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Sort the buttons: a play idea for 3 year olds

Sorting the same things in different ways is flexible thinking. It takes about 10 minutes and uses a jar of buttons, a muffin tin or egg carton.

Checked October 29, 2026.

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How to play

Sort the buttons3 year olds · about 10 minutes

You need: a jar of buttons, a muffin tin or egg carton.

  1. Tip a handful of buttons onto a tray.
  2. Sort them into the muffin tin cups by color.
  3. Sort them again by size, or by how many holes they have.
  4. Count them back into the jar together.

Builds: thinking and problem solving and moving and using hands. Sorting the same things in different ways is flexible thinking.

Safety: Small pieces are a choking hazard for children under 3: keep them away from younger brothers and sisters, and count them back in when you finish.

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