This pair matching game tutorial is the perfect activity to create for toddlers to keep busy hands and minds active!
It is Day 1 of One For the Boys ~ Boredom Busters. The reason for this series is simply that we are all going a little stir crazy with the winter weather. Here in Kelowna we have had little to no snow. The temperatures are either too freezing cold to play outside or so warm that the backyard becomes a squishy, muddy mess. So we have gotten creative with some fun projects and guest posts intended to keep our boys busy inside! Be sure to follow along!
Today I’m going to show you how to create this fun little matching came, complete with it’s own carrying case. First we’re going to make pairs of alphabet glass beads.
Pear matching game:
You will need:
Mod Podge
Paint Brush
52 Glass Beads
26 Uppercase letters
26 Lowercase letters
I created a quick printable that you can get here. I just printed it 5×7″ photo size and it worked for my small glass beads. You could use your favorite word processing program or even letter stickers instead. Please use caution when making this for younger children as the small bead size could be a choking hazard.
Cut or punch out all 52 letters and mod podge them to the underside of the beads.
To play, children will simply match the lower case letter with the upper case letter, creating pairs of letters. We also played Go Fish which was a hit with the kiddos!
This is a perfect activity for my four year olds. It will help them with letter recognition and build fine motor skills. It is a game that can grow with them as well. They can eventually organize the alphabet, spell names and group vowels.
Matching pairs of letters led me to creating this pear bag. Pair, pear.. sometimes I’m the only one who thinks that I’m funny! LOL
And I had seen a Pear Matching game at Toys R’ Us that lent inspiration.
Print the pattern onto an 11 x 8 1/2″ piece of paper and cut it out. Trace it onto the wrong side of your fabric. You will need 12 of these shapes cut out. I alternated the fabric on my pear from solid to patterned so I had 6 patterned pieces and 6 solid pieces.
Sew together 3 of your pattern shapes to make a half pear. Repeat so that you have four half pears.
Make a few cuts into the seam allowance of the narrowest part of the pear.
Make a few cuts into the seam allowance of the narrowest part of the pear.
Place two half pears, right sides facing and sew around the edges. Leave a 1 1/2″ hole for inverting. Repeat with the other two half pears.
Turn right side out and sew the 1 1/2″ hole closed.
Now place those two half pears together, right sides facing. Start sewing about 1″ from the top of the pear on one side and end sewing about 1″ from the top of the other side.
Turn right side out.
Fold the top section of the pear down on the inside {about an inch} and pin in place. Top stitch this into place, creating a sleeve. Thread a ribbon through the sleeve and fill with alphabet glass beads.
The ribbon gives the bag a cute stem / drawstring effect.
And this pear bag is the perfect size for our pairs of glass beads!
The boys have been having all sorts of fun with these beads. This would be the perfect game to take on a picnic in the spring or camping in the summer too!
Thank you for joining us.
I hope that you’ll follow along on facebook and stop by tomorrow for a Quick Reading Nook transformation!
Linking to these parties.
Cute cute! My boys would love the pebbles! :)
Love this idea. I’m not crafty enough to make the pear bag, but I’m definitely going to make the letter pebbles.
I can’t wait to make this for my niece! She is going to love it! Thank you for the inspiration!
Featured this adorable little pear tonight! : ) Hope you have an awesome week!!
This is adorable and such a good idea! That bag is soo cute!
This is super cute! I’d love for you to stop by and link up:
https://tutusandteaparties.blogspot.com/search/label/Link%20Party
Hi Heather! This is awe to the some! Thanks so sharing. Found you through Cherished Bliss. New follower :)
Kelly
http://www.livelaughrowe.com
Stopping by from the Girl Creative Blog Hop! https://queenofsavings.com
Cute! Gotta keep those boys busy! I have 1 little boy, and I already go crazy trying to keep him occupied – this will be a great project for when he’s older (the marbles are a choking thing for him right now). Thanks for sharing!
http://www.onedogwoof.blogspot.com
That is the cutest little carrying baggy. Great job!
Love for you to share this at my Wednesday’s “Made by ME” linky party here:
https://www.jaqsstudio.com/2012/02/made-by-me-20-linky-party.html
Please remember that these are glass and they will break easily if the bag is dropped or handled roughly. I would recommend adult supervision. Just my thoughts.