Name and Sort by Categories

12-15 small objects or picture cards from 3 categories (animals, food, vehicles)

3 containers or paper plates for sorting piles

Collect 12-15 objects fitting 3 categories and mix them together.

Set out 3 labeled containers (draw a paw, apple, and car for labels).

Pick the first object: "A cow! Cows are animals. It goes here."

Hand your child the next: "What's this? Where does it go?"

Help them name it first, then categorize: "Banana. A banana is food!"

Continue until all sorted.

Review: "Let's count the animals: cow, horse, pig — three!"

Mix up and try again, or brainstorm more items for each category.

Categorization is how the brain organizes vocabulary. When a child learns that "cow" fits with "horse" and "pig" under "animals," they're building a mental filing system that makes it easier to learn AND recall new words.

Start with categories that are very different from each other (animals vs. vehicles). Save trickier distinctions (fruits vs. vegetables) for older children.

The naming step is crucial — don't skip it. Saying "banana" before sorting it reinforces the word. Sorting without naming is just a matching exercise.

Try this at cleanup time: "Let's sort! Where do the books go? Where do the blocks go? Where do the stuffed animals go?" Same skill, practical application.