FM.J.114 PAIRS COMMON OBJECTS BY FUNCTION

Identifying objects that go together, or are combined for the same purpose or function, is a common preschool and school activity.

Although there are usually only 2 items in a group, this should be seen as a sorting activity, and the child should be allowed to complete it as independently as possible.

How to Assess

Materials: 5 pairs of objects that belong together, such as key and lock, sock and shoe, pencil and paper, soap and flannel, toothbrush and toothpaste.

Method: Place the 10 objects randomly on the table. Pick up one pair and say ‘Look, these go together’. Separate them again, and direct your child to find all the things that go together.

Score plus if your child correctly pairs 6 of the 10 objects without any help or further directions.

How to Teach

Start with just 2 pairs of objects, and help your child to pair them by describing the purpose for which they are used. For example, you might ask ‘I’m going to clean my teeth. What do I need?’ If only one object is offered, say ‘Yes, I need the toothbrush. What else do I need?’ Repeat for the other pair.

Build up to 3 pairs, then 4 pairs, then 5.

Vary the pairs of objects that you use – you could include a large needle and some cotton, a hammer and a nail, a dish-mop and a rubber glove, a brush and a comb, and so on.

When your child can pair 5 objects when you describe the function, as above, hold up one member of each pair and say ‘What goes with this?’ Only describe the function if an error is made.

Finally, ask your child to pair the objects without any help, as described under How to Assess.

Playtime and Round-the-house Activities

Practise this skill as much as possible in natural situations, by asking your child to find all the things he needs to clean his teeth, take to bed with him, draw a picture, go out in the rain and so on.

Remembering and Extending

You can extend this skill by increasing the number of objects you give your child to put into pairs. You can also present groups of 3, such as pencil, paper and rubber, and needle, cotton and thimble.

As a preparation for school activities, make worksheets with simple drawings of objects scattered randomly on the page, and ask your child to draw lines between the things that go together. You might find some preschool activity books offering this kind of activity in a well-stocked newsagency.