Sort It Out

Sorting and classifying things by one or more traits - something they have in common is important to later math skills.

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Tools and Materials

Save an egg carton or use cups. Collection of objects from around the house.

Steps detailed below

Make a game of sorting objects around the house-coins, silverware, socks, noodles.
While cleaning up, talk to your child about placing items in the containers where they belong.
Use an empty egg carton to sort different snacks like raisins, cheerios, pretzels.
Have your child help you sort items for recycling- cans, glass, paper, plastic.
Collect pictures of items in the same group - like fruits, animals, clothes, flowers. Use baggies or envelopes to sort the items into groups. Label the baggies/envelopes.
In the bath, have your child sort items that sink or float- use plastic cups, bottles and toys.

Match sounds to what they came from - like a horn to a car, a bark to a dog, a chirp to a bird.

Play "All the Same Game" Use an empty egg carton filling it with items such as leaves, rocks, sticks. Have your child put all the same items into a section of the carton.

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Matches items that are the same; points out items that are different; names groups of objects by category; sorts objects into groups