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Dot sticker coding is a fun early learning coding activity for preschoolers. Prepare your preschooler to learn coding with this easy pattern/coding activity using dot stickers.
What is STEAM?
STEAM Education is an approach that teaching and learning that combines the skills and content of Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics.
Easy Coding For Preschoolers
This dot sticker coding and pattern matching activity is a great way to prepare your preschooler to learn coding. Learning patterns and sequencing is a critical skill necessary in order to learn how to code for kids. This screen-free coding activity for preschoolers and kindergarten aged children is a great place to start teaching your child to code.
This activity also is great for working on their fine motor skills.
How to Set Up Dot Sticker Coding
Grab cereal boxes or white card stock and dot stickers to make your pattern cards. Also grab your muffin tin and based on the number of sections in your tin you are going to create pattern cards with your dot stickers. For instance, my muffin tin was 3×4 so I made a 3×4 pattern cards.
Next, grab some items to fill your muffin tin with based on the dot sticker colors you used. There are several items you can use so grab what you have at home. Here are some options:
pom poms
LEGO DUPLO
Ball pit balls
magnetic tiles
toys
pony beads
play fruit
giant water beads
Invite your child to use tongs for items like Pom Poms to work their fine motor skills. Have them place the items in the correct muffin tin sections based on the pattern card. Use a variety of items to work through the cards.
Connecting Dot Sticker Coding Activity to STEAM
Discuss the materials before getting your preschooler to actually do the activity. Talk about the colors, the different types of items available.
Explore the material with your little one. Have them sort the items as well.
Link the dot sticker cards to the muffin tin. Showing them they have the same number of sections and that they are to populate the muffin tins based on the colors on the cards.
Make the pattern in the muffin using the different items.
Think about the patterns they are creating. Ask them to count the number of each color.
Age Suitability
This activity is good for kids 3 years and up. My kids are 4, 4, and 8 year old.
Mess Level
This is a mess level is low.
Difficulty to Create Dot Sticker Coding
Easy.
Skills Developed for Dot Sticker Coding
Sensory play, language development, hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, imaginative play, creativity.
Supplies for Dot Sticker Coding
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Our Sensory Play Kits are some fun and easy ways to keep your child engaged while at the same time using sensory play to nurture their mind!