Kim and Carrots: Sorting socks helps toddlers feel grown-up and useful (and who doesn't want to feel that way?). It also supports math concepts such as matching, seriation, and one-to-one correspondence.
Matching encourages toddlers to make comparisons, note differences, and strengthen visual memory. You might try this matching game on your next laundry day: Gather several pairs of socks of clearly different sizes or colors. Put one of each in a pile. Give your child the mates, one at a time, and ask her to find the matching sock.
Seriation means arranging items according to size, weight, volume, or other quality. Doing so helps children think in systematic ways during playful experiences. If you would like to try this with your child, you might help him sort three socks of…
