Toddlers Sort and Match Grains to Refine Their Language and Senses

As a Montessori educator, I’m always interested in sharing examples of educational activities parents can do with their children using everyday household objects.

Sorting and matching grains of varying shapes and sizes, while closing their eyes, is a great way for a toddler to refine what is known as the stereognostic sense. As adults, we take for granted this ability, which is to cognitively identify an object based on its tactile information — for example, when we dig around in our purse to find a set of keys or reach into our pocket to get some chapstick.

Set up a mixture of grains on a tray, even beans will do the trick, and ask your child to close their eyes and sort them according to type. As your child rises to the challenge with excitement, ask them to describe what they are feeling with their fingers. The foundation of language is through the senses, and by taking a moment to think about this, they will learn to formulate new descriptions and sentences.

As your toddler’s brain registers which items are most similar, they will begin to find confidence in their stereognostic sense. Start with larger-sized and fewer objects that are easier for them to process, and gradually increase the challenge to smaller-sized pieces in greater numbers as their mastery grows!

Find out how having a child sort and match grains while blindly using only their sense of touch, for example, is a great way to sharpen their language skills!

P.S. Would you like my support and guidance setting-up your Montessori home? If, yes then go ahead and schedule a ‘Discovery Session’ with me. It’s free and you’ll know if we are a good fit. 😉