Pretty Patterns
Engagement Time
15 Minutes
Pretty Patterns is designed to improve your little one’s ability to identify, continue and create patterns.
Materials Required
Pen; coloured pencils; markers. Paper Or, A number of items of similar variety ie. 6 toy cars and 6 clothes pegs.
Method
For this activity you can have your little one complete a pattern you have begun for them such as car; peg; car; peg or fork; spoon; fork; spoon. The younger the child the more tangible the pattern needs to be and the fewer the number of items in the pattern. As your little one masters the concept of tangible patterns you can move to pen and paper patterns and have them add to a pattern you have created for them such as circle; square; circle; square. You could also create coloured patterns such as red; blue; red; blue. Once your little one has mastered this (which will not take long at all) you can move to more complex patterns such as red square; blue triangle; green line; red square; blue triangle; green line. Extension: Once you little one has completely mastered more complex patterns you could give them a pattern such as square; circle ____; rectangle; square; circle; triangle; rectangle and have them fill in the missing picture. You could also have your little one start a number of patterns on a piece of paper and put this away for another day for them to finish or create patterns for you to complete. Note: Once your little one understands how patterns work you need not limit your patterns to tangible or written items but rather this activity could be used when you are out and about as a verbal activity by saying the pattern and having your little one tell you the next few items.
