Is your toddler at the age where they want to cut everything with scissors? This activity will give them a constructive outlet, while helping them to learn shapes!
Support Teach My Toddlers by using the affiliate links in our articles to shop. We receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) so we can continue to create helpful free content. Thank you, we appreciate it!
This activity will let you capitalize on your toddler’s interest in cutting, but will also provide a controlled environment for them to practice cutting. Luckily, this cutting practice goes perfectly with learning shapes. Not only will this activity help to teach shapes, but it will also give your toddler or preschooler some great cutting practice!
What you need
Preparation
Start with a piece of construction paper. Fold the paper into 8 long strips and cut them apart.
Each strip of paper will be used for a different shape. Draw lines on the rectangle to make a bunch of that shape.
For the non-straight shapes (circle, heart, oval, star) you can just draw lines to make squares and then draw the shapes in the squares.
Playing with your Toddler
Once you are done prepping the rectangles, get your toddler ready and pull out the scissors. Usually toddlers will need help with holding the paper and sometimes they will need help with opening and closing the scissors. Try to let your toddler do as much as they can on their own, but don’t worry if they need a lot of helping.
When you finish cutting a long rectangle into the shapes, talk about that shape and its characteristics (“look at these squares, they all have four sides”, “let’s count the sides”, etc.). Make little piles of all the shapes to keep them separate, then put them into baggies to save for another activity.
This is a great way to give your toddler some controlled scissor practice and it was also a great way to teach shapes!