Bigger and Bigger

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Arranging a few items by size can be a fascinating problem for an older baby. Most babies will not be able to create a whole sequence, but with practice they will be able to fit a smaller box into a larger one or put a lid on its pot.

Offer babies nesting and stacking toys, or make up your own math games.

• Give a baby three or four nesting blocks or measuring cups that fit inside each other. Show him how to fit one into another and then let him try on his own. Most babies will not be able to get them all in order—but be sure to cheer on all their efforts.
• Place two boxes near a baby. Give him three large pom-poms and three small pom-poms.
  • Help him find the large pom-poms and put them in one box.
  • Let him put the small pom-poms in the other box. Repeat as long as he is engaged.
• Give a baby two large pot lids and one small pot lid. Talk about the lid sizes using words such as large, small, bigger, size, same, and different.
  • Have him find the lids that are the same size and bang them together.
  • Challenge him (or help him) to fit the correct lids on each pot. 

Support babies as they work out these problems. You might need to make a problem easier by offering a spoken or nonverbal hint or by reminding him of his goal. If he loses interest, let him play with the toys his own way and save the math problems for another day.