Quality interactions with your child don’t have to be complex or expensive! Your child’s curious mind can be engaged by the simplest tasks, like matching lids to containers. This easy activity can help develop important cognitive and early science skills (persistence, focus and visual discrimination) as well as fine motor control.

1. Collect 3–4 empty containers with matching lids from your kitchen. Try to choose a variety of containers and lids.

2. Talk to your child about each container and what goes in it. Show and explain to your child how to take the lid off and put it back on. Help your child practice with each container.

3. Remove all the lids from the containers and see if your child can match the container to the lid. Ask your child questions as they practice. For example, “Does the blue lid go on the peanut butter jar? What about the green lid?” If your child gets frustrated, talk to your child about how feeling frustrated is natural but it’s important to keep trying!

 

4. As your child develops their skills with the containers in front of them, try to gradually switch out the containers for new ones. See if your child can figure out the new lids all on their own!