During playtime at the table one day, Emma explored the transport counters, carefully selecting two vehicles that were the same type and colour. Each time she found a pair, she asked, “Does it match?” Inspired by her enthusiasm and curiosity, I introduced a small group activity using a sheet with coloured spots, inviting the children to match the vehicles to their corresponding colours.
TongTong joined the activity and experimented with different colour spots before finding the correct match. He placed his vehicle on each colour and looked to me for a smile or a gentle head shake to confirm his choice. When he finished, we counted the vehicles together, making the clean-up process both interactive and meaningful. The game quickly gained popularity and drew interest from Asal and Hazel, who eagerly took turns and showed their enjoyment through active participation.
As Emma watched Finley, she observed closely as he examined each vehicle and confidently placed it on the matching colour spot, saying, “It goes there.” Finley extended his learning by counting all the vehicles, reaching all the way to sixteen! Meanwhile, Penny F and Rory focused on identifying and naming the different types of vehicles as they played. Nasir showed a strong preference for trains and cars, sorting them by type and lining them up in neat, organized rows.
What began with Emma’s curiosity developed into a collaborative learning experience that engaged several children. The matching and counting activity supported early math concepts, language development, and positive social interactions in a playful, meaningful context. Moving forward, I plan to extend this learning by introducing new sorting categories, such as vehicle size or purpose, to deepen the children’s understanding and continue supporting their problem-solving skills.
