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You are here: Home / Math / How to Teach Shape Recognition to Preschoolers with Fun Activities

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How to Teach Shape Recognition to Preschoolers with Fun Activities

September 13, 2017 by Sheryl Cooper

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Inside: How to Teach Shape Recognition to Preschoolers with Fun Activities with 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 that are also hands-on and appropriate for this age group:
 
  • Preschool Math Activities
  • Preschool Literacy Activities
 
 
How to Teach Shape Recognition to Preschoolers with Fun Activities
 
 

How to Teach Shape Recognition to Preschoolers with Fun Activities

Build shape recognition using toys.

Make circles by painting with spools.

Play a shape game while also recognizing colors.

Make circles with a DIY circle stamper.

preschool shape activities

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)

preschool shape activities

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)

preschool shape activities

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)

Play shape hopscotch indoors! (Housing a Forest)

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

preschool shape activities

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:

Shapes Match and Clip Cards Printable

How to Teach Shape Recognition to Preschoolers with Fun Activities
tpt dot art stamping sheets shapes
TPT Elmer the Patchwork Elephant
TPT alphabet phonetic packet

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Filed Under: Math, preschool, Toddler Math Tagged With: preschool, printable, shapes

About Sheryl Cooper

Sheryl Cooper is the founder of Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds, a website full of activities for toddlers and preschoolers. She has been teaching this age group for over 20 years and loves to share her passion with teachers, parents, grandparents, and anyone with young children in their lives.

Previous Post: « Fun Jump and Jam Tunes with Toddlers
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Comments

  1. Amanda

    May 31, 2016 at 5:32 pm

    These are great ways to teach shapes and colors. I love how you said in your intro that kids don’t need worksheets or flashcards. I’m a firm believer in hands on learning, especially for our little ones.

    • Sheryl Cooper

      May 31, 2016 at 10:46 pm

      Thank you, Amanda! I feel strongly about this. Thank you for reading!

  2. temitope

    September 14, 2017 at 8:39 am

    Thanks so much sheiyl for this post I really love it as a preschooler teacher.

    • Sheryl Cooper

      September 14, 2017 at 9:00 pm

      I’m happy to hear that! Thank you!

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