Matching activity for preschoolers

17 Hands-On Matching Activities for Preschoolers

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Matching is a vital skill to teach preschoolers and one that will affect their future ability to read.

Here are some fun, hands-on matching activities for preschoolers. Play them at home or at school.

What is a Matching Activity?

A matching activity is any activity or game that teaches the basic mental skill of matching – or finding something that is the same.

For a child to understand matching, they need to grasp the concepts of same and different.

Something only matches if it is identical or just the same as something else. A picture of an apple can be matched to another picture of an apple, but not to a real apple.

Children are able to start doing simple matching from around 2-and-a-half to 3 years, and they continue to build this skill through the preschool years.

Matching activities can take many forms – from searching for another identical block to make the tower taller, to weeding a vegetable patch and leaving only the lettuce in the soil.

Why is Matching Important for Preschoolers?

Learning to match is important because children must be able to discriminate between same and different before learning some of the more complex cognitive skills, such as finding common relations, grouping (sorting) and ordering (seriation and sequencing).

Matching is also a pre-reading skill. When children are learning to read at a later stage, they need to be able to observe small differences in letters such as b and d, or words like doom and wood.

How Do You Teach Preschoolers to Match?

You can teach preschoolers the concept of matching by using the correct terminology.

For example, ask your children:

• Is this just the same?
• Find me the one that is just the same.
• Show me the one that is different.
• Which one is not the same?

Play games and do activities where you match physical objects. Do not rush into doing matching worksheets as these activities are not as meaningful as physically matching concrete objects.  

The best learning happens when you engage all the senses. Matching does not always need to be a visual activity – you can also match by sound, taste, smell and feel.

Once your kids have learned to match actual items, introduce matching pictures and use worksheets much later.

Try the activities listed in this article, but don’t miss out on spontaneous, teachable moments that pop up in your day, as we often use matching in our day-to-day life.

17 Matching Activities for Preschoolers and Toddlers

Here are some simple, hands-on matching games and activities to engage all the senses.

1. Matching Socks

Take a few pairs of socks and mix them all up. For toddlers, start with 2 or 3 pairs only.

Get your children to pair up the matching socks. Older kids can do this to a timer, then try to beat their time with another round. 

2. Matching Card Games

Matching card games are found in most homes and preschools. They are made up of pairs of matching picture cards.

You can easily make your own by cutting a sheet of cardboard into squares and drawing or pasting matching pictures on them. Then, shuffle the cards and get your kids to match them.

Give toddlers just a few pairs and older preschoolers multiple pairs.

Would you like a set of printable matching memory cards? Download your FREE set of printables at the end of the post!

These cards are also used to play a visual memory game.

3. Colour Match

Use or make little blocks of coloured paper in pairs. These can be covered in clear contact plastic and stored in a bag to use again later. (There are also some colour cards in the memory card game in the FREE set available at the end of the post).

Challenge children to match the colours. Start toddlers on the primary colours and give preschoolers all 9 basic colours – red, green, blue, brown, yellow, orange, purple, black and white.

4. Match the Action

Stand facing your child or the class. Perform any action – such as putting one hand on your head and stamping your foot – and children must copy the action.

Then, swap roles and follow your child’s actions. 

This is an opportunity to teach older children that your left side (arms, legs, etc.) is what they see to their right. This is a complex skill so it is ok if they just copy the action as they see it.

5. Matching Sound Jars

Use identical jars for this activity. They should not be transparent.

Fill the jars with pairs of various materials, such as 2 jars with beans, 2 jars with rice, 2 jars with lentils, etc.

Mix them and get kids to shake them, matching the pairs together.

6. Match the Pattern

Make a simple pattern with blocks. For younger children, this could be 3 blocks in a row, for older children a more complex pattern such as 2 blue blocks, 1 red block, and 2 green blocks.

They must replicate the pattern.

7. Clapping Patterns

For this hand-clapping game, you clap a simple pattern and your children must clap it back to you.

Alternate between less and more claps, long claps and quick claps in succession.

8. Weeding

Next time you are doing some gardening, get your children to help you weed the vegetable patch. They must take out anything that doesn’t look like the lettuce or whatever you have planted.

9. Pack Away 

At tidy-up time, instead of throwing all the blocks into a container, sort them and put all the blocks that are identical together. 

Place all blue cubes in a row on the shelf, then all the red cubes, then the green cylinders, etc.

Children actually prefer using similar blocks during construction play and they will enjoy having the different types of blocks neatly visible.

10. Sticky Partners

Use a set of stickers that have multiples of the same sticker. Take one of each kind and stick it to a cupboard door or wall.

Children must stick the matching stickers over the ones you have placed on the door.

11. Find Your Partner

This is best played in a classroom or when you have multiple children. 

Place a sticker on each child’s hand. They must move around the class, finding the person who has a matching sticker on their hand. 

As the pairs find each other, they must sit down together so the remaining pairs can find each other.

12. Box Match

Print some pairs of pictures or draw some basic pictures and paste one of each onto a small box.

Children can drop the pictures into boxes that show the matching picture.

13. Touch and Feel Bag

In a bag that you can’t see through, place a few pairs of matching items, such as 2 socks, 2 pencils and 2 oranges. 

Kids reach into the box and feel for the pairs and take them out, one pair at a time.

14. Choices

This is similar to the previous game but in this version, place one item in the bag (such as an orange) and show your kids three items (an orange, a banana and a pear). 

They must choose which fruit matches the one they can feel in their bag.

15. Matching Smells

This is great to try with toiletries. Give your kids 2 or 3 pairs of items that smell and get them to match the ones that smell the same.

Try using different-smelling soap bars that look the same, or pour two different types of shower gels into small containers (2 of each kind).

16. Matching Tastes

For this activity, offer children small pieces of different varieties of apples, or even citrus fruits that look the same, and ask them to match the ones that taste the same.

17. Matching Veggies

For this activity, provide small cut-up pieces of vegetables that have the same colour, such as white veggies (turnips, potatoes, onions) or orange veggies (butternut squash, pumpkin, carrots).

Children must match the vegetables that are the same by looking carefully at the textures and variations in colour.

I hope you’ll enjoy trying out these simple preschool matching activities!

This post contains affiliate links for educational products that I personally recommend. If you purchase through one of them, I earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Read the terms and conditions for more details.

Sources:

“Total Learning: Developmental Curriculum for the Young Child”, written by Joanne Hendrick.

“The Toddler’s Busy Book”, written by Trish Kuffner.

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15 Best Matching Games And Activities For Toddlers

Simple color and object matching are some examples of sensory-play-based matching games.

Image: iStock

Introducing engaging matching games for toddlers to your tiny tots is crucial for improving their matching skills, which is further useful for developing your child’s ability to read and understand various subjects.

Stacking identical blocks, comparing similar toys, arranging books of the same color or size, and performing other similar tasks reflect your toddler’s ability to match things. Moreover, knowing how one object matches another object is practical knowledge they can acquire by observing their surroundings. Thus, make your toddler more curious and help them learn by playing some matching games given in this post.

Why Are Matching Games Important For Toddlers?

Matching games help improve a range of concepts and various cognitive and motor skills in toddlers.

• With the help of matching games, children can learn to differentiate one object from another, which is an important skill for preschoolers.
• Matching games also help improve language skills, concentration, social skills, hand-eye coordination, and memory skills.
• These activities involve the usage of basic math skills, such as matching shapes, patterns while helping children learn how to recognize words and letters.

Quick fact

These games also hone a child’s problem-solving skills and help build the foundation for learning specific concepts in the future.

How To Teach Matching To A Preschooler?

• Start by using practical examples from your day-to-day life. For example, you can show the child two identical socks, puzzles, or matching cards used for activities.
• Show the child just one of each animal or food card. Help them identify the names of the different objects they see.
• Take out 2 – 4 matching pairs of cards. Ask the child to match these cards that look alike. It is better to start with fewer cards and then increase the number gradually.
• Practice this skill until they can correctly match cards.

Related: 25 Fun Games And Activities For Your 18-Month-Old Baby

15 Toddler Matching Games And Activities

1.

Image: Shutterstock

You will need a few colorful leaves in sets of two for this color matching activity. Paste the individual leaves onto different sheets of paper and place them in front of your little one, flipped down. You can also join in this activity and take turns flipping the cards over one by one to find a match. The one who can find the most number of matches wins this memory game.

2. Matching sticks game

This simple yet perfect game keeps little ones occupied. In this matching activity, colored popsicle sticks may be used to form identical patterns. You can also use a printable template as a reference for stick’s shape and color.

3. Shape puzzles

Trace some basic shapes onto a piece of cardboard and again on a separate colored piece of paper. Cut out these pieces and mix them. Allow your child to pick one piece from the puzzle and find its corresponding piece from the lot. As they perform this activity, it can help them improve their observational skills and attention span.

4. Pom pom matching game

To play this memory game, open a bag of pom-poms and sit across your little one. Then take turns to find matches of pom-poms of the same size and shape. You can also make a line with masking tape to place the pom poms in a row.

Related: 30 Best Toddler Birthday Party Games Ideas To Have Fun

5. Halloween matching game

To prepare for this interesting card game, cut out a few Halloween pictures and shapes in duplicates. Glue one set of duplicates onto white cardboard and keep the other set for the children. Let them match the loose set using the ones stuck to the cardboard as a reference.

Point to consider

You may also try Halloween printables or online Halloween matching games.

6. Mitten matching activity

Image: IStock

For this adorable game, you will need a few sheets of colored and patterned paper, small plastic clothespins, and a mitten template. Select bright and eye-catching colors and patterns of sheets and cut out a few paper mittens from them in sets of two. Now mix all the pieces up and hand them over to your little one to match. They can use the clothespins to hold the matched pair together.

7. Touch and match

For this activity, you will need a few cardboard pieces, different types of textured papers (wallpaper scraps, felt scraps, cotton pads, bubble wraps, etc.), and scissors. First, cut out cardboard pieces of your preferred size and the textured pieces. These pieces must be smaller than the cardboard pieces. Next, make memory cards with each of the textures. Spread the cards on the floor and let your children explore them freely. Later, let them match the cards having the same texture. This activity can help boost memory skills in children.

Related: 25 Fun Loving Outdoor Activities And Games For Toddlers

8. Jar lid letter matching

You would need some foam letter stickers and a few jar lids for this wonderful game. Peel and stick letters into the insides of the jar lids. You can do lower case and uppercase letters where your little one would have to find the corresponding pieces (if given an uppercase letter, they have to find the lower case of that corresponding letter and vice versa). It is better to keep the lids faced down while searching for the match they are looking for. This would also add an element of surprise.

9. Pattern matching

This is a fun game for toddlers, with great cognitive benefits. You will need some foam circles, permanent markers, and a pair of scissors. Draw some patterns on the circles and cut them in half. Place one half of the set out and the other half as a pile beside them from where they can search for the matches.

10. Clothespin color match

Image: IStock

This is a cooperative game. Take out your collection of colorful clothespins, get some markers, and find any piece of cardboard or paper. Color some spots with markers corresponding to the color of the clothespins on the edge of the cardboard or the paper. You can customize the cardboard in any way you like. Let your child try and match the clothespin with the matching color mentioned on the board. This is the perfect game for you to discuss the concepts of primary and secondary colors.

Related: Top 10 Thanksgiving Games For Preschoolers/Toddlers

11. Matching sensory activity

Bury a few objects in a box filled with rice, sand, or any other base of your choice. You can select objects like toys of various shapes and sizes but in sets of two. Keep one set beside the box as a reference to what they are searching for in the box. Now, let the child start hunting for toys identical to the one outside.

Quick tip

Coin matching and math matching help improve your child’s memory and mathematical skills.

12. Touch and feel the bag

Take an opaque bag and place a few objects inside it (in pairs). Let your little one rustle through the bag and find the pairs by just feeling their shape and using their intuition.

13. Sticky partners

Use a set of stickers available in multiples for this colorful game. Take one of each kind and stick it to a cupboard door or wall. Let your child stick the matching stickers beside the ones you have placed. You can also invite your child’s friends and add 2-4 players for this game. It can be an interesting idea for a little playdate.

14. Matching sound jars

Fill some opaque jars with various items such as rice, cereals, beans, and candies. Mix them well and ask your child to shake them. They can use their memory skills to match the jars that produce identical sounds.

15. Pack away

Image: IStock

You can conduct this simple game while sorting out your little one’s toys and belongings. Instead of throwing all the blocks together into the container in a haphazard manner, ask your child to help you sort all the identical blocks according to their colors and shapes to place them together.

It is essential for you to introduce your children to a variety of games and activities, as these are an important part of childhood learning. So, as your baby grows, introducing them to these matching games for toddlers can be a great idea. These games will improve their language skills, memory, and math skills. To teach them matching, you can use animal or food cards. You may also plan simple activities such as shape puzzles and pattern matching. Furthermore, get innovative and use these activities during family nights to create a wholesome learning experience for your child.

Key Pointers

• Matching games such as shape puzzles and mitten matching activities improve observation, recognition, and mathematical skills.
• Start small and increase the number of pieces as your child gains expertise.
• You may use household items such as clothespins, jar lids, pom poms, or leaves for matching games.

References:

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.

1. Matching and sorting
   https://www. cmsdev.theocn.org/sites/default/files/file/adult-social-care-providers/matchingandsorting.pdf
2. Learning English With Your Children and Teens: Making and Playing Games to Practice English
   https://iowareadingresearch.org/blog/learning-english-games-practice-english

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Extracurricular activities and additional education for children and adolescents

Organization of extracurricular activities and additional education

Extracurricular activities are an obligatory element of the educational process and are intended for students to achieve the planned results of mastering the main educational program, i. e. an integral part.

Extracurricular activities deepen, expand and concretize the knowledge that students receive in the classroom. This is achieved by increasing the information depth of obtaining knowledge in the subject area using more active forms of participation and interest of children during classes - different from classroom practice.

Depending on the level of general education, the state standard establishes the maximum number of hours of extracurricular activities:

• for elementary is 1350 hours for 4 years of study,
• for the main - up to 1750 hours in five years,
• for the secondary - up to 700 hours for two years of study.

As the results of mastering the programs of extracurricular activities, the school has the right to set off the results of mastering general developmental programs by students (after a comparative analysis), obtained in organizations of additional education.

Work programs for extracurricular activities are accredited together with the main general education programs.

Additional education is an absolutely independent branch of education. It is not mandatory and is carried out on the basis of the voluntary choice of children and parents.

Additional education is aimed at comprehensive satisfaction of individual educational needs of a person and is not accompanied by an increase in the level of education - educational qualification.