Sorting Laundry by Color and Size
Turn laundry day into a sorting game. Let your child group clothes by color, size, or family member — real-world classification with built-in helpfulness.
What You'll Need
- 1Basket of clean laundry
- 2Floor space for sorting piles
What You'll Need
A basket of clean laundry (include items from the whole family)
Floor space for making sorting piles
How to Play
Dump the laundry basket on the floor together.
Announce the rule: "Let's sort by COLOR! All the blue clothes go here."
Demonstrate: pick up a blue shirt and place it. "This is blue — it goes here!"
Let your child hunt for blue items. Celebrate each match.
Do other colors: red pile, white pile, dark pile.
Switch the rule: "Now sort by PERSON. Whose shirt is this — Daddy's or baby's?"
Count each pile: "Daddy has seven! How many does baby have?"
Why It Works
Sorting laundry is a real-world classification task with multiple valid sorting rules. Your child can sort by color, by size, by family member, or by clothing type. Switching between sorting rules is especially powerful — it requires mental flexibility, the ability to see the same objects through different lenses. Plus, your child feels genuinely helpful, which builds self-esteem.
Tips
Start with one sorting rule. Introducing multiple rules at once is confusing.
Size sorting is especially fun with a big family. Hold up a tiny baby sock next to a parent's sock — the contrast is hilarious and educational.
Let your child deliver sorted piles to each person's room. The follow-through teaches responsibility.
Sock matching is a great sub-activity — finding matching pairs is a visual discrimination challenge.
This naturally becomes a weekly routine. Toddlers who "help with laundry" at 2 often genuinely help by 4.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does this activity take?
This activity takes about 15 min, with 0 min of preparation time beforehand.
What materials do I need?
You'll need: basket of clean laundry, floor space for sorting piles.
What age is this activity for?
This activity is designed for 2-4 years. You can adapt it for younger or older children by adjusting the complexity.
Can this be done indoors?
This activity is designed for indoor play, making it perfect for rainy days or when you're staying inside.
How difficult is this activity?
This is an easy activity that requires minimal setup and supervision. Great for busy days or when you need something quick.
Ratings & Reviews
Sign in to leave a rating or review.
Add to Your Weekly Plan
Schedule this activity into your family's week. It takes about 15 min.
Free account required to save plans
Explore More
Love this activity?
Create a free account and add it to your weekly planner. Discover hundreds more activities matched to your child's age.