Make Your Own Sorting Toys

Sorting toys are easy to make and great fun to play with. Here is a simple and easy sorting toy set to start with. 

You will need to purchase four small multicolored plastic storage containers with matching lids. 

You will also need to purchase a set of large buttons in several colors, making sure to have colors that match your storage containers. 

Cut a slit in the lid of the container large enough to slip a button through. 

When it's time to play, pull out all the containers and put its matching lid on each one. 

Place the containers in a row and put the buttons in a bowl. Let your little lamb pick up a button one at a time and put it through the slot on the correct container. 

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If you have a set of plastic cereal bowls in different colors, you can use these for sorting. Hand everyone a cereal bowl and have them find things around the house that are the same color and fit into the bowl. You will probably want to supervise this so they don't pick up anything breakable.

You can gather little objects like buttons, tiny stuffed animals, small plastic toys, old keys, measuring cups, measuring spoons, Tupperware lids,  or plastic bottle tops. Your children can sort all the objects into the bowl with a matching color. 

Nesting bowls in different colors are another way to sort. You can use the nesting bowls the same way you use the cereal bowls. In addition, you can have little lambs stack the bowls inside one another in order from largest to smallest. They can turn the bowls over and start with the smallest bowl, covering each bowl with the next biggest size. Now, we have expanded from sorting colors to working with size: small to large, little to big. 

Enjoy learning and sorting--what fun!

Warmly, 
​Meredith Curtis

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