Here in this post you will get 10 amazing shape activities for toddlers along with free downloadable shape printables to make your day easy.
Also, I will be linking everything down below, just in case you’d like to purchase the items that I have been using for my daughter for these activities.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link at no extra cost to you.
Why shapes are important?
There are multiple amazing reasons to start shape learning early. Learning shapes not only helps toddlers understand the world around them, it helps them learn skills in other curriculum areas including language and literacy development, cognition including math, and science.
Benefits:
- Shapes is a big part of early math skills.
- Works on Problem Solving
- Spatial Relationships
- Classification
- Language
- Helps children identify and organize visual information
Shapes Are Everywhere!
Here are 10 shape activities that you can get started with your toddler
1. Double-Sided Sunny Day Puzzle
Surf and turf! Solve two creative problems through mental and physical rotation.
This puzzle board came with The Realist Play Kit by Lovevery (Months 19, 20, 21)
This Play Kit helps develop their senses and understanding of what things are and how they work.
2. Geo Shapes Puzzle
A 3D puzzle to practice cradling and nesting complex shapes
This puzzle board came with The Helper Play Kit by Lovevery (Months 25, 26, 27)
3. Shape Lacing (Freebie Bundle!)
I have created these Shape Lacing activity for my daughter. Super fun and engaging to keep them busy, while prepping dinner.
Children will learn to lace stitch as they thread the laces through the punched holes.
This is a great activity for developing small motor control and this set is also useful for teaching color and shape recognition.
All you need to do:
- print the shape printables
- cut
- laminate
- whole punch the shapes
- you’ll need a lace to thread
Don’t forget to Get your Free Bundle! (scroll all the way down)
4. Big and Small Shapes
Teach your toddler the concept of big and small with this printable shape worksheet.
To complete the exercise your child will compare the shapes and identify which is small and which big.
All you need to do:
- cut
- laminate or use cardstock
Don’t forget to Get your Free Bundle! (scroll all the way down)
5. The Block Set
Learn shapes and colors with this amazing block set by Lovevery.
This is the best block set your kids need, with more than 20 ways to play, for 18-48+ Months.
This block set comes with a box with a shape-sorting lid. Your child can match different blocks to start learning how to sort and categorize—and how things fit together spatially.
6. Sticky Shapes Glue Station
This sticky shapes glue station activity came with the The Enthusiast Play Kit (Months 28, 29, 30) by Lovevery.
Simply have your little one glue different shapes on a construction paper.
7. Sort & Stack Peg Puzzle
Learn basic shapes while flipping and fitting them onto pegs.
This puzzle came with The Enthusiast Play Kit (Months 28, 29, 30) by Lovevery.
8. Shape Sorting With Food
What you’ll need:
- print the freebie
- laminate or use a plastic sleeve
- cut up fruit and vegetables and any interesting shaped ingredients (pretzels, crackers, mandarin segments etc.)
How to:
- place the printable inside a plastic sleeve or laminate
- prep the ingredients and lay them out on a tray
- encourage your child to match the food and shapes
Get your Free Bundle!
9. Shape Matching with Blocks
This is a simple block learning activity for toddlers to practice their shapes.
If your child loves blocks, this block set has more than 20 ways to play.
You’ll need:
- white paper
- markers
- blocks
How to:
- collect some blocks that you have
- set sheet of white paper
- trace several different shapes of blocks, as well as some of the same shape
- invite the child to play
- have the child match the shapes
10. Shape Hunt at Home
Another activity that is pretty fun and simple to do with your child.
How to:
- You and your child can go on a shape hunt with your child inside the house or you can take the activity outdoors
- You’ll snoop around the house like shape detectives, using your FREEBIE Sheet of shapes and if possible collect them and put them in a basket or tray.
- After you finish the hunt, go over the objects you both found, name the objects and it’s shape.
- You can take the activity further by sorting the objects by shape.