How to Teach Your Toddler Geometrical Shapes

Most toddlers can easily be taught simple geometrical shapes such as circles and squares because these geometrical shapes are always in their daily lives. But what if we want them to learn about rectangle, triangle, octagon, pentagon, hexagon and parallelogram? It isn’t impossible for a toddler to learn such terms and relate them to the said shape. Read this article to learn how to teach your toddler these important geometrical shapes.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Wooden puzzle with geometrical shapes
• Book designed with teaching geometrical shapes
• Large index cards
• Everyday objects

1. Purchase a good wooden puzzle with geometrical shapes. Toddlers usually love to play with wooden puzzles. Get a puzzle that has pegs on the wooden pieces so it is easier for the toddler to pick them up and put them in their appropriate spots. While you observe the toddler playing with this puzzle say to him, “Look! A rectangle,” and point to the rectangle. Say the same to the other shapes. Do not overwhelm the toddler with too many new names at once. When ever the child plays with the puzzle mention the names of the geometrical shapes to him.
2. Reading books that are designed to teach toddlers geometrical shapes is a fun and enjoyable way to teach the toddler their geometrical shapes. A toddler’s book by Lois Ehlert called "Color Zoo" is very colorful and not only teaches children geometrical shapes but colors and names of some animals as well. This book teaches ten different geometrical shapes in all. As you come to different geometrical shapes in the book say to the toddler, “Look at that oval. It kind of looks like a circle but it’s a bit different” and show him the difference.
3. Locate shapes of everyday objects in your house or as you are driving in the car. Say to your toddler, “Look at that roof. It looks like the shape of a triangle” or when passing the carton of milk say to your toddler, “Look this carton looks like a rectangle.” You will begin to see different shapes in all things and quickly be able to pick out many different shapes to show your child. The more your child’s memory is reinforced by repetitiveness the sooner he will know all the shapes.
4. Ask the child what shape it is. After the child has been learning the shapes a bit, ask him what shape a certain item is. See if he can remember it. It will get him to think and want to know it. If he says it correctly then praise him and say, “Good job.” If he doesn’t say it then tell him it again and ask him to repeat it. He will get it eventually.
5. Play the geometrical name game. Draw shapes on large index cards and scatter them on the table. Ask the toddler to give you a certain shape. If he brings you the shape correctly then praise him and say, “Good job.” If he doesn’t then show him a picture of it and say, “No it looks like this. Try again.” Once he gets that shape correctly move on to another one. Continued reinforced presentation of the shapes will instill them squarely in the mind of the toddler. He will have a good start on the shapes if you continually talk about as well as show him the shapes daily or at least a few time a week.

Tips & Warnings

• • Make learning fun. When toddlers think they are playing a game, they are more readily able to learn.
• • Never force a child to learn.
• • Never punish a child because he did not learn something.