Colors, sizes, and shapes..Oh my!

Just a disclaimer:  I'm a huge proponent of kids learning through play and experiences. If you talk to your toddler, take them out into the world, and get on the floor and play with them, I don't think you can go wrong! However, there is a more pressure nowadays as kindergarten has become the new first grade. Preschoolers are under more pressure to learn "kindergarten readiness" skills and some parents are understandably concerned about it. I wanted to share a few fun, play based ways I introduce the concepts of shapes, colors, and sizes to my two and a half year old at home.

1. Going to the Market

For this game, you will need a small assortments of attribute blocks (small blocks in different colors, and shapes). You can buy these on amazon or even make simple paper versions yourself with paper, crayons, and scissors. You will also need a basket or container of some type. Even a cup will work!

I recommend the following:
- Red circle
- Red square
- Red triangle
- Blue circle
- Blue square
- Blue triangle
- Yellow circle
- Yellow square
- Yellow triangle

Place all the attribute blocks/papers in a pile (the store) and give your child the basket. Ask him to go to the store and buy some triangles/red pieces/circles...whatever! When they have the single attribute down, you can work on two attributes such as "red triangle" or "blue circle". My son gets really into this game and we even use paper as pretend money to buy the shapes.

2. Race to the shape!

This is simple, all you need is sidewalk chalk and a sunny day! Draw different shapes outside with chalk and call out a shape to race to! You can make a starting line and then yell out "Race me to the square!". To make it a little more challenging you can draw big shapes and small shapes and instruct him or her to "Race to the big circle!".

3. Sensory Bin Hunt

Fill up a bin with sand, beads, salt, beans, whatever! Put cookie cutters of different colors/shapes/sizes or attribute blocks if you have them and have the child dig and see what they find. A fun bonus is to give her a magnifying glass to inspect her findings!

4. Move your body

A fun way to talk about size and big vs. small is to do it with your body and your voice. My son likes to stretch his arms up high or wide and with a deep voice say "I'm big!" and then we crouch and curl our bodies on the floor and with a very tiny voice say, "Now I'm small!"  We also do songs like the Itsy Bitsy Spider in a "tiny" voice and then change the words to "Great big spider" in a big voice.

My best tip is to keep it light and fun! Enjoy :)