Patterning

THINK - MATH

Sorting and labeling help toddlers begin to explore patterns in their world

At A Glance

For many young children, patterning begins with sorting in simple ways. For example, a child sorts by color when they put blue and red blocks into different piles. Sorting helps children recognize, add onto, and, later, create patterns. We can support toddlers’ patterning skills by encouraging them to sort objects, labeling patterns around us, and prompting children to add onto patterns.

What It Looks Like

A quick glance at ways you can help toddlers develop patterning skills

Start by Sorting

Sorting is an important first step in identifying or creating patterns. Encourage children to sort and classify objects like this educator does with the colored bears.

Encourage Comparing

Encourage children to compare objects by different attributes, such as size or color. As children sort, you can draw attention to the way objects are similar or different (e.g. “I notice the cotton balls in this group are all big and these are small.”)

Support Classification

Organize classroom materials to draw children’s attention to different categories. Notice how this educator encourages children to put similar items together, such as people in the ‘people box’ and books on the bookshelf.

SUPPORTING MATH SKILLS THROUGH BOOKS

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.

SUPPORTING MATH SKILLS THROUGH BOOKS

Pattern Fish

Written by Trudy Harris and illustrated by Anne Canevari Green, this book is filled with patterned creatures who repeat their colors and sounds in their ocean home.