How to Teach Shape Recognition to Preschoolers with Fun Activities

Inside: How to Teach Shape Recognition to Preschoolers with Fun Activities (Free Printable!)

One of the areas we have to cover in our preschool assessments is shapes. I am always looking for ways to build shape recognition skills, but I want them to be playful and authentically blend in with our other hands-on activities.

I decided to put together my own collection of shape recognition activities by doing a little searching.

After weeding out the results, I came up with over 16 ideas that I knew would be perfect. Not only are they fun, but they involve building other skills, too. I always love that!

So put away those flashcards, my friends. These fun activities will help your preschoolers learn to identify circles, triangles, squares, rectangles, and ovals.

👉 Bonus! I created a shape matching activity printable for your children. Scroll towards the bottom of this post to get the download.

I’ve also put together a collection of activities for math and literacy there are hands-on and appropriate for this age group:

• Preschool Math Activities
• Preschool Literacy Activities

How to Teach Shape Recognition to Preschoolers with Fun Activities

Build shape recognition using toys.

Make circles while painting with spools.

Play a shape game while also recognizing colors.

Make circles with a DIY circle stamper.

Mix colors while stamping circles from paper tubes.

Take apart your nesting toys to stamp shapes with paint.

Make a simple shape collage. (Homegrown Friends)

Go on a shape hunt at the playground (free printable included). (Buggy and Buddy)

Paint with different shapes of foam blocks. (Meri Cherry)

Make a shape puzzle using blocks you already have. (Twodaloo) (ETA: Unfortunately website is no longer running.)

Trace shapes on a chalkboard. (Hands On As We Grow)

Create a fine motor shape bin. (Stir the Wonder)

Make a shape sorting activity from an ice cube tray. (Mess for Less)

Make paper roads in different shapes and trace with cars. (Adventures of Adam) – Unfortunately this website is no longer running.

Play shape hopscotch indoors! (Housing a Forest)

Use colored construction paper to create a train color sorting activity. (Mom Inspired Life)

More shapes activities:

Toddler Triangle Shapes Activity

15 Activities for Teaching Squares

Shapes Art Using Toys

Teaching Circles to Toddlers and Preschoolers

Going on a Circle Hunt Circle Time Activity

Here’s a simple shape matching activity for your children to try today! Click on the photo for the link to the PDF download: