How to Make a Shape Game for Preschoolers

Learning shapes are a fun part of the preschool developmental years. Use this game to make shape learning fun and easy. You can play this game with 2 people or more than 2 and make teams. There is no limit to the fun you can have.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Manila folder
• Crayon or markers
• Dice or card stock for number cards
• Two game pieces

1. Observe your preschooler's current understanding of shapes. This will help you when making this shape game in parallel style.

2. Take a manila folder and open it with the inside facing up. Making this game in a manila folder will make it easy to store.

3. Draw 2 pictures side by side at the bottom and 2 pictures side by side at the top of the game, each picture approximately 3 inches in diameter. These pictures can be anything: a flower, a butterfly, your child's favorite object and so on.

4. Going from the bottom picture to the top picture of the manila folder, trace 6 to 8 simple shapes: triangles, squares, circles and rectangles. You can draw a shape more than once if needed. Remember to use shapes your preschooler already knows to build on his current understanding.

5. Use different colors to fill the inside of the shapes.

6. Locate 2 objects to use as game pieces. You can make these or find them in your preschooler's room. For example, use coins, rocks and small pieces of fabric.

7. Find a dice or something that will determine the number of spaces you and your child will move. You can use pieces of paper with numbers and dots on them to determine the amount of spaces to move the marker.

Tips & Warnings

• Be aware if your child is tired, hungry or over stimulated, and don't play during these times.
• Praise your child when she guesses the shape correctly.
• Involve other family members to play the game with your preschooler or make teams to play the game.
• This game will further develop your preschooler's math skills by learning and practicing how to count as well as learning shapes.
• Don't tell your preschooler he is mistaken if he guesses the shape or color incorrectly. Instead, model the correct answer back to them. This allows for a teachable moment to correct his mistake while keeping his self-esteem intact.

[Aussiegirl]

on 1/3/2009 I love the specific suggestions you've laid out here. Very helpful!