Recognizing patterns and copying them is an important pre-literacy skill. For this activity, you may use play dough you have purchased, or make a batch of colored play dough using the following recipe:
3 cups flour
1 cup salt
3 tablespoons cooking oil
1 cup water with food coloring added
In a bowl, mix the dry ingredients. Next, add the oil and water. Stir to mix well; continue mixing with your hands until a soft ball is formed. Store in an airtight container.
Using large and small cookie cutters and a strip of newsprint or copy paper (cut in thirds and taped lengthwise to make a long narrow strip), help your child trace a repeating pattern. Continue making other repeating patterns on the remaining strips of paper. Leave room on the end of each strip so that your child can continue the pattern or sequence. Using play dough and the large and small cookie cutters, encourage your child to roll out and create large and small shapes to place on each paper strip and continue the repeating pattern.
This activity can be modified for use without play dough. Take several index cards cut in half or small pieces of paper and help your child trace shapes on each card. Arrange the cards in a repeating pattern. Then, encourage your child to continue the sequence using his cards. Colored circles may also be used in place of shapes. For variety, during snack, use small treats such as colored goldfish crackers or different shaped pretzels to make repeating patterns.