May 1, 2025 — By Wendy Sachs

Let’s take a moment to appreciate something magical: playtime. It might look like organized chaos (okay, sometimes just chaos), but underneath all that block-stacking and puzzle-solving is a whole lot of learning. Yep, our tiny humans are actually building some pretty big brain power while they’re knee-deep in toys.

So let’s break down a few basic skills that kiddos pick up through play—and how we can help them level up with the right toys and materials!

Stacking: Building Coordination and Problem-Solving

When children stack blocks, cups, or rings, they’re not only creating tall towers—they’re also strengthening:

  • Fine motor control
  • Hand-eye coordination
  • Spatial awareness
  • Early problem-solving abilities

Helpful materials: Wooden or foam blocks, stacking rings, nesting cups, and soft stackable toys.

Game Ideas: Building and breaking down towers, Jenga, stacking dishes, stacking crazy shapes.

Sorting: Laying the Groundwork for Math Skills

Sorting objects by color, shape, size, or texture helps children begin to understand how things relate to one another. This introduces foundational concepts in math and logic, including:

  • Visual discrimination
  • Classification and organization
  • Counting and early numeracy

Helpful materials: Sorting bears, colored counters, shape sorters, natural items (like leaves or rocks), and color-coded bins.

Game Ideas: Sorting plastic toys like veggies or little cars, sorting M&Ms or Skittles, sorting pom poms or buttons, sorting stickers or crayon colors on art projects.

Matching: Developing Memory and Focus

Matching activities support visual recognition, memory retention, and attention to detail. Whether using picture cards or pairing socks from the dramatic play bin, children are strengthening:

  • Cognitive processing
  • Visual memory
  • Attention and concentration
  • Early literacy and math connections

Helpful materials: Memory games, picture card sets, matching puzzles, and custom-made cards using classroom themes.

Game Ideas: Photographs are great for this! Nature walk then reconstruct, faces with names, put items in a bag and have kids remember them.

Sequencing: Understanding Order and Logic

Sequencing helps children make sense of routines, processes, and stories. It nurtures logical thinking and early literacy by reinforcing the idea of order:

  • Cause and effect
  • Story comprehension
  • Pattern recognition
  • Temporal awareness (first, next, last)

Helpful materials: Story sequence cards, nesting dolls, visual routine charts, and cooking or craft steps.

Game Ideas: Using recipes and making up a recipe, putting things in order from small to large, making charts from light to dark colors.

Classification: Organizing the World Around Them

Classification allows children to observe, compare, and group items based on shared characteristics. This builds a strong foundation for critical thinking and scientific reasoning:

  • Analytical thinking
  • Vocabulary development
  • Conceptual understanding

Helpful materials: Animal or vehicle figurines, sorting trays, sensory bins with mixed items, and picture sets with multiple categories.

Game Ideas: Sorting items into different baskets such as animals or foods, categorizing foods as salty, sweet and sour, sorting leaves or outdoor materials into categories.

Play-based learning isn’t just effective—it’s essential. By creating an environment rich with open-ended materials and developmentally appropriate activities, we help children explore, discover, and build the foundational skills they need to thrive. Whether it’s through stacking blocks or sequencing stories, every playful moment is an opportunity to learn.