Introduce shapes to your preschooler by adding some excitement!
Making math fun helps preschoolers take more risks in their learning. This is so important for early learners!
Now is the time to allow young children to problem solve and make predictions as they learn.
RELATED: Mystery Shapes is just one of the 40+ activities for kids at home that we love to share with you!
Math activities need to involve prediction and problem-solving.
There is something about a sense of prediction and surprise that makes learning shapes a lot more fun than what may be drawn on a worksheet.
In fact, a lot of activities are better off not on a worksheet, and it is my mission to help you create more hand-on learning opportunities in your home.
Truth is, setting activities like this one is even faster than pressing print and waiting for it to come out of the printer!
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What shapes should your preschooler know?
The following shapes are essential for your preschoolers to recognize in fun activities along with identifying in their environment.
Rectangle
Rhombus (diamond)
Square
Circle
Triangle
Hexagon
Octagon
But here’s the catch. Learning the names of shapes is necessary, but what is even more important is paying attention to the number of sides and corners a form may have.
According to the Common Core, children in Kindergarten analyze and compare two- and three-dimensional shapes, in different sizes and orientations.
We can begin the shape attributes now with our preschoolers.
Children love to take a more in-depth look and count the number of lines a shape may have.
The trick is that we have to ask!
RELATED: This hands-on shape matching game will get your preschooler moving!
How long does this take to set up Mystery Shapes?
Faster than you can say shapes.
Okay, not that fast, but you get what I am alluding to. It is quick and easy — just the way we like to keep kid activities here.
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Simple setup:
Tape down your white paper roll.
Add your dot stickers to create the corners of each shape.
Place the matching markers to the left of the paper. Why the left? This intentional placement will help begin tracking their left to right.
Invite your preschooler to draw lines to connect the dots.
Supplies:
How about a shape fun fact?
Using the term rhombus rather than diamond will be a valuable way to set your child up for success down the road!
Think about this: A diamond is a gem or stone. A rhombus is a geometric shape. Begin to use the term rhombus early on.
RELATED: Have you read Mouse Shapes? You will love this idea.
Which math questions can I ask my child as we play?
I encourage you to allow your child to take the lead. With that said, you can prompt different thinking that will help extend ideas along the way.
Notice in the photo above and how I helped tighten up his rectangle.
Here is how this redirecting looked:
- Good work!
- Which shape did you make?
- A rectangle, you’re right! Let’s count the number of sides together. (Now I am dragging my marker from dot to dot as we count together.)
- One, two, three, four! You’re right! A rectangle has four sides.
Notice how this shows by example.
I didn’t tell my three-year-old that he did something wrong because he didn’t! He is creative and can sometimes fall into imaginary play. I encourage that.
I swooped in to reinforce the objective, and then we swiftly carried on to the next shape.
You can do this at home! Encourage your child to take the lead and passively help along the way when needed.
RELATED: Help pencil grip with these simple tips! and also explore fine motor skills here.
You can make this shape activity for your preschooler today!
