Things get so busy in the lead up to Christmas, my plan this year is create little games and activities that the children can do independently to keep them busy whilst I'm getting everything ready for the big day. This Christmas stocking matching activity is perfect for keeping Ethan busy and teaching him about matching and counting as well as helping with his fine motor skills.
He finished up the game and pegged all of his matching pairs proudly to the line. I also love that these stockings look really cute on the line, so we can keep them hung up along the fireplace when we're not playing with them and they work as Christmas decorations as well.
This post is part of a blog hop of fantastic Christmas Activities for Kids, take a look at all of these fabulous ideas!
You will need:
- stocking shapes cut out of foam sheets
- foam stickers
- washi tape
- string or ribbon
- clothes pegs
I started by setting out all of the materials for Ethan to decorate his stockings, just giving him the instruction that he had to make matching pairs and helping him along if he asked me any questions. He decorated some with foam stickers and some with washi tape and did a really good job at making matching pairs.
Once they were finished we put them all on the string in their pairs and talked about how they all matched and how if we mixed them up then we could put them all back together in their pairs.
I set up the matching game by turning all of the stockings upside down beside the string with clothes pegs. We played the game two different ways, either Ethan playing on his own or us each taking turns. He turned over one stocking at a time and tried to find matching pairs.
When he found a matching pair then he could peg them to the string, working on his fine motor skills to open up the peg widely and place both the stocking and the string inside. It took him a minute to get the hang of it, but soon managed really well.
Sometimes he didn't find a matching pair, then it would go onto my turn or he would turn them back over and go on to find another match.
He finished up the game and pegged all of his matching pairs proudly to the line. I also love that these stockings look really cute on the line, so we can keep them hung up along the fireplace when we're not playing with them and they work as Christmas decorations as well.
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT:
Christmas Tree Counting Fine Motor Activity // Sugar Aunts
Fine Motor and Color Sorting Christmas Trees // Teach Me Mommy
Christmas I Spy Bottle // The Pleasantest Thing
Christmas Tree Counting Number Cards // Modern Preschool
Christmas Playdough Kit // Study At Home Mama
Reusable Pom Pom Christmas Tree Busy Bag // Powerful Mothering
Free Printable Christmas Games // Life Over Cs
Free Gingerbread CVC Game // The Kindergarten Connection
DIY Christmas Tic Tac Toe // Adventures of Adam
Free Christmas Number Clip Cards // Fairy Poppins
Free Christmas Themed Prewriting Practice Cards // Stay At Home Educator
Felt Christmas Tree Number Match Up // Frogs Snails and Puppy Dog Tails
Christmas Stocking Matching Activity // Play & Learn Everyday
Free Printable Holiday Word Clouds // Lalymom
Christmas Addition to 15 // Liz's Early Learning Spot
Free Christmas Counting Cards // Playdough to Plato
Christmas Stamp Patterns // Still Playing School
Christmas Tree Decorating Felt Busy Bag // Coffee Cups and Crayons
