Topic “Small group”  

- Male female sorting symbols and pictures - click here to print

- You could also use photographs of family members, pictures from magazines/newspapers.

1. Collect together a variety of pictures showing different male and female people.
2. Cut out the sorting symbols - choose which ones you are going to start with. Some children find it easier to start with one concept at a time, e.g. boy/not boy rather than boy/girl, and adding the opposite concept once confident with the ones that have been worked on. Choose the words you are going to use with your child and stick with the same words for all the activites, e.g. boy/girl, male/female.
3. Place your pictures in a pile. Take turns at choosing a picture and sorting it into the correct pile. 
4. If your child sorts the picture into the wrong pile, talk it through with them and model placing the picture on the correct pile.
5. Play a turn taking game alongside sorting to make the activity fun.

- he/she plus action picture cards - click here to print

1. Print and cut out the he/she pictures. Choose one each of an action, e.g. don't have both the boy and girl running.

2. Spread the pictures out in front of you. You may like to play a turn taking game alongside using the pictures.

3. Ask the child a question, e.g. "who is cooking?"

4. The child points to the correct picture and says, for example, "he is" or "he is cooking".

5. You can sort the pictures into a pile of he/she.

A male doll

A female doll

A selection of different objects e.g. cup, ball.

- he/she plus action picture cards - click here to print

- he/she plus action picture cards - click here to print

- He/she lotto game boards - click here to print.

- a ball

1. Look at your child, say their name and roll a ball to them. 
2. Encourage your child to roll the ball back to you. If your child is unsure how to do this, ask another adult to sit with the child and gently show them how to roll the ball back. As you receive the ball, say your name, or ask the other adult to say your name.
3. Continue rolling the ball back and forth, saying the name of the person who is receiving it, until your child is ready to finish the activity.
4. Once you have taken a few turns and your child knows what to do, you can start adding the word 'turn' after the name, e.g. 'mummy's turn' 'Harry's turn'.
5. It is not expected your child will use the words as this activity can be used with children who are not yet verbal - it is important for them to hear the adult using words.