For individuals with visual impairments, sorting socks can be a challenge. Sometimes people make it easy on themselves by purchasing and wearing only one style and color of sock. However, others wish to have a variety of styles and colors.
To keep socks together, socks can be washed in pairs by attaching them together with sock locks / sock sorters / sock organizers. These are small rings with inner teeth that you pull the pair of socks through to keep them together in the wash, and in your drawer if you wish. I don’t recommend using safety pins because they can come undone, rust, or get stuck in the washer, which creates a safety hazard.
The sock folding method in the video can be used with long socks, short socks, tube socks, or any style of socks. Here’s how:
- Place a pair of socks on a flat surface like a table or a counter.
- Lay one sock flat on top of the other with the toes together, the heels together, and the cuffs together.
- Turn the socks so that the toes are near your body and the cuffs (open ends) are away from your body.
- Pinch the toes and roll the socks tightly away from your body until you reach the cuff.
- With your right hand, grasp the sock roll, along with the 3 inside edges of the cuff. Hold tightly.
- With your left hand, grasp the remaining outer edge of the cuff and pull it up and around the ball. Ta-da! You’ve folded your socks.
Matching and sorting are important early literacy skills to master! For older or more advanced students, they can try following the written directions or create their own set of directions in a procedural writing activity.
