Sometimes, when we have to remember a large amount of information, we use the strategy of noticing a pattern. Suddenly, the amount of information we need to hold in our memory is much, much smaller. The pattern makes the job easier. Being able to notice, figure out and make patterns is a powerful thinking strategy for kindergarten readiness and beyond.
Patterning will be a skill that kids explore at kindergarten, but lots of experiences will help children develop their patterning abilities. One of their early patterning activities is crawling/walking; left-right, left-right, left-right is a pattern. Music, books, singing, talking, rhymes, and of course playing will all help build patterning and readiness for kindergarten.
Here is a picture of a quick way to play with patterns. When a 3-year old was playing trains, I lined up a few cars in a simple pattern: recd-blue, red-blue. I said each color and pointed to the cars. I spoke to the train cars and told them they were making a pattern, first red then blue, then red and blue again. Then I asked the child what color would come next and together we figured out a red one. The child was able to say blue would come after that but then playing changed to putting blocks on the cars.
Some children may catch the idea and some may need lots more fun with patterns before they understand. When dressing your child you may suddenly notice that a shirt has a pattern, “Look at that, your t-shirt has lines in a pattern. It goes blue-yellow, blue-yellow all over.” Or a cereal bowl may have a pattern. Maybe snack time will have a pattern, slice of banana and then a grape, slice of banana and then a grape. Usually in a day patterns will pop up frequently. Just a few seconds here and there will add up to helping build patterning and memory. What patterns can you and your child find today?