Domain: NC Foundations for Early Learning: Cognitive Development (CD)

Subdomain: Mathematical Thinking and Expression

Goal: Children compare, sort, group, organize and measure objects and create patterns in their everyday environment.

Skill Progression: Classifying

Age: 12-15 Months

Click here to go to all skills for ages 12-15 Months.

Watch the child during clean up after play. Take some containers in case the home has no organization for toys or only one big toy box.

After play the adult asks the child to “Show me how to clean up. What should I do?” Have the child show you where things go. If no organization is available, use the containers and say, “Let’s put some of the toys into each of these boxes.”

Observe how the child puts things together. This will demonstrate combining objects in some way. See if he does it by combining like objects, by color or material, or random grouping.

Encourage parents to have children participate in clean-up of the toys. Explain how even old shoe boxes can help kids learn to sort objects. Early childhood educators and parents can help by talking about why certain toys go together. Explain how classifying objects helps children when they are learning colors, shapes, letters, numbers, and so on.