Occupation Match-Up
Parent plays a matching game with their child, connecting community helpers with their tools. The agent coaches the parent to observe how the child categorizes objects by function, names body parts and their purposes, and recognizes personally meaningful numbers — building early systems thinking and occupational awareness.
Opens a guided voice session in TogetherTime.
What you'll need
Parent and child sitting together on floor or at table. Have pictures or toys representing 3-4 occupations (doctor, firefighter, chef, mail carrier) and their matching tools. Can use drawings, toy figures, or household items. Space should be calm with minimal distractions.
How it works
- 1~30s
Let's start with the doctor. Show your child the doctor picture or toy and say 'This is a doctor. Doctors help people feel better.' Then show the stethoscope and ask 'What does the doctor use this for?' Watch how your child responds — does they name it, point to it, or show understanding by pretending to listen to a heartbeat? Tell me what you notice.
Watch for: Child correctly associates a tool with its corresponding occupation, either by naming, pointing, or demonstrating use.
- 2~35s
Now let's connect to body parts. Hold up the stethoscope again and ask 'Where does the doctor listen?' or 'What body part do we use to hear?' Watch if your child points to their ear, names it, or shows understanding of its function. You can extend this — for a chef, ask 'What do we use to taste the food?' or for a firefighter, 'What do we use to see the fire?' Focus on one or two body parts. What does your child do?
Watch for: Child identifies body parts and connects them to their basic functions within occupational contexts.
- 3~40s
Let's add numbers with personal meaning. Ask your child 'How old are you?' or 'What's your age?' Watch if they can say or show the number. You can extend this by asking about the doctor — 'How many ears do we have?' or the firefighter — 'How many wheels on a fire truck?' Look for any recognition of small, meaningful numbers. What does your child do?
Watch for: Child identifies numbers with personal relevance, such as age, or small quantities related to the activity.