How to Teach Preschoolers The Difference Between Big and Small

By Mrunal - Updated: October 31, 2018

In this Article

How to Teach Big and Small to Preschoolers

It’s important to teach your child the basic concept of big and small as he gets ready for preschool. The activities listed here will help you formulate your lesson plan on big and small for preschool. Remember to make it fun. If he enjoys what he’s doing, he’ll learn sooner!

Teaching the difference between big and small is generally the starting place for preschoolers when teaching them opposites and mathematical concepts. You can help your child learn quickly by incorporating fun ideas in your lesson plan.

How to Teach Big and Small to Preschoolers

Show him picture books demonstrating the difference between the two concepts. You can take it a step further and show him real objects that highlight difference in size.

All children love playing with balls and blocks. A fun activity to teach your child the concept of big and small is to mix different sized balls or blocks, and ask him to sort the big from the small.

Music is a wonderful way of introducing new concepts to preschoolers. Play some fun nursery rhymes about big and small. Try out ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’- it never fails to enchant!

You can also create ‘big and small’ activities for kids. Staple a few pages together to make a book. Ask your child to draw small things and big things. You can also have him look for pictures of small and big objects in an old magazine, cut them, and paste them in the book.

Make a box of assorted items containing things in 2 sizes. For example, a big rock and a small rock, a long pencil and a short one, and a big jar and a small jar. Get 2 empty cartons, one big and one small, and ask your preschooler to help you sort the big and the small items into them.

Try and use the terms ‘big’ and ‘small’ in daily life as much as you can, even in normal conversations with your child. Show him examples of big and small as you go about your routine.

Stacking and sorting toys are a great way to teach your child the difference between big and small. You can get nested bowls or stacking rings, which demonstrate the difference. You can do the same with regular household items. Give your child plastic bowls or straws or pencils of varying sizes.

Games are always fun and all children love them, especially outdoors games. Take your preschooler to the playground and give him fun instructions like “Put something small in your pocket”, “Hide behind something big”, and “Touch the biggest thing you see”. This is a fun and exciting big-and-small game for children as they love running around following the instructions.

Most preschoolers enjoy talking about how big they are, and like comparing themselves to other objects or children. These activities will also interest them. Encourage your child to play and see how quickly he learns.

Previous article « Party Wear Ideas for your Little Prince and Princess

Next article Leg Development in your Newborn »