Prepare for an epic toddler matching game with socks.
This weekend I realized we needed to make a creative sock matching activity for my toddler. This called for a game with socks!
It was time to dive deep into that giant drawer of socks and begin to find their matches.
For months (okay, it was actually years), I had taken the socks out of the dryer and placed them right into the drawer.
And since you aren’t going to judge me on this, I will continue to say that some days my boys had matching socks, and others, we went rogue. As long as socks were on the feet, we were good to go.
So finally, the day came, and the time was here.
It was time to take on all those newborn socks and donate them pass them along to someone that can use them!
RELATED: Need more simple indoor games like this? Check out 40+ Top Activities for Toddlers HERE.
As I dove into that giant heap of socks, I noticed my toddler wanting to help.
The problem was that there were just too many socks for him to pick out the matches.
My two-year-old found himself quickly becoming distracted by jumping into the pile and seeing just how far each one can stretch. His mind couldn’t focus on finding socks that looked alike even though his interest to help was there.
Then it hit me.
What if we took the idea of finding the matching pair of socks and scaled it down for his brain to process and problem solve?
And that is when the magic happened.
RELATED: Want simple ideas like this you can store for on-demand? Me too! Find our activity cards HERE.
Find your socks – This is toddler activity is terrific!
Like most toddler games, the best supplies are those that are found around the home. In fact, this isn’t our first time making a game with socks. We also use socks for a GIANT graph.
Since this game also involved socks, we had plenty of the supplies we needed to get going.
This game with socks helped my toddler:
- Color sort
- Find matching pairs
- Identify details within similar-looking socks
- Track his eyes left to right
- Build new vocabulary – same, different, match
- Begin to recognize how two objects can come together to make a complete set or pair.
RELATED: What do you do with the spare socks? These bean bags are fantastic!
Here’s another thing that is magic about this matching sock game.
My toddler isn’t circling pictures in a workbook. NOPE.
What my toddler is doing is hands-on.
My toddler can touch each sock, feel it with his hands, and make the sensory connection with his brain.
This is a super powerful connection that can sometimes go unnoticed.
We want our early learners to touch, move, and manipulate objects for the learning to stick. In fact, you can see all the hands-on learning toys for toddlers to help assist them in this journey.
RELATED: Have multiple ages? Breakfast Invitations have transformed our days!
Set this up in a flash!
First, find 8 matching pairs of socks and place your socks in four rows of four.
Next, outline the socks with painter’s tape.
Draw a giant X for the pairs to land – this destination keeps your toddler’s focus.
Finally, invite your toddler to come in and find the matching pairs.
This toddler game with socks is simple and fun!
After this, let’s try adding art. I have a genius painting with a toddler idea that you must try!
When will you make this sock game for your toddler?
