Starting Attributes with Matching and Sorting

Before diving into labeling or requesting “big” or “little,” we need to build a solid foundation. One of the best ways to start is with matching and sorting activities using real objects and photos.

• Start with identical objects in different sizes (e.g., two balls or two animals).
• Have your child match “big ball to big ball” and “little ball to little ball.”
• Use the same type of object to avoid confusion due to shape or color differences.

This reduces distractions and helps kids focus on size as the defining feature.

Labeling Big Vs. Little

Once your child can match objects by size, you can begin to teach the labels “big” and “little.”

Try holding up two items—say, a big cat and a little cat—and ask, “Which one is big?”
Reward success with immediate praise or a small reinforcer (like tickles or snacks).

You can also prompt expressive language by asking, “What is this?” and encouraging responses like “big ball” or “little car.”

Teaching Features: Ears, Tails, and Stripes

Beyond size, teaching children to notice features of objects and animals helps with vocabulary growth and attention to detail. This is especially important for language development and even early reading readiness.

For example:

• Show pictures of animals with and without stripes.

• Ask, “Which one has stripes?”

• Or give verbal cues like, “Find the animal with a tail.”

You can also include features like:

• Ears

• Spots

• Horns

• Beaks

• Colors

These types of feature-based lessons increase receptive language skills and help children answer “wh” questions more easily.