5 Fun Sorting & Matching Activities for Preschoolers
Children learn best through play, and sorting and matching are two of the earliest maths skills they begin to develop. These simple activities help little ones spot patterns, group objects, and make sense of the world around them. Best of all, you don’t need special equipment, just everyday items you already have at home.
At Jump Start Maths, we love bringing maths to life through active play, tuff trays and movement. Here are five easy ideas you can try with your preschooler today.
1. Sock Match-Up
Gather a pile of clean socks, mix them up and ask your child to find the pairs.
Challenge them to look at colours, stripes and spots.
Talk about “the same” and “different” as they sort.
This builds early problem-solving skills, and helps with the laundry too!
2. Teddy Bear Picnic
Set up a pretend picnic with teddies or dolls.
Give each teddy a matching cup, plate and spoon.
Encourage your child to notice which sets belong together.
Matching “one-to-one” like this is the foundation for counting and addition later on.
3. Colour Hunt
Choose a colour and go on a treasure hunt around the house or garden.
Collect toys, clothes or blocks of the same colour.
Sort them into bowls or baskets.
Sorting by colour helps children learn to classify objects and strengthens vocabulary.
4. Nature Sorting
Head outdoors and collect leaves, sticks, pinecones or stones.
Sort them by size, shape, or texture.
Make little piles or use a tray to group them.
This encourages observation skills and introduces early scientific thinking alongside maths.
5. Movement Match Game
Place number cards, shapes, or pictures around the room.
Call out a challenge like “find two the same!” or “find something bigger!
Let your child run, jump or hop to the matching pair.
Combining movement with thinking strengthens memory and makes learning fun and active.
Why Sorting & Matching Matters
These activities may look simple, but they give children essential building blocks for maths. By spotting similarities and differences, grouping objects and matching pairs, children are preparing for concepts like pattern, addition, subtraction and problem-solving at school.
At Jump Start Maths, we weave these skills into every class through teacher-led activities, playful tuff tray set-ups, gross motor games and explorative play, all in a friendly, welcoming environment. And of course, our class mascot Flossie the Frog comes along too!
Come and Join the Fun!
If your child loves playful learning, why not try a Jump Start Maths class?
💛 First class is half price for new families with code TRIAL.
🎟️ Find a class near you: www.jumpstartmaths.com/booking