Easy Pattern Matching Puzzle with Popsicle Sticks (Free Printable Patterns)

Looking for ways to engage your toddler during the summer break, here is a low-effort activity- A Pattern Matching Puzzle with Popsicle Sticks

Most young children love doing puzzles, and matching activities are one among them; as we introduce puzzles during their early years, we also introduce the concept of matching, either by matching the same color or by its shape or size.

I have a three-year-old preschooler who loves to play and enjoys making different patterns using blocks! I thought of creating these simple matching activity that is easy to set up; all you need is popsicle sticks and the patterns which you can print at the end of the post. 

Trust me; this activity took only a few minutes to set up.

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Pattern Matching Puzzle with Popsicle Sticks

Why Is It Important To Teach Pattern Matching For Toddlers and Preschoolers?

Kids start learning about patterns by identifying them with different colors and shapes and how they are being placed and matching them accordingly, and learning these simple patterns is an important fundamental that helps them develop their Early Math skills.

We can start by teaching them the more complex patterns as they get familiar with the simple patterns. These pictorial representations can help them understand a pattern and later grasp it just by looking at it, which helps them enhance their photographic memory ability.

Recommended Age for the Activity

• Suitable for toddlers aged 2 years and above.

How to Introduce the Pattern Matching Puzzle to a Toddler (2-3 year old)

1. Download and print the Pattern puzzle below.
2. Demonstrate the puzzle by positioning the matching popsicle stick on top of the pattern (refer to the above pic)
3. Now invite your toddler to do the same.
4. Ask them a few questions,
   • What color comes next?
   • What shape do you see?
   • Shall we count the popsicle sticks in the pattern?

How to Introduce the Pattern Matching Puzzle To a Preschooler (3-4 years)?

1. Download and print the Pattern puzzle below.
2. Start by demonstrating the activity before giving it to your child, and it helps them to focus and concentrate, and show them how it is being positioned and stacked on one another while replicating the pattern on the floor (refer to the pic above).
3. Now invite your Preschooler to match the pattern.
4. Ask them a few questions,

• • What comes next?
  • What is the shape of the pattern?
  • What are the different colors you can see in the pattern?
  • How many popsicle sticks are needed to make a pattern?

It can help your child develop their curiosity while making it fun and playful.

Skills Developed

1. These matching activities are amazing when introduced to toddlers which help them learn shapes and colors and can also help them improvise their hand-eye coordination and dexterity, which are fun and easy to learn.
2. These hands-on learning activities are a fantastic way to help your child develop their logical thinking skills.
3. Exploring these early math skills can help your child learn simple geometrical shapes. Later, it can help them learn the more complex mathematical patterns.
4. These are great for toddlers, which helps them increase their vocabulary and learn new words.
5. It helps them enhance their visual-spatial awareness while making predictions and understanding how each puzzle piece is being positioned to make a desired pattern.

Download and Print the Pattern Matching Puzzle

Put the email below to receive the FREE PRINTABLE I created for Popsicle Matching with different patterns as a fun learning activity for your toddlers and preschoolers.

Download and print the matching activity onto a good cardstock, and stick the printout on a cardboard cutout or laminate the pattern cards so that they are sturdier and last longer. I use this thermal laminating machine.

We’ve used both small and Jumbo-sized popsicle sticks to create these patterns. For Toddlers, I recommend the small popsicle sticks as they fit perfectly on top of the patterns.

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