Shapes

Kitchen Shapes Required: Your time only Are your kitchen cupboards and drawers filled with all sorts of foods and dishes? Look again—everything you see has been reduced to its simplest shape, and just in time for a game of kitchen geometry. Ca...

Circle DancingDirections Identify with your child all the things in and around the house that are circular. These may include wheels, plates, balls, clock faces, coins, cookies, and doorknobs. Roll a coin and a ball and watch them travel. Have yo...

Rope ShapingDirections Find a jump rope or a length of cord. Make a simple shape with it on the floor. Ask your child to move his body into the same shape. Repeat by making other interesting shapes with the rope. Now reverse the order of the acti...

Object OutlineMaterials Household items with flat bases Large sheet of paper Crayons or felt pens Directions Spread the sheet of paper on the floor and tape it down. Send your child to search the house for objects with simple, distinct forms. P...

Elastic ShapesMaterials A continuous circular elastic band Directions To make the elastic band, measure yourself from head to toe and double it. Cut this length from a half-inch or three-fourths-inch (1-2 centimeters) elastic and securely knot ...

Tape ShapesMaterials Masking tape or colorful tape Directions Use masking tape or colorful tape to make several different shapes on the floor. Call out different movements, such as "Crawl to the square," "Hop to the circle," or "Run to the triang...

Object MatchupMaterials Paper Household objects Pencil, pen, or marker Clear contact paper Scissors Box or bag Directions Gather several common household objects, such as a spoon, cookie cutter, or key (something with a recognizable shape). Place...

Pasta SortMaterials Dried pasta in 2-3 (or more) different shapes Bowl or plastic container Directions Combine two or three different shapes of dried pasta in a bowl or plastic container. Pick out one piece and ask your toddler to find a piece th...

Glitter ShapesMaterials Construction paper Glue Glitter or Colorful Creative SaltDirections On construction paper, use glue to draw various shapes: square, rectangle, triangle, heart, circle, oval, star. Have your child sprinkle glitter (or Color...

Shape MatchupMaterials Colored construction paper White construction paper Pen or marker ScissorsDirections Cut basic shapes (circle, square, rectangle, triangle, heart, and so on) out of colored construction paper. Trace all the shapes onto a pi...

Shape Shake Materials Cardboard Scissors StringDirections Cut out a cardboard shape and pierce a small hole in the center. Tie one end of a string to the doorknob of your child's room and thread the opposite end of the string through the shape's ...