Fanciful Feather Match & Sort                                                                                

Get Ready:  Purchase feathers from your local dollar store.  On a piece of paper, draw a circle for each color of the feathers using that color of crayon or colored pencil.  Involve your child in picking the matching color of writing utensils.  Depending on their age, they can draw the circles!  

Get Set: Put the paper on a tray or table.  Spread out the feathers and encourage your child to sort the feathers – laying them inside the same color of circle.  Position the feathers in a way that your child has to cross over the mid-line of their body to pick them up!  Crossing the mid-line integrates both sides of the brain to coordinate smooth & controlled movement.

Sit Back and Watch Your Child Go:  You will see your child identify colors, use one to one correspondence as they put one feather to one circle and strengthen those finger muscles as they pick up the feathers.  You may see your child create different ways to use the feathers!  They may count, add/subtract, or even make up a game to play with you!

Want to amp up the learning?  Count the number of feathers in each circle.  Which circle has the most; the least?  Talk about the differences and similarities of the feathers.  Count the feathers all together to get a total number of feathers.  If your child is 3-5 years old, add in dice or number cards.  Roll or pick a card and count that many of one color placing them in the matching circle.  

Get Creative:  Provide glue and allow for some art work to be done.  Try tossing them in the air and see which color lands first.  Try writing or painting with the feather – use the quill end and the vane.   Provide play dough and see what your child creates! 

As your child grows: he will identify more and more things that are alike and different and be able to tell you why.  He will organize items by their different attributes.  He will increase in visual memory and the ability to identify patterns.  This all sets the foundation for future math/number concepts. 

You child will love: using his sense of touch and sight as he manipulates the colorful feathers. 

You will love: seeing his interest and observation skills grow and the excitement that comes through new experiences!