What age do kids learn shapes


When and How to Teach Your Toddler about Colors and Shapes

Teaching your toddler about shapes and colors is an important step in their early development, because it helps them to define and organize much of the world they see around them. Whether your child is looking at a rectangular building, a circular plate, a green tree or a blue sky, being able to recognize shapes and colors is a vital component of their cognitive development, and it will establish a strong foundation for subsequent educational concepts such as math and logic. Although no one doubts the importance of teaching colors and shapes, many parents have questions regarding when and how to introduce these concepts. Below are some tips and ideas regarding which time frames and methods are most useful for teaching your toddler about colors and shapes.

Teaching Colors: When and How
It is important to remember that each child is different, so there’s really no one specific developmental timeline that will work for all children. Generally speaking, 18 months is a great time to begin teaching your child about colors, but it’s not uncommon for children between 2 to 3 years old to be in the beginning stages of learning these concepts. Regardless of when you start, it is important for you to review colors with your child on a regular basis, even up to kindergarten age. Here are some simple activities you can try to help reinforce concepts of color:

* Name that color: Colors are everywhere, so this game is very easy to play. Simply point to an object, name what color the object is, and then ask your child to find something else that has that same color. For example, you might say, “I see a red truck over there. Can you find something else that’s red?” Or, if you’re walking through a crowded parking lot, ask your child, “Which car on this row is blue?”

* Any experiments with food coloring are always a smash hit. You can take some recyclable water bottles, fill them with water and then ask your child to add a few drops of a particular food coloring to the bottle. Experiment with color mixing as well – e.g., allow your child to make green water by combining drops of yellow and blue food coloring in a bottle.

* Kirstylee Moody, author of the popular early childhood educational blog Moms Have Questions Too, has put together an excellent (and exhaustive!) resource for teaching colors to your child at this link.

Teaching Shapes: When and How
The most prevalent age for teaching kids shapes is around 2 years old. By the time your child is 2 1/2 or 3 years old, they should be able to identify the majority of basic shapes (e.g., circle, square, triangle, and rectangle). From there, you can move on to more advanced shapes (e.g., diamond, heart, star, oval, etc.). Here are some simple yet highly effective activities you can use to help your child learn shapes:

* Shape sorting games: You can transform simple household items into learning tools by allowing your child to sort them into various groups based on their shape. Start out with a pile of objects on the floor, and then encourage your child to sort them into separate piles based on shape (e.g., round, rectangular, square, etc.).

* Help your child draw shapes using finger paint, or by drawing in sand. Guide his/her hand as they draw the shape, making sure to emphasize the name of the shape over and over again as he/she completes the drawing. You can also draw the same shape in different sizes, so that you can help your child differentiate between a “big” circle and “small” circle, for example.

* Go for a shape walk around your neighborhood, or at a local park. Bring a small cardboard cutout of each shape, so that your child can compare it to what they see around them. They might notice that the triangular rooftops of some of the houses match their triangle cutout, or that the manhole cover on the street matches their circle cutout. Whenever your child finds a new shape, make a tally mark on the respective cardboard cutout to keep track of his/her discoveries.

Your child will interact with shapes and colors all throughout their life. Keep the above ideas and tips in mind to help them get a good head start on these fundamental concepts!

When do kids learn shapes?

by Tony

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When do kids learn shapes? Every first-time parent of a child worries about their child’s development, but every child develops at a slightly different pace. Yes, there are a few key markers that children are known to hit at a certain time frame, but it is no worry if they do not hit the mark right on time. A child learning the different shapes is a prime example of this.

When should a child know their shapes?

The age of 2 is a great time to start working with a child to learn shapes, but it is important to start with the basic shapes. The basics include square, rectangle, circle, and triangle, and it is common for children to understand and recognize these by the age of 2 1/2. They can be reinforced by pointing out objects that are shaped the same.

Once they have an understanding of the basics, it is time to move onto some of the harder shapes, and these include oval, heart, star, and diamond. They should have a good understanding off all of them by the age of 3 but do not feel discouraged if they are still struggling a little. This one can be a little harder to find objects shaped the same way, but it is not impossible.

Summary of when do kids learn shapes:

  • Start teaching shapes at 2 years old
  • Understand and recognize basic shapes at 2-1/2 years old
  • At age 3 they will be able to identify a range of shapes

What shapes should a 3-year-old know?

As previously stated, a 3-year-old should have a good understanding and be able to recognize the most basics: square, rectangle, circle, and triangle, but they should also have an understanding of ovals, hearts, stars, and diamonds. Some others that should be taught to a child by the age of three are pentagon, hexagon, and octagon.

How do children learn shapes?

There are many wonderful things that can help children learn shapes. One of these things includes the classic toy where children put three-dimensional shapes into their appropriate holes. Many people get this toy for their child because it helps to build their motor skills by having them move them around and slide them into the right shaped holes. 

The parent can also use this toy though to be slowly working on teaching them by pointing out what shape they have in their hand and asking them to find that shape’s hole. Below are two toys that are often recommended because they are very helpful in learning shapes, but they can also help with learning colors.

Educational Insights Shapes Beanbags

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Educational Insights Shapes Beanbags, Learn Shapes, Toddler Learning Toy, Preschool Classroom Must Haves, Set of 8 Beanbags, Ages 3+

  • SPARK MORE CONFIDENCE! Preschoolers play their way to shape identification, building self-confidence and key early learning skills
  • TOTALLY TACTILE LEARNING ACTIVITY! Make skill building way more fun with this hands-on, toss and catch, early learning activity

Last update on 2022-10-31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

This toy is safe for children starting at the age of 36 months. This product has 8 differently shaped beanbags that have their name printed on them. The shapes that these beanbags are made into are circle, triangle, square, rectangle, pentagon, oval, star, and hexagon. 

Each of the bags is a different color, so they can be used to help with learning the colors as well. These colors are the basic shades of each color: red, purple, green, pink, yellow, blue, orange, and brown. They come with a draw-string bag to store the beanbags away when no in use, and it makes them easy to take to go visit grandma and grandpa. 

With them being beanbags, the child’s motor skills can be developed more because the parents could have the child toss them the correct shape. The great thing about these beanbags that the parent love is that it is completely washable as it is made out of felt, which also makes the lightweight and safe for the child to handle. 

Each beanbag is around 4 to 5 inches, which makes it perfect to fit into a small child’s hands. They come with a handy sheet called the tip sheet that gives the parents unique and fun activities that they can do with the shapes to make the learning process fun.

Learning Resources Plastic Pattern Blocks

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Learning Resources Plastic Pattern Blocks - Set of 250, Ages 3+ Shape Games for Preschoolers, Homeschool Supplies, Preschool Learning Games, Shape Manipulatives for Kids

  • 250-PIECE SET: Features 6 different shapes and colors, and is great for classroom activities
  • RECOGNIZE PATTERNS: Get young students learning geometry and pattern design. These are great pattern blocks the classrooms

Last update on 2022-10-31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

This toy is great when used on a flat and solid surface, such as a table. They are very small, so children who still tend to stick things in their mouth should not have access to them without strict supervision. There are 250 pieces in total, and they come in a small plastic tub, which means they can be put away easily. 

There are 6 different shapes that can be found in the tub with each of the shapes being a different color. The shapes that are included are hexagon, square, trapezoid, triangle, rhombus, and parallelogram, and the colors include red, green, yellow, blue, brown, and orange. 

One thing that makes these more unique than other shapes learning toys is that the children can slide them together to form other shapes or make a large pattern. The straight sides of these toys can be used to help teach a child how to measure with a ruler. 

A thing parents should keep in mind is that the container is made out of thin plastic, and if it is dented too many times, it will become weaker. This means it might be wise to look into some type of container to hold them eventually. Due to their size, the recommended age is 4 years.

Conclusion

If you had the question, “when do kids learn shapes?” Now you have a better understanding. If you are just getting started it’s time to work with your little one on the basic shapes. You can also find out when children learn colors.

Learning Geometric Shapes: Games for Preschoolers

One of the important aspects of the development of mathematical concepts in preschoolers is the study of the basics of geometry. In the course of acquaintance with geometric shapes, the child acquires new knowledge about the properties of objects (shape) and develops logical thinking. In this article, we will talk about how to help a preschooler remember geometric shapes, how to properly organize games for teaching geometry, and what materials and aids can be used to develop a child’s mathematical abilities.

At what age can one start learning geometric shapes?

Many parents are wondering if young children need to get acquainted with geometric shapes. Experts believe that it is optimal to start classes in a playful, relaxed form from the age of 1. 5. Until this age, it is appropriate to pronounce to the child the names of the shapes of objects that the baby meets in real life (for example, “round plate”, “square table”).

Introducing the child to geometric shapes, be guided by his reaction. If your baby started to show interest in them at an early age (by playing with the sorter or looking at pictures), encourage his curiosity.

At the age of 2, the baby should be able to distinguish between:

  • Circle;
  • Square;
  • Triangle.

By the age of 3 you can add:

  • Oval;
  • Rhombus;
  • Rectangle.

At an older age, a child can memorize such shapes as a trapezoid, a pentagon, a hexagon, a star, a semicircle. Also, children visiting the Constellation Montessori Center get acquainted with geometric bodies with interest.

How can I help my child remember geometric shapes?

Teaching a child geometric shapes should take place in stages. You need to start new figures only after the baby remembers the previous ones. The circle is the simplest shape. Show your child round objects, feel them, let the baby run his finger over them. You can also make an application from circles, mold a circle from plasticine. The more sensations associated with the concept being studied, the child receives, the better the baby will remember it.

Three-dimensional figures can be used to get acquainted with the forms. It can be made by a designer, a sorter, lacing, frame inserts. Since at an early age the visual-effective type of thinking is most developed, various actions with figures will help to remember them better.

How children of different ages perceive geometric figures

The operations that a child can perform with geometric figures and how he perceives shapes depend on the age of the baby. In accordance with age characteristics, the following stages of training can be distinguished:

  1. In the second year of life, the baby is able to visually recognize familiar figures and sort objects according to shape.
  2. At 2 years old, a child can find the desired shape among a number of other geometric shapes.
  3. By the age of 3, babies can name shapes.
  4. At the age of 4, a child is able to correlate three-dimensional figures with a flat image.
  5. At senior preschool age (and sometimes even earlier) you can start studying geometric bodies (ball, cube, pyramid). Also at this age, the child can analyze complex pictures consisting of many shapes.

Regardless of the child's age, try to pay attention to the shapes of the surrounding objects and compare them with known geometric shapes. This can be done at home and on the go.

Games for learning geometric shapes

For a child to be interested, learning geometric shapes should take place in a playful way. You should also select bright and colorful materials for classes (you can buy them in a store or do it yourself). Here are some examples of games and tutorials for learning geometric shapes:

  1. Sorting. Games with a sorter can be started from the age of 1. Invite the child to find its window for the figure. So the child will not only memorize geometric shapes, but also develop fine motor skills, thinking and spatial representations, because in order for the part to fall into the hole, you need to turn it at the right angle. You can also sort any other items, such as building blocks, Gyenesch blocks, or counting material.
  2. Insert frames. In fact, this manual is similar to a sorter. For each geometric figure, you need to find its place.
  3. Geometric lotto. To play, you will need a field with the image of geometric shapes and handout cards with each figure separately. A child can take small cards out of a chest or bag, and then look for their place on the playing field. This game also perfectly trains the attention of the baby.
  4. Geometric appliqué. Cut out various geometric shapes from paper and, together with your child, make a picture out of them (for example, you can make a Christmas tree from triangles, a house from a square and a triangle).

  1. Drawing (including stencils).
  2. Modeling.
  3. Laying out figures from counting sticks.
  4. Geometric mosaic.
  5. Laces with geometric shapes.
  6. Card games.
  7. Guess by touch.
  8. Active games. Draw geometric shapes on the pavement with chalk. Ask the child to imagine that the figures are houses that you need to run into on a signal. Next, you name a geometric figure, and the child runs to it.

In addition, educational cartoons can be used to study geometric shapes. Here is one of them:

Conclusions

Learning the basics of geometry at preschool age is an important part of developing a child's mathematical and sensory representations. Acquaintance with the figures should occur gradually (first, simple figures - a circle, a square, a triangle). To keep your child interested, study geometric shapes in a playful way. Your assistants in this can be such educational aids as insert frames, mosaics, lotto, sorters, sets of geometric shapes and bodies, stencils. You can also study geometric shapes on the street: just talk to your child about what you see around and what shapes these objects look like. Then the kid will definitely learn to distinguish geometric shapes and remember their names.

Conclusion

Montessori environment has been specially created for the comprehensive and harmonious development of each child in the children's center "Constellation". In the process of free work in it, children not only get acquainted with the basics of geometry, but also develop their cognitive processes, fine motor skills, learn to write, read, and count. In addition, the Montessori environment gives the child the opportunity to fully demonstrate independence and responsibility. We will be glad to see you and your baby at our center!

Prepared by a Montessori teacher
Malysheva Evgeniya

How children of different ages perceive geometric shapes - Studiopedia

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Learning geometric shapes: games for preschool children

One of the important aspects of the development of mathematical concepts in preschoolers is the study of the basics of geometry. In the course of acquaintance with geometric shapes, the child acquires new knowledge about the properties of objects (shape) and develops logical thinking. In this article, we will talk about how to help a preschooler remember geometric shapes, how to properly organize games for teaching geometry, and what materials and aids can be used to develop a child’s mathematical abilities.

At what age can one start learning geometric shapes?

Many parents are wondering if young children need to get acquainted with geometric shapes. Experts believe that it is optimal to start classes in a playful, relaxed form from the age of 1.5. Until this age, it is appropriate to pronounce to the child the names of the shapes of objects that the baby meets in real life (for example, “round plate”, “square table”).

Introducing the child to geometric shapes, be guided by his reaction. If your baby started to show interest in them at an early age (by playing with the sorter or looking at pictures), encourage his curiosity.

At the age of 2, the baby should be able to distinguish between:

Circle;

Square;

Triangle.

By the age of 3 you can add:

Oval;

Diamond;

Rectangle.

At an older age, a child can memorize such shapes as a trapezoid, a pentagon, a hexagon, a star, a semicircle. Also, children are interested in getting acquainted with geometric bodies.

How to help a child remember geometric shapes?

Teaching a child geometric shapes should take place in stages. You need to start new figures only after the baby remembers the previous ones. The circle is the simplest shape. Show your child round objects, feel them, let the baby run his finger over them. You can also make an application from circles, mold a circle from plasticine. The more sensations associated with the concept being studied, the child receives, the better the baby will remember it.

Three-dimensional figures can be used to get acquainted with the forms. These can be details of the designer, sorter, lacing, frame inserts. Since at an early age the visual-effective type of thinking is most developed, various actions with figures will help to remember them better.

How children of different ages perceive geometric shapes

The operations that a child can perform with geometric shapes and how he perceives shapes depend on the age of the baby. In accordance with age characteristics, the following stages of learning can be distinguished:

1. In the second year of life, the baby is able to visually recognize familiar figures and sort objects by shape.

2. At 2 years old, the child can find the desired figure among a number of other geometric shapes.

3. By the age of 3, babies can name shapes.

4. At the age of 4, a child is able to correlate a three-dimensional figure with a flat image.

5. At senior preschool age (and sometimes even earlier) you can start studying geometric bodies (ball, cube, pyramid).


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