🔢 Numbers & shapes · Ages 2–3 · about 2 weeks

One for Each

Goal: Give one item to each person or place in a small pretend group.

For parents: One-to-one matching means giving one thing to each place. Start with two places, then try three. Your child can succeed by matching before they can say all the counting words.

Do together

  1. Two places for tea

    You need: Two unbreakable cups and two large spoons

    Sit together at a low table. Put out the cups and ask your child to give each one a spoon. Touch the pairs together and say 'one spoon for each cup'. Repeat with three cups if they want to.

  2. Socks on the spots

    You need: Three whole socks and paper with three large circles

    Lay the paper flat. Invite your child to put one sock on each spot. If a spot has two, help them notice the empty one and move a sock. Count the filled spots together without requiring them to repeat.

  3. Is there one for me?

    You need: Two or three large cushions and the same number of whole socks

    Pretend each cushion needs a sock. Let your child give them out. Take one away and notice the cushion without one. Ask them to bring that sock back so each cushion has one again.

Talk about it

  • Does every cup have a spoon?
  • Which spot still needs a sock?
  • Can you give this cushion one?

Words to use

  • one
  • each
  • give
  • same
  • enough

Play

  • Counting Stars
    Counting
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