Your child has very likely been recognizing simple shapes, such as squares, circles, and triangles. He may point them out in books, puzzles, or other everyday objects. With his growing fine motor skills, combined with this knowledge of shapes, he’ll soon be able to draw them. He may draw them on their own, in different colors and mediums, or he may also combine them to make different objects, such as the stereotypical house made of a square with a triangle on top.

Play Tips:

How can you support your child’s development of this Art Foundation skill at this age? It’s as easy as 1-2-3.

1. Use shapes to describe letters and objects. When describing how to draw something or how to write a letter, consider using shapes to do it. You could say that an “A” is a bit like a triangle with two legs and an “O” is very similar to a circle. Maybe you could suggest drawing a simple tree as a skinny rectangle with a circle on top. Use your imagination–it may even help you see the world in a different light!
2. Look for shapes in toys. Talk about the shapes of your child’s toys. Does it look his doll’s face look like a circle? Has he noticed how his books are rectangles? You can also use building blocks, or similar toys, to create shapes.
3. Look for shapes all around. Of course, there are shapes all around us! Find shapes in everyday objects from your child’s familiar environment. Are there any squares in the kitchen? Maybe he can find a circle or two on the car?

Developmental Milestones:

Has your baby achieved the following Art Foundation developmental milestones yet? If yes, check off all the skill(s) he has already mastered to date using Playful Bee’s developmental milestones tracker. It’s absolutely FREE and easy to use, just click HERE!

• Uses writing materials, such as crayons, pencils, and markers, for scribbling.
• Drawings become more representational and recognizable.
• Draws simple shapes (e.g. circles, crosses, and lines) without tracing.
• Creates art and drawings that begin to resemble people, animals, and objects.

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Playful Bee

Education Team at Playful Bee

Playful Bee is an e-Preschool that delivers inquiry-based preschool learning from the classroom to your home. Our preschool curriculum was created by our talented team of rock star teachers. With years of hands-on preschool and Kindergarten teaching experience, they've developed a high-quality preschool experience that is convenient-to-use and easy-to-teach by you, grandparents, or your nanny at home.

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