Geometric shapes for kids: games and educational aids

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Modern manufacturers of goods for children and child psychologists offer to engage in the development and education of the child almost immediately after his birth. It is up to parents to decide which methods to use, but some basic concepts should be explained outside the main program. Geometric shapes for kids are no less important than the colors and names of basic household items. How to properly introduce a child to circles and ovals?

Why do preschoolers need geometry?

The concept of shape and size helps to perceive the world and objects, compare them with each other. You will not hesitate to say, describing some unusual piece of furniture, that it looks like two rectangles with rounded edges. Now imagine how difficult it is to describe and compare some objects without knowing the names and concepts of simple shapes. That is why it is useful to learn geometric shapes for kids as early as possible. By the age of 2-3, the child should know at least a circle, a square, a rectangle, a triangle, a rhombus. Graduallyyou can add more complex shapes.

Let's go in search of shapes

The easiest way to teach a child is to play. Try to interest the baby, present new material in an original playful way. For the smallest, you don’t even need to organize classes, you can study in between times. Explain that the cup is round and the book is rectangular. A visual aid that reveals the concept of "geometric shapes" for kids will be the most ordinary toys. Match cubes and balls together, make the task more difficult by adding dishes or fruits to play in the store. Older children can be kept busy for a long time by asking them to find as many circles or triangles in the room as possible. Help show all the imagination and explain that the figures can "hide" on the fabric or wallpaper in the form of a pattern, represent a whole object or part of it.

Entertaining geometry

Learning 5 geometric shapes is much easier if you draw them yourself. Offer the kid a creative task, take a sheet of paper and paint, pencils and felt-tip pens and draw a circle, rectangle, square, triangle and rhombus. A more interesting version of this game - the mother draws a geometric figure, and the child finishes some elements, turning the form into an object or animal. You can also draw a rectangle on a sheet of paper and hang it in a conspicuous place. Of course, some of your guests will be surprised by such an interior decoration, but you can alwaysanswer: "We are learning geometric shapes with kids." The next day, draw a circle and hang it next to the rectangle. And then offer to compare the figures with each other. Gradually add the rest of the forms and be sure to spend a few minutes a day doing this.

Useful toys for learning shapes

A variety of games and toys will help you learn the basics of geometry. The easiest option is to purchase ready-made cards with figures. Usually such sets are focused on the study of form and color. There can be many cards, the figures on them are repeated, but differ in size and shade. You can play with this board game for hours. Ask to collect all the same shapes, then arrange them by size. Then mix the cards and offer to find all the shapes of the same size or color. If desired, such a game can be made with your own hands. A special children's lotto can also help in the study of geometry. If desired, it is not difficult to find such a game dedicated to figures. And yet, sorters remain the most popular geometric toys. Usually this is some kind of base (container, frame) that has slots of various shapes. Colored geometric shapes are inserted into the holes. The task of the child is to choose the appropriate slot for each small object on the base. Sorters come in a variety of styles, but by choosing the simplest - geometric, you get the opportunity to learn the names of the shapes as they are placed in the base. Wooden or cardboard frames with inserts can also help in the study of forms,made according to the principle of a sorter. It is also useful to watch special educational cartoons about geometric shapes for kids. Combine all the suggested learning options, and then your child will not have problems with geometry.