Understanding Same and Different “A Chihuahua Isn’t a Mouse, Silly…It’s a Dog!”

Understanding Same and Different “A Chihuahua Isn’t a Mouse, Silly…It’s a Dog!”


From the moment she was born, your child has been learning by observing the world around her. She started with a blank slate, so it took some time for her to understand how to categorize objects. For example, if you didn’t have a clear concept of what a “dog” is, you might find it hard to believe that a Chihuahua and a Great Dane belong to the same species! Your child had trouble with this starting out, but now that she is three to four years old, she can easily understand this. She can even recognize new dog types as “dogs” on her own! This skill is known as classification, and young children are increasingly able to understand the concepts of “same” and “different.”

(Playful Bee is launching our new DIY Preschool from Birth program! Click here to enroll.)

Play Tips:

How can you support your child’s development of this Understanding Same and Different skill at this age? It’s as easy as 1-2-3.

  1. Look for same and different all around. Use everyday activities to teach your child how to classify “same” and “different.” You could talk about animals you see on a walk together, foods on her plate during a meal, or laundry (e.g. shirts, pants, socks, underpants, towels), asking her to sort it into piles while you fold it.
  2. Play Memory together. The classic game of Memory is a great way to reinforce the concept of “same.” It consists of a set of cards with pictures on one side (two of each design) and blank on the other. Place the cards face down and take turns flipping over two at a time, looking for pairs. If you can’t find Memory at the store, it’s very easy to make your own version. You could personalize the game to your child’s favorite subjects or use pictures of family members. Print out the pictures on card stock and then laminate them to keep them sturdy.
  3. Play a color sorting game. You can play color-sorting games in a variety of ways. Try making a color wheel on a piece of card stock, matching color clothespins to it. Or, you could get small items (e.g. beads, pompoms, buttons) in a variety of colors and then use matching colored containers to sort them, such as egg carton cups painted in a variety of colors. For an added challenge, consider having your child sort shades of colors! Just pick up a variety of paint cards at your local paint retailer. Cut them into separate color squares, and mix them up in a bowl. Label cups, bowls, or a piece of paper with the different primary color names, and let her work on this advanced sorting game. She can also try putting these color squares in order from lightest to darkest.

(Playful Bee is launching our new DIY Preschool from Birth program! Click here to enroll.)

Developmental Milestones:

Has your baby achieved the following Understanding Same and Different developmental milestones yet? If yes, check off all the skill(s) he has already mastered to date using Playful Bee’s developmental milestones tracker. It’s absolutely FREE and easy to use, just click HERE!

  • Understands the idea of “same” and “different.”
  • Shows interest in matching and sorting.

Playful Bee

Education Team at Playful Bee
Playful Bee is an e-Preschool that delivers inquiry-based preschool learning from the classroom to your home. Our preschool curriculum was created by our talented team of rock star teachers. With years of hands-on preschool and Kindergarten teaching experience, they've developed a high-quality preschool experience that is convenient-to-use and easy-to-teach by you, grandparents, or your nanny at home.

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