What Do I Use? Everyday Object Hands-On Matching Activity

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Learning which objects go together can help children build vocabulary, visual discrimination, categorization, and understanding of everyday routines.

In this activity, children match two related objects to each activity:

Eating – plate and spoon

Sleeping – pillow and blanket

Washing – soap and towel

Drawing – crayon and paper

This is more than identical-picture matching. Children have to recognize the relationship between different objects and their uses.

Research on matching-to-sample instruction supports the use of structured visual matching activities to teach discrimination and related learning skills.

How to Use It

Cut out the pictures and have the child place each one with the activity it belongs to. If needed, demonstrate one example first.

You can also ask simple questions such as, “What do you use when you draw?”

For additional practice, try matching, identifying, or using the same objects in real-life.

For more research-based learning strategies and printable activities, visit Education and Behavior⁠.

Rachel Wise

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Rachel Wise is the author and founder of Education and Behavior. Rachel created Education and Behavior in 2014 for adults to have an easy way to access research-based information to support children in the areas of learning, behavior, and social-emotional development. As a survivor of abuse, neglect, and bullying, Rachel slipped through the cracks of her school and community. Education and Behavior hopes to play a role in preventing that from happening to other children. Rachel is also the author of Building Confidence and Improving Behavior in Children: A Guide for Parents and Teachers.

"Children do best when there is consistency within and across settings (i.e., home, school, community). Education and Behavior allows us to maintain that consistency."