Quick and Easy Sorting

 

Sorting is an important skill for young children to practice and develop.  Putting items into categories is something we use multiple times a day, whether we are unloading groceries, putting away laundry or toys, or cleaning out our purse.  It is best to allow a child to sort concrete objects, and in this way they will develop the ability to sort a group of objects or data just by looking at them, in their mind (abstractly).   The most common way that young children sort is by color or size.  Another way (even babies) can begin to learn to sort is through tactile means.  Is an object rough or soft?  Does it taste salty or sweet?  Begin introducing this skill to your baby by making a feeling bag or basket with different "feeling" objects in it.  Sandpaper blocks, small stuffed animals, bean bags, and felt are all good items to begin with.   

When your child begins a journey into toddlerhood, they can sort objects by size, shape, or color as well as through tactile senses.  You can mix together different types of cereal, dried beans, or use trail mix and have children sort out the items into muffin cups or small bowls.  The wooden bowl set you see above I picked up at our local thrift store for $2.  Around Easter is a great time to use jelly beans!  I am also a fan of the little packages of erasers (see photos above) that you can order from Oriental Trading.   They have lots of different options.  Sometimes you can find eraser variety packs at the dollar store as well.   Happy sorting! 

10 items, $10 and under

Want to spruce up your Montessori curriculum but don't want to spend a lot of money? 
Here are 10 items I found for only $10 or less...

1.  Teaching Montessori in the Home: Pre-School Years
A book written some years ago with ideas that are still relevant today.  By Elizabeth Hainstock.  New, $9.36 from Amazon, plus free shipping with minimum purchase of $25.

2.  MÅLA, Long sleeve apron.  Ikea.  $2.99 (Yes, that price is correct).  Great smock for art projects and messy play of all kinds.

3.  KID O Arranging Narrow to Wide Puzzle.  $9.95.  Colorful wooden puzzle engages children while promoting skills that help down the road with reading and math. Children exercise hand-eye coordination, concentration, spatial relations and problem solving. From narrowest to broadest, the multiple hues of this beautiful green puzzle compel children to discern gradual variations in width.   Other variations of this puzzle also available at Amazon as well.

4.  Pink Series Beginning Sounds Set from Montessori for Everyone.  $4.99.  PDF file including This material consists of: 10 Pink Series Picture cards with missing beginning sound (vowels in blue), 10 Consonants to fill in the missing sound, Chart that shows all the pictures completed correctly, black and white master with all the words for children to trace, black and white master with guidelines so children can write the words, and instructions for making and using this work.

5.  A Montessori Transferring, Counting, Sorting, Pouring, Manipulative STARFISH Activity from Fun Cards.  $9.99.  Multiple colors and designs are available so you can keep it fresh and interesting, or change seasonally.

6.  Lacing Frame from Alison's Montessori.  $6.  Use coupon code alisons at checkout and get an additional 10% off your order.  Buckling and Safety Pin Frame also currently available at the same price.

7.  Pink Tower and Brown Stair Pattern Cards from Montessori Print Shop.  $4.49.  PDF file instant download.  Children view the cards and select one, and transfer the pattern into 3D using the pink tower and broad stair.  Set 2 is also available.

8.  Grow Your Own Elm Tree from Montessori Services For Small Hands.  $6.25.  Hands on science activity.  Everything included is biodegradable and organic — just add water. The Siberian Elm is a robust variety, chosen for quick growth and the ability to thrive in a variety of climates.  Seeds are guaranteed fertile; ours sprouted within two weeks, right on time. Plant outdoors when seedlings are about 6" tall. Includes instructions and reference material.  5% of proceeds benefit the Arbor Day Foundation.  Great activity for Earth Day on April 22nd.

9.  Melissa and Doug Stack and Sort Board.   Engage kids with this stack and sort board that helps build matching and counting skills. Little learners can simply match the color and quantity of the colorful pieces to the key on the sturdy solid-wood board, and then stack them up on the peg. Comes with 15 wooden stacking pieces and base.

10.  Geometric Nomenclature Card set.  $3.80 (on sale from $16).  From Adena Montessori.

Natural and Nontoxic Wooden Toys

Okay, I know, I'm an Etsy addict. But, I just love the selection of personally crafted, carefully handmade, wonderfully creative items for children that Etsy provides!!! My latest love is the natural and non-toxic wooden toys that you can find on there. I just think that the feel of wood over plastic makes the work so much more "important" feeling, you know? Not that my house is plastic free- it isn't!!! But, if I have the choice, I go with natural, hands down.

One of my favorite Early Childhood activities is sorting. There are endless ways you can sort things- by colors, textures, smells, materials, size, shape, and on! I just love giving my children a group of objects and observing them as they come up with their own ways to sort. I'm always pleasantly surprised when they think of a way to sort that hadn't crossed my mind.

This is also one of my favorite activites because it is easily completed cooperatively or alone, and it is simple, inexpensive, and easy to prepare.
Gather together a group of objects, easily customizable to any theme, holiday, season, or lesson, and a place to sort! The place to sort can be mats, bowls, a muffin pan, circular hoops laid on the floor, boxes, or even just under header cards in columns. Oriental Trading is a wonderful place to purchase inexpensive sorting materials. They have just about any theme you can think of, and you can purchase in quantities that allow you to sort and resort without abandon! :) We have their Mini Insect Erasers, and these are a favorite for my children to sort.

I love using sorting as a great activity to keep them occupied at the table while you fix a meal- just hand them a bag and some bowls, and let them sort away! Another one of my favorites is button sorting! I love vintage buttons, and if you don't have a collection of your own, you can purchase collections of them many places, including Ebay. Or, you can go to Walmart and purchase a lovely package of assorted buttons in many colors, shapes, and sizes in their sewing and crafts department for just a few dollars. As always, monitor your children during this activity and choose age appropriate materials.

So now you can see why I just love this product from Wee Wood! It combines my enthusiasm for sorting activities with my passion for handmade, natural toys. :)
This Large set of 5 bowls, includes 1 bowl (and 1 scoop in each bowl) of each: hearts, mushrooms,spools, stars and apples. Each bowl painted in 5 primary colors with nontoxic paint and sealed with a nontoxic and hypoallergenic sealant.
How much fun would your little one have with these? It is one of those toys where they are having too much fun playing to realize they are learning!! And as a bonus, they are also great for scooping and pouring, counting, whatever you (and your little one!) can imagine.
Please visit the rest of their store, too, as they have many other lovely products for your child. Happy shopping!