Mitten Matching Activities - FREE PRINTABLES

Matching activities are great for developing:

• visual discrimination
• attention to detail
• memory skills

They also support early problem-solving and concentration, building confidence as children successfully match each pair.  

Katie, creator of our Montessori At-Home program, created a new winter matching activity for ages two to five - mitten matching.

Mitten Matching: Ages 2+

Mitten Matching is a simple matching activity where children are invited to match pairs of mittens.    

Instructions: 

1. Print the two pages of mittens.
2. Cut out each mitten along the outlines.
3. Mix up the mittens and place them in front of the child.
4. Demonstrate how to match 1 or 2 of the mitten pairs.
5. Invite the child to continue until all the pairs have been matched.

Tips:

• Start with 3-5 pairs, adding more as the child becomes more comfortable with the activity.
• If you have a few pairs of mittens/gloves at home, you can do this activity with real objects too.
• If your child needs more of a challenge, turn it into a memory game by placing the mittens face down and taking turns finding the pairs.

Click here to download the PDF.

Mini Mitten Matching: Ages 3+

Mini Mitten Matching uses the same images as Mitten Matching, except now one of the pages of mittens is minuscule. Older children can use a magnifying glass to match the pairs, further refining their visual discrimination skills and attention to detail.

Materials Needed:

• Magnifying Glass

Instructions:

1. Print the two pages of mittens.
2. Cut out each mitten along the outlines.
3. Lay out the large mitten cards on a flat surface. Place the mini mittens in a pile.
4. Invite your child to pick a mini mitten, examine it closely with a magnifying glass,
   and find the matching large mitten.
5. Demonstrate, if needed, by showing how to compare details carefully.

Tips:

• Start with 3-5 pairs, adding more as the child becomes more comfortable with the activity.

Click here to download the PDF.

Real-Life Mitten Matching

These activities can be turned into real-life activities by playing a matching game when folding laundry. 

Invite your child to match their socks. Not only are they getting all the benefits of matching activities as mentioned above, but they’re also learning how to care for themselves and participate in household tasks.