Hide and Seek

The key to teaching kids is to make things fun, right? At a young age kids get excited about the smallest things, so why does it feel like hard work coming up with ideas? Well I have started this blog to catalog things I come up with that Tanner enjoys.

A great way to teach shapes and numbers . . .

1. First print off two pages of shapes. I used the "Trace Shapes" from http://www.coloringcastle.com/. You can find it here.

2. Color the shapes in pairs. (i.e. the triangles green, the circles red, etc.)

3. Cut out all the shapes on one page.

4. Place loops of masking tape on the back of the shapes you cut out.

5. Match up the shapes, sticking the loose one on top of it's mate.

6. Introduce the shape if your toddler is new to them. (i.e. point to the circle and tell them the name, then ask them to show you the circle.)

7. Then have your toddler take the shape off and hide it somewhere in the room. (i.e. stick it to the wall, chair, couch, or door)

8. Continue will all six shapes.

9. Then ask your toddler to find the shapes one at at time. (i.e. "Where is the circle?") If needed give them clues if they are struggling to remember which one is a circle. (i.e. "the circle is red" or "is it the one on the door?")

10. Then have them stick it back on to it's mate.

Variations: You hide the shapes and your toddler hunts for them, laminating the pages and using Velcro instead of tape would make this a game that will last for multiple uses, it works great for numbers or letters too (it is easy to make your own template in Word.)