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. What methods to engage in is up to parents to decide, but some basic concepts should be explained outside the main program. Geometric shapes for babies are no less important than the colors and names of basic household items. How to introduce a child to circles and ovals?
Why do preschoolers need geometry?
The concept of shape and size helps to perceive the surrounding world and objects, to compare them with each other. You, without hesitation, will 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 forms. That is why it is useful to learn geometric shapes for kids as early as possible. By the age of 2-3 years, a child should know at least a circle, square, rectangle, triangle, rhombus. Gradually, you can add more complex shapes.
Going in search of figures!
The easiest way to teach a child something during the game. Try to interest the baby, submit new material in an original playful way. For the smallest, you don’t even need to organize classes, you can learn between things. Tell us that the cup is round and the book is rectangular. A visual aid revealing the concept of "geometric shapes" for kids will be the most common toys. Compare cubes and balls together, complicate the task by adding dishes or fruits to play in the store. Older children can be taken for a long time, asking them to find as many circles or triangles in the room as possible. Help to show your imagination and explain that the figures can “hide” on fabric or wallpaper in the form of a picture, represent a whole object or its part.
Entertaining geometry
Learning 5 geometric shapes is much easier if you draw them yourself. Offer your child a creative task, take a sheet of paper and paint, pencils and felt-tip pens and depict a circle, rectangle, square, triangle and rhombus. A more interesting version of this game is that mom draws a geometric figure, and the child draws some elements, turning the form into an object or animal. You can also draw a rectangle on a piece of paper and hang it in a conspicuous place. Of course, one of your guests will be surprised at such an interior decoration, but you can always answer: “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 devote a few minutes a day to such training.
Useful toys for learning shapes
A variety of games and toys will help you learn the basics of geometry. The easiest option: purchase ready-made cards with the image of figures. Typically, these sets are focused on the study of shape and color. There can be many cards, the figures on them are repeated, but vary in size and shade. You can play with such a board game for hours. Ask to collect all the same shapes, then arrange them in size. Then mix the cards and offer to find all the figures of the same size or color. If you wish, you can make such a game with your own hands. A special children's lotto is also able to help in the study of geometry. If you wish, it’s 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 (capacity, frame) having slots of different shapes. Colored geometric shapes are inserted into the holes. The task of the child is to choose the appropriate slot on the basis for each small object. Sorters come in different styles, but choosing the simplest one - geometric, you get the opportunity to learn the names of the figures during their placement in the base. Wooden or cardboard frames with inserts made according to the principle of sorter can also help in the study of forms. It is also useful to watch special educational cartoons about geometric shapes for kids. Combine all the proposed training options, and then your child will not have problems with geometry.