For The Tots: DIY Montessori Inspired Language Activity

One day last week, Dirty D and I were working together to clean his room (sad to say, it didn't stay clean long) when I found several small farm animal toys that he doesn't really play with anymore.  I figured since they weren't getting any use in his room, I could grab them and use them as manipulatives for a simple matching activity for Curls.

First I picked out six of the little plastic animal toys.

Then I went online and searched for simple photographs of each animal, which I copied and pasted into a word document. (Real photographs of animals are better at this stage of development than cartoon and/or clipart pictures)  After resizing the photos so that they all fit on one page and labeling each animal, I printed it out on white cardstock and slipped it into one of those awesome page protector sleeves.

To introduce the activity, I simply showed Curls each toy, named it, and then showed him the matching photo on the farm animal page, setting the toy on it's corresponding photo.

After doing this a few times, I let Curls play with the toys and give the matching activity a try.

While Studly tried to nap on the floor behind him :)

Of course, Curls was more interested in mouthing the toys in the beginning, but after a couple days of repeating the activity with him in short bursts (repetition and practice, that's how the little ones learn!) he got the hang of the whole matching idea.

This activity can be created for any small toys that you have on hand: hot wheels, toy bugs, doll clothes, etc.  You can find small toys similar to the ones I used at the dollar store, although mine pictured are hold overs from my own childhood.  (as I've mentioned, I hate tossing stuff I could possibly use later!)  The key to this is to remember that it may take several days or weeks of repeating and practicing the activity before your child gets it and actually makes an effort to match.  Don't be upset if they don't pick it up the first or even the fifth time!  Patience is important, always remember that the child needs to see an activity as play in order for their interest to be and stay piqued.