Iran

Pouring: Kidney beans, pinto beans, lentils, lentils, chickpeas, split peas, barley

Spooning: Kidney beans, pinto beans, lentils, chickpeas, split peas, barley

Polishing: Two parts olive oil + one part lemon juice, or two parts vinegar + two parts olive oil + one part lemon juice

Iraq

Pouring: Barley, corn, rice, dried citrus seeds, dried date seeds, white beans, almonds (in the shell), hazelnuts (in the shell)

Spooning: Barley, corn, rice, dried citrus seeds, dried date seeds, white beans, almonds (in the shell), hazelnuts (in the shell)

Polishing: Two parts olive oil + one part lemon juice, or two parts vinegar + two parts olive oil + one part lemon juice

Kurdistan

Pouring: Barley, rice,hazelnuts (in the shell), almonds (in the shell, chickpeas, sesame seeds

Spooning: Barley, rice, hazelnuts (in the shell), almonds (in the shell), chickpeas, sesame seeds

Polishing: Two parts olive oil + one part lemon juice, or two parts vinegar + two parts olive oil + one part lemon juice

Lebanon

Pouring: Chickpeas, lentils, fava beans, black beans, barley, dried citrus seeds, 

Spooning: Chickpeas, lentils, fava beans, barley, black beans, dried citrus seeds, 

Polishing: Two parts olive oil + one part lemon juice, or two parts vinegar + two parts olive oil + one part lemon juice

Somalia

Pouring: Red beans, fava beans, cowpeas, corn, rice, dried citrus seeds, sesame seeds, 

Spooning: Red beans, fava beans, cowpeas, corn, rice, dried citrus seeds, sesame seeds

Sudan

Pouring: 

fava beans, haricot beans, kidney beans, cow peas, sorghum (grain), millet, wheat, sweetcorn, rice   

Spooning: 

pumpkin seeds, watermelon seeds, sesame seeds, nigella seeds, aniseed,  caraway seeds 

Syria

Pouring:  Bulgur, fava beans, nigella, chickpeas, sesame seeds , freekeh  

Spooning: Bulgur, fava beans, nigella, chickpeas, sesame seeds , freekeh 

Polishing: Two parts olive oil + one part lemon juice or, two parts vinegar + two parts olive oil + one part lemon juice

Tajikistan

Pouring: Bambara beans, red adzuki beans, kidney beans, cowpeas, lentils, pigeon peas, locust beans, black beans, barley, corn, rice

Spooning: Bambara beans, red adzuki beans, kidney beans, cowpeas, lentils, pigeon peas, locust beans, black beans, barley, corn, rice

Ukraine

Pouring: Corn, barley, sunflower seeds, chickpeas, kidney beans, yellow split peas, green split peas

Spooning: Corn, barley, sunflower seeds, chickpeas, kidney beans, yellow split peas

Venezuela

Pouring: Rice, corn, mung beans, black beans, coffee beans

Spooning: Rice, corn, mung beans, black beans, coffee beans