TAKE-HOME STRATEGY
Supporting Patterning at Home
What It's About
Patterning is all about repeating sequences, such as stripes on a shirt or sounds in a song. Children start to develop patterning skills by sorting things into similar groups. Over time, they will notice patterns, say what comes next, and even create their own patterns.
You can support your child’s growing Patterning skills by pointing out patterns, encouraging them to sort objects by different characteristics, and helping them identify and create patterns on their own.
Here are some ways you can support Patterning at home. Keep in mind that you can change these activities to work for you and your child, based on their current abilities, interests, and what you have available at home. Make sure to use safe materials and watch your child closely during these activities.
Take a look, and try out your favorites!
Make Collections
Eat in Patterns
I Spy Patterns
Music and Movement
Pattern Art
Build Patterns
Quick Cues for Supporting Patterning
Some things you might do or say to help strengthen your child’s Patterning skills
Point Out Patterns and Characteristics
Show your child patterns and the characteristics of objects (such as color, shape, size).
This can sound like:
“I see you lining up toys. Can I line up my toys next to yours? I’ll put a big toy, then a small toy, then a big toy, and a small toy…”
“I see a pattern in the shapes on your shirt: star, moon, star, moon.”
“Look, there’s a pattern on this napkin. Yellow stripe, white stripe, yellow stripe, white stripe. We can find patterns everywhere!”
Help Your Child Sort Objects by Characteristics
Help your child notice what’s the same or different about items and put them in groups.
This can sound like:
“Let’s put all the cars in this pile and the dolls in that one.”
“We need to put the toys away. You have a green block in your basket. Can you find all the other green ones?”
“First, we sorted all the paintbrushes based on the color of their handles. Now let’s re-sort them and think about size. Can you make a pile of long paintbrushes and another pile of short paintbrushes?”
Ask Your Child to Recognize, Repeat, and Extend Patterns
Encourage your child to point out patterns and determine what comes next in the pattern.
This can sound like:
“Do you hear the pattern in the music? I hear it going tap, drum, tap, drum. Let’s do it too!”
“I’m making a line with our toys. I am repeating the kinds of toys I line up like this: animal, block, animal, block. Do you see the pattern? Point to what I should put in the line next.”
“Wow, look at the numbers on the front of our school. Our school’s address is 3232. That looks like a pattern! If we kept that number pattern going, which number would come next?”
Our Book Recommendations for Patterning
Engaging stories that support children’s Patterning skills
A Pair of Socks
Written by Stuart J. Murphy and illustrated by Lois Ehlert, this story follows a striped sock as it searches through colorful laundry to find the matching pattern of its pair.
Have fun with it:
Pull out some socks with different colors and patterns. Have fun matching the socks into pairs. Or point out the patterns with your child and use the socks themselves to make a pattern.
Bracelets for Bina's Brothers
Written by Rajani LaRocca and illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat, this book follows Bina as she tries to find the perfect patterns to make colorful bracelets for Raksha Bandhan, a celebration of brothers and sisters.
Have fun with it:
Use beads or paper to make pattern bracelets with your child at home.
More Strategies
We’re creating a library of resources like these so families can quickly and easily promote children’s development at home. Be sure to see all the strategies we have available!
