When you have time, try sorting laundry in different ways to teach other skills as well. For example:
Matching Skills
Ask your toddler to help you...
- Find all of one specific type of clothing like all the socks.
- Phrase it a different way and say find all the clothing items that you can wear on your feet.
- Find clothing based on a pattern like everything with stripes or dots.
Large Motor Skills
Ask your toddler to help you...
- Throw clothes into laundry baskets that have been placed a few feet away, like playing basketball.
- Carry laundry baskets or piles of clothes to the laundry room.
- Return the empty laundry baskets to bathrooms and bedrooms.
- Move clothing from the washer to the dryer.
Fine Motor Skills
Ask your toddler to help you...
- Zip or unzip zippers while sorting.
- Turn socks right side out.
- Button or unbutton clothing.
- Check pockets for items you don't want going through the wash.
Color Recognition
Ask your toddler to help you...
- Find all the clothing that is a specific color starting with those you are sure your child knows.
- Find clothing of colors your child doesn't know yet.
- Find clothing using an alternative name for a color you are sure he knows (like lavender for something that is light purple). Be sure to explain the difference.
- Find clothing that is dark, light or bright.
Memory Skills
Ask your toddler to help you...
- Find the clothes that belong to a specific family member.
- Find the items that belong in a certain room (like the bathroom).
- Find what he wore yesterday.
Math Skills
Ask your toddler to help you...
- Count each item he puts into a pile.
- Count how many pieces go into the washer or dryer as they go in.
- Get a measuring tape and measure how high or wide the pile of laundry is.
- Measure the detergent and fabric softener.
Practice Following Directions
Ask your toddler to help you...
- Do small things, even if they aren't necessary. ("Can you hold that shirt open so I can see the puppy on the front? That's one of my favorite shirts of yours!")
- Do thoughtful or considerate things. ("Will you hold the door open for me since I have a heavy basket in my hands?"
- Do things using words that indicate direction and placement. ("Will you put that inside the basket?" or "Will you place it on top of the dryer?" or "Can you carry that over your shoulder?")
- Do things using words that indicate degrees. ("Can you hand that to me quickly?" or "Will you place this in the basket gently?" or even get silly with it, like "Can you slam that washcloth in there?")
And always look for those teachable moments and keep talking. Everyday tasks like laundry can become mundane affairs, but remember that for your toddler, all these experiences are brand new and full of discovery. Keep up the fun and the learning will follow.