Educational Focus
Children practice qualitative comparisons in an activity that requires them to match gift boxes with various shapes, wrappings, ribbons and tags.
Skills: Comparing shapes, sorting by multiple attributes.

Level 1: Match 1 box according to 2 attributes.
Level 2: Match 2 boxes according to 2 attributes.
Level 3: Match 2 boxes according to 3 attributes.
Level 4: Match 3 boxes according to 3 attributes.
Level 5: Match 3 boxes according to 4 attributes.

Together Time Tips
Your child can have fun learning about matching with these creative activities. Here are some “together time” ideas you can enjoy indoors.

HAT DAY
Here’s what you will need:

• Old magazines
• Glue
• Scissors
• Construction paper
• Crayons or magic markers
• Yarn

Cut strips of construction paper about 4 inches wide and long enough to go around your child’s head. Fasten the ends of each strip to make a set of hats. Now decorate a hat using magic markers, multi-colored construction paper strips or yarn. Try to make matching hats with the same colors and shapes. Encourage your child to discuss the colors and shapes you use to decorate. Make as many hats as you like and proclaim the day, “Hat Day”.

TOY IN THE BOX
Here’s what you will need:

• 5 boxes of various sizes
• Toys from around the house that fit in the box

Help your child find 5 toys or other objects around the house that fit in the various sized boxes or containers. Discuss the size and shape of the toys and the boxes. Now, mix up all the boxes and toys and have your child match up each toy to a box that fits. You can try this activity with more items each time. Have Fun!

 MY GIFT BOX
 Here’s what you will need:

• Empty box (cigar box or shoebox) 
• Glue 
• Paint, permanent markers, and/or glitter
• Scissors 
• Photos, drawings, scraps of fabric, sea shells, trinkets, etc.

Your child can create a wonderful jewelry box or storage box for neat stuff. Decorate the box using fabric, glitter, sea shells or other trinkets.
You can encourage your youngster to use the box to store his/her things. This is also a nice project to make a present for an upcoming family member’s birthday. Happy decorating!

Rewards 
Your child deserves a reward for his/her efforts. Each time your child completes 3 screens a reward awaits – a star. As your child progresses and completes more screens, the number of stars grows and grows. Your child can accumulate up to 12 stars. A screen is considered “completed” after your child matches all the objects in the screen. Please note: The stars will continue to accumulate even if you decide to change the difficulty level for your child.

Help
Help your child focus on each box on the table. Discuss the different features – color, shape, size, etc. Point out unique features such as tags or ribbons. Encourage your child to find the identical box on the shelf. Point out a box with the same shape but other features that are different. Discuss the similarities and the differences.