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Sort the Laundry

Darks here, lights there, and a two year old who takes it very seriously.

Sort the Laundry
For ages2y - 6y
Time available15 min
Prep2 min
Mess
Noise
YouI will set it up, then step back

A real household job that doubles as one of the best early sorting activities there is.

What you need

  • a basket of clean laundry

How to do it

  1. Tip a basket of clean laundry onto the floor.
  2. Set out two piles to start: things that belong to them, and everything else.
  3. Name each item as it goes into a pile.
  4. Once that is easy, add a third pile by colour or by who it belongs to.
  5. Let them carry their own pile to their room.

Most activity lists ignore the things that actually decide it

Sorting by a single attribute, then by two, is the foundation of classification. Doing it with real laundry rather than sorting toys matters, because young children are strongly motivated by contributing to actual household work.

Adapting by age

2 to 3 yearsTwo piles maximum, and accept mistakes without correcting every one.
5 to 6 yearsAdd folding, starting with flannels and tea towels.

Keep it safe

Clean laundry only.

Cleanup tip

It is the cleanup.

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