Preschool Shape

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Looking for a fun and easy activity to introduce preschool shapes and sizes to your toddler?  This Easy Activity is a great way to introduce shapes and learn about sizes.

My toddler twins are starting to get an interest in puzzles and we have some preschool shape ones at home.

While they love doing these kinds of puzzles, I also want some preschool shape activities that are different to mix things up that are also engaging and hands-on for them.

My preschool shape activity also just focuses on one or two shapes at a time so they can see that circle objects can all look different and be different colors (cups, bowls, etc.) but they all make a circle.  This will help them generalize shapes.

Since my 2-year-old twins have a huge interest in this shape toy, I wanted to do something else with shapes that would engage them and provide them with a rich learning experience.

Do you want a fun activity your toddler can do in the kitchen while you get stuff done (like cooking or dishes)?  

This activity is super simple, yet so engaging.  Plus, you can do this activity with objects you already have at home!  That’s my kind of activity!

Supplies Needed:

• Roll of paper 
• Painters Tape
• Markers or Pen
• Objects for your shapes (bowls, cups, baby food tray, Tupperware, etc.)

Setting up the activity:

• Find any objects that are the same shape (at least 3-4 items that are the same shape, but different sizes).  Find non-breakable items!

  • I chose circles and squares for this activity- and used our plastic kitchen items since we did this activity in the kitchen.  

• Trace the shapes with a pen or marker

• Write the name of the shape (for example circle or square)

  • It’s good for children to see the words even if they can’t read yet – it’s wonderful for pre-reading.  We stuck to circles and squares since shapes are a newer concept to my toddlers.  I traced the circles in one color (red) and squares with a different color (blue) to help distinguish the two shapes. 

• Have the child match the shapes/sizes

Your child will be learning so much with this easy preschool shape activity:

• This activity is a great introduction to shapes.

  • Talk about the shapes attributes: What makes a circle a circle? It’s round, it has no corners.

  • Make it very basic and easy for them to understand. This activity will show a variety of items that are all circles but all different objects.  My twins, for the most part, could distinguish between the circle and square items after doing this activity.  One of my twins said, “Elmo, square.”

• Talk about different sizes.  Some items are “too big” and some items are “too small” to fit in the circle or square I drew on the paper.

  • Ask them “What Fits?” or  “Is the plate the same size as the circle on the paper? ” – you can come up with your own questions to gear towards their learning.

  • My twins would say “Nope, too small,”  if the item didn’t fit (or “too big”).

• Hand-eye coordination

• Language skills

• Vocabulary

  •  Words they will be learning: circle, square (or any other shape you choose), big, small, size, and fit(s)

• Math skills

• Problem Solving

• Independent Learning

My toddler twins really enjoyed this preschool shape activity.  They were learning so much while doing this toddler activity.

Even if they aren’t really matching the objects in the correct spots, that’s totally okay!  The process of this activity is what is important.

They are still gaining a ton of valuable skills, which is the whole point of doing this or any activity with your child.

They are learning language skills, new vocabulary, getting an introduction to math, and being engaged while having FUN (the most important part).

I was also able to get dinner started while they engaged in this activity, so that was a bonus!  And I was able to use items I already had a home.

I hope your toddler will enjoy this activity, too!

When will you try this Easy Preschool Shape Activity?

Looking for more engaging activities to do with your toddler?  Try these!

Cookie Sheet Sensory Play

Easy ABC Activities