As Locky has gotten older I have made it a point to try and find or come up with new and exciting activities for him to do, and an activity book is a great choice. At this age they seem to get bored easily and once he works something out, which is usually fairly quick he instantly wants to move on to the next thing and a lot of the time I’m not prepared and am left trying to figure out how to entertain him. Of course he plays with his toys, blocks, books, paints, craft… You name it he does it but he seems to just need more. This simple toddler shapes activity book has been a real hit.
I decided to create what I like to call a toddler shapes activity book. Pretty much a toddler friendly book that won’t get destroyed in two seconds, you get my drift?
Printable Toddler Shapes Activity Book
I’m sure you do if you have a destructive toddler like mine and if you don’t then you will soon learn or your just lucky and I’m slightly jealous of you. After creating the files for this activity book, I printed, laminated and hole punched each page for the book part of the project. I purchased a clear folder so that he can easily see the front cover.
I printed the pages with the matching coloured shapes, cut them out, lamimated them and cut the laminated shapes making sure I didn’t leave any sharp edges so neither of the kids cut themselves. I placed a thick plastic sleeve in the back of the folder to house the shapes once Locky has finished the activity book options. I had some random leftover velcro in my sewing kit that I quickly hot glued onto each shape in the book and the back of the loose shapes I previously cut.
Voila!
A fun and interesting activity for any toddler looking for something to do. Plus it’s a great start to learning shapes. Might be a while before they understand the big word shapes.
Locky loved it. He is only 2 so at first he was a little confused but after showing him a couple of times he figured it out and it seemed to challenge him just enough to keep him occupied and thinking but not too much as to cause an emotional breakdown! Ha, toddlers and their tantrums. He loved identifying all the colours and then pointing out the shapes he knew in the activity book. Once he started figuring out that he must stick the matching shapes together he started really focusing on lining it all up perfectly while asking what the name of the “new” shapes where.
Let me know if you give this a go.
To make your life easier I have attached a PDF copy of the toddler shapes activity book and the shapes cutout PDF with instructions right here. Just click on the links to download your copy.
SHAPES BOOK PRINTABLE & SHAPES CUT OUTS PRINTABLE
I hope enjoy the activity as much as we do!
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What a great idea. I bet my toddler would love this. I am totally going to share this.
Thanks Hil! I hope you print out the activity and try it. Locky still plays with his book and loves it 🙂 Lots of fun and very educational. Thanks for sharing. Let me know when you do share it so I can head over and give your post a like 🙂 x
What a cute idea!! Not to mention, you’re also teaching your child, but not breaking the bank. Love it 🙂
Thank you. It’s lots of fun x
what a gorgeous idea Maria. I miss the days mine want to play with anything that is not electrical lol xx
Haha. Ashamed to admit it but mine too wants to play with my iPhone, iPad, Laptop… he’s only 26 months! Knows how to work youtube like an adult…. Bad I know but he learned well when Cooper was newborn and during out crazy overseas move. The iPad was the only thing that kept him calm! Doesn’t got on it much now though 🙂 xx
Greta idea!I’d like to try! Can I ask you how did you laminated the sheets?
Hope you do they it out Sara. I used a home laminating machine that I borrowed from a friend. You can purchase laminating sheets and a machine art your local office supplies store or you can also get it laminated at the printers. When you download the PDF it has all the instructions you need on how to laminate the individual shapes etc. Just laminate each sheet and with the individual shapes, cut shapes first then laminate. Hope that helps 🙂
A really get way to keep toddlers busy and learning! Thank you for sharing on #HomeMattersParty!
Thanks Sonja. It’s a fabulous way to keep them busy and really does help with learning shapes and practicing colours.
That’s a great activity! Thanks for sharing! I found a clever Duplo Alphabet and Numbers printable that we use a lot.
Thanks Kaz 🙂 You know if I have new posts I’ll always link them up to your linky 🙂 It is a really great activity I must say. Sounds like a great activity! 🙂
I love, love, love this! I am totally going to use this with my daughter! Thank you so much for this free printable. Thanks for linking up on #ToddlerFunFriday!
You’re welcome. Glad you like it Ali. Thanks for popping by. Enjoy the activity! x
Just printed! Can’t wait to put this all together for my girls! Thanks so much for sharing!!
You’re welcome Jessica and hope you and your girls enjoy it as much as we do!
What a great idea. I love the bold colours and large shapes. My toddler would love this, she’s getting so inquisitive and she loves books. Thanks for sharing with the #BlogFair.
It’s a great activity for toddler. I hope you try it with your toddler 🙂
This is exactly what I’ve been looking for! Thank you so much!!
You’re welcome. It’s such a great toddler activity 🙂
Love this shape book! Laminating it is a great idea! My daughter, the youngest, was the most of our three kids as a toddler. I would love for you to link this up at Made for Kids link party. http://www.theresourcefulmama.com/made-for-kids-8/
Hi Kim. Glad you love it 🙂 Will head over and check out your party! Thanks 🙂
Cute! My daughter is probably a bit too young, but I am laminating crazy right now so this is great! We are also homeschooling eventually so this could work for a lot of things! Thanks for sharing!
Homeschooling, you go girl! I wouldn’t have the patience but admire those mums who do homeschool so much! I hope you use it. It’s a fabulous book and the kids really love and enjoy it.
This is such a wonderful idea. I know my girls would love an activity like this.
What a great idea! Thanks so much for sharing! I just had a question, what is the cheapest and best way to laminate images?
Hi Rossana, Glad you like it. I got one book done professionally and it was ridiculous. The printing shop charged me like $30 but then I borrowed my friends laminating machine and purchased the sheets. The sheets cost me about $10 and I have heaps left. I think laminating machines are about $30+ for a machine, but my friends was about $75 she said. But she uses it all the time as she has a toddler and makes lots of things for her.
What a great idea to teach shapes for kids in a fun way!Thanks for sharing the idea.
Visiting from #homemattersparty
You’re welcome Amila 🙂
Thank you for sharing with us at Merry Monday!
Cute ideas! THank you so much for sharing them on the #HomeMattersParty
Hi…Loved your printables.will surely try this for my daughter. I am making a activity kit for kids for their benefit…Will surely include this.this will help them to learn.
Hi
A big thanks from me
i love it
my kids love it
my pupils surely will enjoy it
may God bless you for your good sharing
much love from Malaysia <3
You’re very welcome Enny 🙂
Great idea! Thanks for sharing.
This activity is very good, thanks for sharing it!
You’re welcome!
I made this last night and I am now enjoying my coffee while my toddler happily matches his shapes. Thank you!