Making and exploring with shapes is just some ideas of how we can introduce children to shapes during craft time. We’ve already though about making and exploring with colour.
Have you ever looked back at the craft activities you’ve set out for children and discovered that most of them involved a piece of A4 paper? Maybe not, but sometimes this is what happens as it is a standard size and if you have something printed it will often be on A4 paper.
These are some ideas to add variety. Some of these crafts do include A4 paper but shapes are added! Or the printed shape is cut out. Of course children can decorate a picture of a fish but it is lovely to have a fish shape to cover with shiny paper!
Use the shape of what you want to create.
This can be as simple as a fish shape or a person shape. Make giant leaves or an enormous egg. Decorate a star.
Use paper plates – different colours, sizes and shapes
Paper plates make for brilliant making. They come in different colours and shapes and sizes. You can use them as they are for making faces or fold them and cut them into different shapes. Here’s some ideas.
Make greetings cards for special occasions.
You can buy blank cards in different sizes (and colours) and decorate for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Valentines etc. As you can see we’ve made a lot of cards with hearts.
Start with different shaped paper
Sometimes long and thin paper can make for a lovely picture. It’s good to start with a shape that isn’t A4 or A3. If you are making a caterpillar or a field this is great. If you want a tower it works just as well.
Wreath shapes
Wreath shapes are great shapes to use to create seasonal makes. You can make your own from paper plates or buy cardboard wreath shapes. Add tissue paper, pictures cut from greetings cards, shapes cut from patterned paper.
Use shapes to make pictures
Provide cut out shapes for children to make their own creations. These are some ideas – children can make up their own or follow an idea.
Make 3D crafts
Use cardboard tubes, paper plates to make 3D objects. Have rolls of card to make crowns or hats. Lollipop sticks, cereal boxes, yogurt pots, clean egg cartons (no egg residue) are all useful to collect ready to use.
Instructions for the 3D angel are here.
Use cup cake cases
Cup cake cases can be used flattened out or as flowers or a Moses basket. You can cut them in half or into quarters. They are a great addition to craft materials and come in different sizes and colours (Avoid the waxy type as they won’t stick to anything!)
Useful craft supplies for incorporating lots of different shapes in your toddler group crafts when making and exploring with shapes
- Paper punches – to cut your own hearts, circles, leave shapes etc. If you don’t want to buy a whole set I’d go for a large circle.
- Cup cake cases – large and small (choice of colours/patterns)
- Paper plates – round and square
- A4 sugar paper cut in half
- Blank greetings cards
- Tissue paper squares and circles
- People cut outs
- Sugar paper squares/rectangles
- Stars/sun/moon shapes
These are just some of the ways I’ve tried to make sure we aren’t always using A4 paper for craft.
