Young children start to actively observe their world and learn from
it from the moment of birth. Children’s understanding that objects
differ in size, colour, shape, weight, smell and texture, introduces them
to the discovery of similarities and differences (comparing). In this
way they discover from an early age that things around them look,
smell, feel and weigh different.
These concepts form important foundations (the knowledge and
skills of the child) that will support the understanding of more
complex concepts in language, mathematics and other areas later.
Content developed by departments of social development and basic education with UNICEF South Africa.