Same and Different Matching Card Game

Index cards or cardstock

Markers or printed pictures

Scissors (adult use)

Make 10 pairs of matching cards with simple pictures — apple, car, ball, cat, star — two of each.

Add 5 non-matching cards for contrast.

Hold up two identical cards: "These are the SAME! Two apples!"

Hold up two different cards: "These are DIFFERENT. An apple and a car."

Give your toddler two cards. "Same or different?"

Start with obvious differences before moving to subtle ones (big apple vs. small apple).

Spread 6 cards face-up and let your toddler find matching pairs.

Start with just 3-4 pairs. Too many cards scattered around is overwhelming.

Use real photographs when possible. They're more engaging than simple drawings for most toddlers.

For a memory challenge with older toddlers: flip cards face-down and play a simple matching game (turn over two at a time).

Celebrate wrong answers too: "Good try! Let's look again — this one has a tail, and this one doesn't."

Make themed sets: all animals, all foods, all vehicles. Themed sets are easier because the objects share a category.