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Toddler Tuesday: DIY Shape Sorter

by Angela Thayer 10 Comments

An easy way to practice shapes and fine motor skills is with a Shape Sorter! I bought these foam 3D shapes at Michaels Craft Store many years ago, but these 3D geometric shapes would be a good option if you’re interested in creating this activity.

Michaels Shapes

The kids love playing with them because they are soft and a little squishy. I put them in a tub for them to play with. Wes liked putting them into containers, throwing them, and sitting in the tub.

 

Sitting in Shapes

I came up with an activity to do with the little cylinders and cubes. First, I found an oatmeal canister.

Can

Then I put two shapes on top, drew around them, and cut around the outlines.

How to Make a Shape Sorter

The goal of the game is to put the correct shape in the correct hole.

DIY Shape Sorter

Activity with Shapes

At first, he didn’t look where he was putting the shapes, but after playing with them for a while, he caught on to where each shape went. It was fun to watch him learn!

Shape Sorter Activity

Big brother wanted to help out, too.

Big Brother Helping Out

Every time he got the shape in he would say “YAY” and clap. It was too cute!

I love how inexpensive this activity is. We will use these shapes for other activities, such as sorting by color and making patterns. Hope you’ll get out to Michael’s and grab yourself a bag or two–your kids will love them!

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Filed Under: Toddlers Tagged With: shapes, sorting

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  1. Mel says

    August 14, 2019 at 1:56 pm

    Will this activity be good for a 5 year old that has autism?

    Reply
    • Angela Thayer says

      August 19, 2019 at 5:36 pm

      Yes, it would!

      Reply
  2. Sebastian Z. says

    March 27, 2014 at 9:41 am

    I am a manager at Michaels. The foam shapes described above are indeed a seasonal item, and therefore cannot be found all year around so please do not be discouraged when you are unable to find them in our stores. We usually carry it for back to school but cannot guarantee that it will be sold every year. Great idea though! Very creative and excellent for the kiddos 🙂

    Reply
  3. Lisa says

    October 18, 2013 at 7:22 pm

    I was wondering what the official name was on the packaging of those shapes? I was in Michaels today and couldn’t find them. I asked someone and she had no idea what I was talking about. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Angela Thayer says

      October 20, 2013 at 5:45 pm

      The brand name is Art Minds. I wonder if they are just in certain Michaels stores. I cannot find them online anywhere!! But I know I just saw them at a Michaels store by me in Iowa. I’m sorry you didn’t have any luck finding them! Here is an alternative (with more shapes) found on Amazon:
      Soft Foam Geometric Shapes
      Angela Thayer recently posted…Jell-o Eruptions & Science Saturday Blog HopMy Profile

      Reply
      • Lisa says

        October 21, 2013 at 4:07 am

        Thank you so much! I’ll look again.

        Reply
        • jane says

          October 29, 2013 at 5:37 pm

          They are a seasonal item at Michael’s, only in with back to school items.

          Reply
  4. Caroline says

    March 23, 2013 at 2:01 pm

    I totally didn’t realize they sold those for such a good price! Thanks for sharing that detail. I love this modified shape sorter idea for toddlers. The preschool-focused shape sorters can be a little too challenge for the youngest crowd. Thanks!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Ultimate Guide of Busy Bag Ideas – 100+ Ideas Sorted by Category says:
    April 11, 2015 at 12:47 pm

    […] DIY shape sorter is an example of the wonderful DIY toys you can make with dollar store […]

    Reply
  2. 20 Ways to Keep Toddlers Busy | Teaching Mama says:
    August 14, 2013 at 12:47 am

    […] I made our own shape sorter using soft shapes from Michaels and an oatmeal container. We get this activity out frequently and keeps my little one occupied for a long time! For more details, see this post. […]

    Reply
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