Little Shopper Sort
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Inspired by: H-E-B Grocery Store Exhibit
Recommended Age: 12–24 months
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How this supports your child’s development:
• Autonomy (making choices, completing a task)
• Executive Function (sorting, remembering where things go)
• Language and Literacy (naming food, following directions)
• Early Math (matching, grouping by category)

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At-Home Setup & Instructions:
Give your toddler a small grocery bag or basket and 3–5 safe pantry items (e.g., empty plastic containers, boxed pasta, large unbreakable fruit).
• For younger toddlers (12–18 months): Focus on “fill and spill.” Show them how to place items into the bag and dump them out. Narrate what they’re doing: “You put the apple in! Now it’s in your bag!” You can also name items and have them hand them to you.
• For older toddlers (18–24 months): Add a simple sorting challenge. Set out 2–3 bins labeled with pictures (fruit, cans, boxes) and invite your child to “shop” by putting each item in the correct bin.

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Parent Tip:
Turn clean-up into play by saying, “Let’s put the fruit on this shelf; can you find it?” This encourages categorization and builds independence in routines.

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