Teaching Shapes To A 2 Year 10 Month Old

[ilanafritz]

Hi Lorina
Would you be so kind to let me know, please for plan I am doing an activity for a 2 year and 10 month child who is in the babies room. I'll be doing with him play dough using cutters and different shapes. I did find a song on shapes. We are shapes you can see us every where I'm a square I'm square You can see me every where.
Please give me your opinion if it is OKAY to give him play dough and making different shapes?
Thank you.
Regards
Ilana

[Lorina]

Hi Ilana,

Yes, using play-dough to introduce shapes is a good idea. While interacting with the child you can describe the shape as he cuts it out ("look at the circle, it goes round and round, lets look and see where else we can find a circle") etc. With the play-dough you could also include some shape pictures that the child could match their play-dough shape onto.

Here are some more shape songs as well:

(to the tune of: "If You're Happy and You Know It")

A circle is a shape that goes round.
A circle is a shape that goes round.
A circle is a shape that goes round,
And round and round.
A circle is a shape that goes round.

Draw a circle on the ground and have the children go around it singing:

Tiptoe slowly on the circle and go round.
Tiptoe slowly on the circle and go round.
Tiptoe slowly on the circle,
And go round and round and round.
Tiptoe slowly on the circle and go round.

Sammy Square:

Sammy Square is my name.
My four sides are just the same.
Turn me around, I don't care.
I'm always the same.
I'm Sammy Square.

Right Circle, Left Square:

Close my eyes, shut them tight,
Make a circle with my right.
Keep them shut, make it fair,
With my left hand, make a square.

Ricky Rectangle:

Ricky Rectangle is my name.
My four sides are not the same.
2 are short and 2 are long.
Count my sides, come right along.
1, 2, 3, 4.

Hope this helps,

,
Lorina