Did you know that by age 2, toddlers start making comparisons, such as more, same, and different? It’s true! According to the National Association for Education of Young Children, sorting, comparing, and putting things in order builds scientific inquiry skills.
What we’re saying is, we volunteer your child as spring cleaning tribute. Sure, not many of us get our thrills from cleaning or reorganizing, but with a little direction and patience, it can be an educational experience for your child.
The classic task of cleaning out your closet is a great place to start. The overall goal of course is to purge the items you no longer wear, change out seasonal pieces to prepare for warmer weather, and to make room for new additions. Depending on your child’s age, you can simplify these groups into dedicated piles for easy understanding before asking them to help sort items, such as donate, pack away, and keep. If your child is in 2nd grade or older, sort into groups using two to three attributes, such as business attire to donate or closed-toe shoes to pack away that are black. After each shelf or row you sort through, take time to evaluate each group:
- Compare the groups
- Count how many items are in each group or create multiplication problems using items in the group
- Re-sort in different ways
Next, try tackling a shared space like the family room or kitchen!
