They put a blue bead, a red bead, a blue bead, a red bead. Then they look up and say "blue now". They've just done pattern recognition. One of the most important thinking skills in preschool, and the foundation of all mathematics. Multiplication is a pattern. Counting is a pattern. Algebra is patterns. It all starts here.
This article shows concrete games for a 3–5-year-old that train patterns. At Kluriko there are pattern games in the Learning Games' maths section, but at home with blocks, beads, hands — that's where they learn fastest.
What is a pattern?
A pattern is a repeated sequence. Something that happens over and over in the same order.
- AB: red, blue, red, blue, red, blue
- ABC: red, blue, yellow, red, blue, yellow
- ABB: red, blue, blue, red, blue, blue
- AAB: red, red, blue, red, red, blue
- ABCD: red, blue, yellow, green, red, blue, yellow, green
And so on. There are infinite patterns — and the brain loves them.
Why do patterns matter?
Foreshadows maths. Multiplication is "the same thing times several". That's pattern.
Foreshadows reading. Decoding is seeing letter patterns in words.
Foreshadows problem solving. Predicting what comes next is reasoning. Central to every school subject.
Foreshadows music. Rhythm is pattern.
Training pattern recognition is training a foundational cognitive skill that helps with everything.
Ten pattern games
1. Bead patterns
Lay AB: red, blue, red, blue. They continue. Then ABC. Then ABB.
2. Clap patterns
"Clap, snap, clap, snap, clap..." They continue. Then "clap, clap, snap, clap, clap, snap..."
3. Hop patterns
"Hop twice on right foot, once on left. Two right, one left..." They continue.
4. Food patterns
At snack time: "We eat one blue (blueberry), one red (strawberry), one blue, one red..."
5. Sock patterns
Laundry: "Put a black sock, a white, a black, a white..."
6. Walk patterns
"Hop over one curb, walk over the next, hop, walk..."
7. Outfit patterns
"We wear red Monday, blue Tuesday, red Wednesday, blue Thursday..."
8. Word patterns
"Say an animal. Say a fruit. Say an animal. Say a fruit." They produce the pattern. Dog, banana, cat, apple, cow, pear...
9. Movement patterns
"Stand up, sit down, stand up, sit down..." Quick physical play.
10. Book patterns
Some picture books (Eric Carle's, The Very Hungry Caterpillar) have built-in patterns. They spot them.
When does pattern recognition start?
Age 2: starts recognising some patterns, often in movement or song.
Age 3: can follow simple AB patterns with support.
Age 4: can do AB and ABC patterns alone.
Age 5: can do ABB, AAB, ABCD patterns. Can invent their own.
Age 6: sees patterns in numbers (even numbers are a pattern). Pattern is both concrete and abstract.
Common problems
They "continue" without a pattern. They lay beads: red, blue, red, blue, green. They don't see the pattern yet. Show concretely: "We made red-blue. What comes next?" Slow repetition.
They lose the pattern after 5 elements. Common at 3. Short but not long. Build with time.
They don't want to do patterns. OK. Play subtly — you make patterns yourself, they watch.
Patterns in nature
They'll discover patterns everywhere if you point:
- Bricks in a wall (pattern!)
- Tree branches (pattern)
- Waves in the sea (pattern)
- The starry sky (pattern)
- Snowflakes (pattern)
Show nature's patterns. They learn to see patterns, not just create them.
Favourite pattern games
- Memory with pattern cards
- Jigsaws with repeated shapes
- Pattern toys (Mosaic, Geometric Pattern Blocks)
- Bead threading (beads on wooden sticks)
- Stencil patterns (drawing patterns on paper)
Geometric patterns
For 5-year-olds: introduce geometric patterns.
- Triangle, square, triangle, square...
- Big circle, small circle, big circle, small circle...
- Lying, standing, lying, standing...
Patterns in numbers
At 5–6 they start seeing number patterns:
- Even numbers: 2, 4, 6, 8...
- Odd numbers: 1, 3, 5, 7...
- Tens: 10, 20, 30, 40...
- Fives: 5, 10, 15, 20...
This is broad maths thinking. The 100-grid visualises these patterns.
How Kluriko helps
Kluriko Learning Games have pattern games where they see a sequence and pick the next. One of the most popular mini-games for 4–5-year-olds. Trains exactly the right skill.