| Even babies can recognize the difference | | | | lounge furniture, cleaning out the kitchen |
| between a circle and square, using their sight and | | | | cupboards or the refrigerator - all done according |
| sense of touch to distinguish between them. | | | | to the shape of the items in them, and how they |
| However, learning the names of the different | | | | will relate to each other. Road signs and markings |
| shapes is not an inborn ability, but it is a | | | | make extensive use of different shapes, helping |
| necessary step in your preschooler's education. | | | | us to recognize them before we can actually read |
| Children need to learn the names of shapes so | | | | them. |
| that they can identify them verbally and in writing | | | | Learning about shapes includes learning about 2 |
| and compare the various shapes and how they | | | | dimensional and 3 dimensional shapes. A sphere, or |
| are used. These are basic skills that they will use | | | | ball, is a 3D circle, and has specific properties, such |
| for the rest of their lives. | | | | as the ability to roll, that some other shapes do |
| Learning shapes helps your child identify objects | | | | not have. This is true of all shapes, and your child |
| as well as letters. Letters are made up of circles, | | | | will be able to make this progression if his or her |
| triangles and lines - think of the circles in b, d, g, p, | | | | basic grounding is good. |
| q, or the parts of a triangle found in k, v and w. | | | | For kindergarten, children are expected to know |
| Drawing the curved lines of a circle or oval shape | | | | the basic shapes, recognize them and identify |
| helps your child to write letters such as f, u, m, n, | | | | how they form part of other items. They may |
| j, and the lines in squares helps your child to write | | | | also be expected to be able to draw the shapes - |
| i, l, k, p, q and so on. Often, recognizing the | | | | not perfectly, but certainly recognizably. There are |
| shapes in the letters helps a child to recognize the | | | | many ways to encourage and help your child to |
| letter too, important for developing reading skills. | | | | learn about shapes. |
| Drawing shapes is also the first step in learning | | | | Because shapes are all around us, it is easy to |
| how to draw. Almost anything can be broken | | | | play 'Find the Shape' at home, in the car, in the |
| down into shapes, such as a house, a cat, a book, | | | | store and elsewhere. Select one shape at a time |
| a ball - they can all be drawn with simple shapes. | | | | to concentrate on, rather than trying to find all |
| This makes it easier for your child to progress | | | | the different shapes. |
| from stick drawings to more detailed artworks - | | | | A good set of worksheets for preschool will help |
| and if they have talent, they will use shapes to | | | | your child recognize different shapes, see how |
| draw and paint in the future as well. | | | | they form part of other objects, and help them |
| Shapes are extremely important in basic and | | | | learn how to draw them. Drawing shapes is the |
| more advanced math. Most adults will immediately | | | | precursor to learning how to write, and a good |
| think of geometry, but shape patterns and spatial | | | | set of worksheets should take you step-by-step |
| perception help your child to develop sequencing | | | | through this process until your child is drawing |
| and logic skills that they will use later in their | | | | shapes on their own, free hand. Look out for |
| school career in subjects like calculus. | | | | worksheets that combine learning shapes with the |
| We use shapes every day as adults, although we | | | | use of different colors, as this is particularly |
| may not realize it. Think about rearranging the | | | | effective in reinforcing the shape names. |