Teaching Children About Shapes

Teaching children about shapes can be a fun and engaging activity that can help them develop their cognitive, language, and motor skills.

Teaching Children About Shapes

Here are some tips on how to teach children about shapes:

Introduce basic shapes: Start by introducing basic shapes such as circles, squares, triangles, and rectangles. You can do this by pointing out shapes in the environment, such as a circle clock or square window. Experience Curriculum Toddler and Preschool programs provide Circle Time displays and shape materials so you can introduce and focus on a new shape each month.

teaching children about shapes with playdough activities

Use hands on materials: Use hands on materials such as foam shapes, manipulatives, playdough or shape games to help toddlers and preschoolers recognize and identify shapes.

Diamond shape sack and shape cards from Experience Curriculum
Shape Sack 2022-23 Shape Tool

Use simple language: Use simple language when describing shapes, such as “this is a circle” or “this is a square”. Repeat the name of the shape several times to reinforce the concept.

bug shapes with pattern blocks from Experience Curriculum for teaching children about shapes

Practice tracing and drawing: Encourage children to trace shapes with their fingers or with a pencil on a piece of paper. This will help them develop their motor skills and reinforce their understanding of shapes.

Play shape games: Play games that involve shapes, such as shape puzzles, shape sorting, or shape matching games. Add a sensory component to play to make it engaging.

Heart Garden foam heart shapes in a sand sensory bin with math shape mat for matching

Make shape crafts: Create shape crafts with toddlers, such as star wands or making a shape collage. Each month find shape Make & Play or Invitation to Create art projects in Experience Toddler or Experience Preschool curriculum.

teaching children about shapes with arts and crafts - star wands

Read shape books: Read books about shapes. This will help children learn about different shapes and reinforce their understanding of them.

teaching children about shapes with books

Make learning about shapes fun and engaging for young children with quality research-based activities included in Experience Curriculum kits. By using a variety of activities and materials, you can help them develop their understanding of shapes and strengthen their cognitive, language, and motor skills.

Join our community of educators and teach shape skills through hands on engaging play!


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