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Toddler Shape Matching with Contact Paper

Nov 13, 201218,123 views
Math Play
Toddler Learning Activity with contact paper Save
teaching toddlers shapes Save
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teaching toddlers Save
teach toddler shapes Save
toddler learning shapes Save
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by TurkeyMom in Math Play

Ages1–4 yrs
Prep25 min
Activity20 min
Leveleasy
MessLow
Works for1:1 · Small group · Class

Tape four sheets of colored contact paper to the wall sticky side up and draw a big shape on each. Toddlers then match and stick paper cut-out shapes, so they learn shapes while moving around instead of sitting at a table.

⚠️ Safety first

  • Supervise toddlers closely. Keep paper scraps and the peeled contact-paper backing away from little mouths.
  • An adult does all the cutting with scissors.
  • Tape the contact paper securely so it doesn't peel off and stick to faces or hair.
  • For the running game, clear the path between the shapes and the wall.

Before the kids arrive

  • Cut 4 basic shapes (circles, squares, rectangles, triangles) from colored paper, several of each in different colors.
  • Cut a few extra shapes. Kids may ask for more.

Steps

  1. Adult: peel the backing off the 4 sheets of colored contact paper.

  2. Adult: tape the sheets to the wall, sticky side up.

  3. Adult: draw one large shape on each color for your toddler to match.

  4. Set out the paper shapes on a plate or tray.

  5. Find a paper shape that matches a shape on the wall, and stick it on that sheet.

  6. Press, peel and adjust each shape until all its sides are stuck.

  7. More than one child? Put the shapes far from the wall and have the kids run to the wall to stick each one.

  8. Keep going until every sheet is full of matching shapes.

  9. Use the extra paper scraps to make simple contact paper art.

Tips

  • The sticky side gives the kids a big kick. Sticking, peeling and adjusting to make sure all the sides are stuck are all great for fine motor development.from the author
  • Instead of doing a learning activity at a table, give toddlers a chance to move about while learning.from the author
  • Watch for an older sibling over-helping. Big A shouted out instructions to her little sister, and I usually had to calm her down.from the author
  • The girls had so much fun that the little one asked for more shapes, so have extras ready.from the author
  • The younger one was very eager to peel the shapes off, so it can be played again and again.from the author
  • Sticky paper seems to be a kid favorite. Ours stayed up on the wall for more than 2 days.from the author
  • My toddler was very much into it because of the bright colors.from the author

Make it your own

  • Make patterns: simple ones for toddlers, more complex for preschoolers.
  • Combine color and shape recognition with prompts like "Do you want to stick the blue square on the red sticky paper?"
  • Make funny faces with the shapes.
  • Let kids test sticking other things to see what will hold up.
  • A reader made contact paper transfer art with the same materials.

The story behind it

By TurkeyMom · November 2012
toddler learning shapes
Instead of a learning activity at a table, I let them move about. I taped 4 sheets of contact paper to the wall, sticky side up, and drew a large shape on each.
1 / 6

Toddler Shape Matching with Contact Paper: the original post

This is a simple learning activity which attempts to teach shapes to toddlers. Toddler learning games and activities are bit hard to accomplish because of the sheer nature of that little person. Instead of doing a learning activity at a table, I gave them an opportunity to move about while learning.

  • 4 pack colored contact paper
  • Tape
  • Construction Paper

I just peeled the backing off the contact paper and used tape to stick the 4 sheets to the wall sticky side up. I also drew a large shape on each color for my toddler to match.

toddler learning shapes Using colored paper, I cut out 4 basic shapes for my toddler to recognize.

teach toddler shapes I set out my paper shapes for them and it was sticking time. Baby A matched the shape on the contact paper to her paper cut outs. If you have more than 1 child, you could easily set up a friendly game. Place the shapes far away from the wall with the contact paper and have the kids run to the wall to stick the shape.

toddler math The sticky side gives the kids a big kick. Sticking, peeling and adjusting to make sure all the sides are stuck are all great for fine motor development. Here is a collaborative effort from the girls. It is darling to see Big A get terribly upset when her sister makes a small mistake. That’s her shouting out instructions. I usually have to calm her down from over-helping her sister.

teaching toddlers The girls had much fun that baby A requested for more shapes.

teaching toddlers shapes With the extra paper scraps, the kids made some simple contact paper art here. Big A was very curious and tried sticking everything in sight to see if they will hold up. The younger one was very eager to peel off the shapes.

educational games for toddlers This toddler learning activity has so much potential that you either expand in many directions. Ideas

  • Patterns for preschoolers and simple ones for toddlers too.
  • Combine color recognition with shape recognition for toddlers. Simple prompts like “Do you want to stick the blue square on the red sticky paper?”
  • Make funny faces with the shapes.

Related Links: If you love contact paper just like we do, check out Learn with play at home’s comprehensive contact paper post. Some math posts from us

Some highlights

Thanks for reading

Please take a moment to comment Hello Visitor, Thanks for stopping by our little space here. We encourage you to stick around and take a look at couple of our popular posts.

What readers say

💬 7 comments ✍️ 3 answered by the author

🎉 Worked for us

Wall stayed up for days

The author says sticky paper is a kid favorite: the shape wall stayed up more than 2 days, and they practiced colors along with shapes.

“It was up for more than 2 days. We did shapes and colors since I was using colored sticky paper.”
TurkeyMom, Nov 2012

✨ Readers' twist

Try contact paper transfer art

A reader made contact paper transfer art using the same materials: colored contact paper, tape and construction paper.

“We also did a Contact Paper Transfer Art out of the same materials you used.”
Jen, Jun 2013

🎉 Worked for us

Bright colors drew toddler in

The author notes her toddler was especially engaged because of the bright colors of the contact paper and shapes.

“My toddler was very much into it because of the bright colors”
TurkeyMom, Nov 2012

Tried it?

Reviewed before it appears. No links, and please no children's names.

Read all 7 comments

  1. Jen · Jun 2013

    This is extremely amazing and wonderful! Thank you for sharing this. Awesome and perfect for the kids. We also did a Contact Paper Transfer Art out of the same materials you used. You should check this out! Contact Paper Transfer Art

  2. TurkeyMomAuthor · Nov 2012

    Thank you Rebecca for the feature

  3. Rebecca from Here come the girls · Nov 2012

    Morning! Just popping by to let you know I’ve featured this on The Sunday Showcase!

  4. TurkeyMomAuthor · Nov 2012 · replying to Deborah

    Thanks Deborah..My toddler was very much into it because of the bright colors..

  5. Deborah · Nov 2012

    I am loving all the bright colors and shapes! What a great sticky paper idea - my grandson would enjoy this too!

  6. TurkeyMomAuthor · Nov 2012 · replying to Allison

    Oh yeah, sticky paper seems to be a kid favorite. It was up for more than 2 days. We did shapes and colors since I was using colored sticky paper.

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