Classifying Objects

What You Need:

• Lots of items for sorting and categorizing

What You Do:

1. Go to the store and buy a bunch of stuff that you need around the house. Encourage your child to help you put the items you purchase away. Ask them to describe each item they're putting away in terms of basic attributes such as shape and texture.
2. Let your child help put away the dishes. Ask them to explain why they're putting each object in a specific place. Then, have them count the number of objects in each pile.
3. Go on a hunt around the house for fun things to categorize. Some suggestions are coins, buttons and books, but you don't have to limit yourself to these objects.
4. Tell your child to sort the items you found based on color and size and how they're used. Finally, ask your learner to count the objects in each group.
5. Have your child separate the toys into piles. Ask them to talk about differences in shapes and sizes that they see.

When classifying objects with your child in more regimented activities, and even in day-to-day life, try to use words to compare and contrast objects that are based on their similarities and differences. Size, texture, shape, and overall appearance are all important qualities that should be considered. Always count groups of items you see around the house. Eventually, you'll be ready to count by multiples and explain odd and even numbers.