The world is filled with entertaining and educational activities for children. From tall rectangular skyscrapers to wooden blocks, children notice and pick on these things before they learn to speak and tell. This is because shapes are the building blocks of our world and fundamental skills for children before they move to advance learning.
Where Does It Start?
When your child starts learning about shapes, it’s important to know which level to teach them. Usually, there are two levels to shapes: the basic level:
- Circles
- Squares
- Rectangles
- Triangles
Then there are advanced shapes like:
- Cubes
- Spheres
- Blocks
- Prisms
Ideally, a child should recognize and name these shapes regardless of which level they are being taught. Point them out where you see them and ask your child what shapes they see. Ask them to count sides and corners so they can start identifying the shapes independently.
Some Interactive Activities For Children
Several activities are designed to engage young minds while teaching them about shapes from basics to advanced. Start from the basics, and if they can grasp the concept effectively, then move to shapes in 3D. Here are some activities for children:
Stuffed Shapes
Stuffed shapes help your children by combining fine motor skills with shape Learning. You will need:
- Brown paper grocery bag
- Single hole punch
- Scotch or masking tape
- Kid-safe scissors
- Thick yarn
- Old newspapers, stuffing, tissue paper, or fabric
To make a stuffed circle, trace and cut two circles from a grocery bag. Punch holes around the edges, then help your child sew them together with yarn, leaving an opening to stuff. Lastly, you can use crumpled newspaper to fill the circle, then stitch the rest close. These stuffed shapes can be used for imaginative play, like hide-and-seek, or as cozy companions.
Activity Paper Bag
This activity helps children explore the world with a sensory twist. Moreover, it can develop problem-solving skills and fine motor skills. Here is what you need:
- Paper
- Index cards or cardboard
- Markers
- Two bins
- Dividers
- Shredded paper
Draw and cut out nine different shapes on separate pieces of paper. Write the name of each shape below it. Create a 9-space grid in a bin and place one paper square in each section. Fill the bin with shredded paper and challenge your child to sift through it, find the matching cardboard shapes, and place them in their correct grid sections.
3D Bubble Shapes
This activity makes learning 3D shapes a pop. With homemade bubble solution, this one is especially fun outdoors. Here is what you need:
- Pipe Cleaners
- Straws
- Kid-safe scissors
- Bubble solution
Cut straws into thirds and bend pipe cleaners into desired shapes (cubes, pyramids, spheres). Thread the pipe cleaners through the straws to create bubble wand skeletons. Dip the different-shaped wands into bubble solution and blow bubbles! Experiment with different shapes to see if they affect the shape of the bubbles.
The Building Block Of A Child’s Imagination
Children are quick learners, picking up any concept when exposed to it. Similarly, shapes can be an excellent learning tool for their minds and imaginations. These fun activities can help your child learn how to identify and recognize shapes.
