Shapes is one of the first subjects kids learn when they enter preschool. Furthermore, it is sometimes reviewed in kindergarten. My son and I wanted to create a game to help kids learn shapes. Our fun shape activity for kids is called the Hide and Seek Shape Game.
We used shapes from the Perfection Game we had at home. However, you can use any shapes you have around the house. We also used water beads in our game but you can use an alternative if you like.
Kids will forget they are learning shapes because the game is fun. The object of the game is to race against another person’s time in order to find the shape. If your child is just learning shapes, then you don’t have to use a timer. Once they become more familiar with shapes, then use the timer to make the game more challenging.
Below is a video of how to play this fun shape activity for kids. You will see in the video, my son and I are playing against each other. It gets really intense but in a fun way.
This video comes from my son’s YouTube Channel, Corban’s Fun Learning Adventures. Please like the video and subscribe to the channel if you like what you see.
Did you know that when your child is learning about shapes they are being introduced to geometry? Shapes are not only important to math but generally in life. A child who can identify shapes will learn how letters and numbers are formed.
For instance, the letter O is basically a circle. Also, shapes can be combined to make various pictures. For example, typically when a child draws a dog they include a horizontal oval for the body, rectangular shapes for the legs and tail, triangles for the ears, and circles for the nose and eyes.
The knowledge of shapes is useful for building, which is an introduction to engineering. My son learned so much about what shapes to use when building certain structures with his magnetic tiles. He learned that rectangles and squares make great bases or foundations for structures. Additionally, he noticed that hexagons resemble circles.
The houses he often creates are made of a cubes and triangular prisms. Furthermore, his towers are made with a combination of hexagons, squares, and triangles. As a result, he is able to use his knowledge of building basic structures to make more sophisticated towers.
My son knew the basic shapes as a one-year-old. If I called out a shape, he was able to point them out in books or choose the correct one and give it to me. This was mainly done through playing with shapes and reading various books on shapes.
Let’s talk about various ways to make learning about shapes fun.
Below are 6+ Fun Activities to Teach Kids Shapes
Create Your Own Shapes
Take Q-Tips, put glue on it, and form them into shapes on paper. Pour glitter on the Q-tip to decorate the shape.
Let your child take food such as grapes or crackers and form them into shapes during snack time.
Build shapes with Legos, Magnetic tiles, sticks from outside or anything your mind can think of.
My son made a combination of triangles with grapes and toothpicks.
Make Shapes Disappear
Go outside and make shapes with sidewalk chalk
Call out a certain shape to your child
Give your child a spray bottle with water, a cup of water, or water hose.
Have your child pour or spray the water on the shape you identify to make it disappear.
Digital Media
My son and I love watching educational videos. Many times, after dinner, we dance, sing songs, or just watch videos about shapes on YouTube. Below are some YouTube videos about shapes.
*Please note that digital media should not be the only way your child learns the shapes. It should be a way to supplement what you have previously introduced to your child. In other words, expose your child to shapes first and then use digital media.
Ask your child to create a picture from the shape.
They can create a cat, monster, or anything they want
Next, have your child draw shapes
Then you create a picture from the shape they just draw
My son drew the shape of number one. I turned it into a horse with a combination of triangles, rectangles, and lines.
Read Multiple Children’s Book about Shapes
My son and I have read many books about shapes before nap and bed time. These books were colorful and included relatable characterers that my son liked. There were some that did not have characters but presented shapes in an engaging manner. Below are a list of seven children’s book about shapes.
