As Baby grows, they may start to get interested in putting objects into categories – grouping their blocks together by color, for example, even if before, they hadn’t acknowledged a difference.
Sorting is a skill children develop as their cognitive abilities grow, and they begin to realize certain objects are alike, and can be grouped together. This level of thinking is actually an early math skill, applying logical thinking to objects.
Not every toddler gets started sorting on their own, so if you’re interested in encouraging sorting, start simple. Choose something that keeps their interest, like a colorful snack, and put each color in its own bowl. This will show Baby how to group objects, and also help them to identify colors as their vocabulary grows.
You can also try cutting shapes out of construction paper, and then asking them to place all the circles, squares, and other shapes each in their own area. Baby will soon become an expert sorter, and you can help them build their vocabulary as they play.
