This week at Sonas we explored the shape sorter.
The educator did a demonstration on how to use the shape sorter and also went through each shape and colour as the experience continued.
The children could enjoy matching the shape and pushing them through the matching shape, with assistance, of course. After some fun learning, the children had free play where the educator encouraged them to take turns and wait patiently, but also as a team if needed. Great try, everyone.
Throughout the experience, some children would bend to pick up the toys.
Cognitive Growth: Mastering Problem-Solving Every successful block placement symbolises a victory for any child. Shape sorter toys stimulate cognitive development by presenting a challenge: figuring out which shape goes where.
This process enhances problem-solving skills, spatial awareness, and an understanding of cause and effect. Fine-Tuning Motor Skills: Precision and coordination: Grasping, turning, and fitting blocks into designated spaces demand precision and coordination.
These actions finely tune developing motor skills, improving swiftness through this pathway. and control.
The hands-on nature of the activity promotes the refinement of both gross and fine motor skills. Shape and Colour Recognition: Early Lessons in Classification: As toddlers engage with different shapes and colours, they embark on an early journey of classification. Sorting blocks becomes an informal lesson in distinguishing between sizes, shapes, and hues-foundational skills that lay the groundwork for more advanced learning in the future. Patience and Persistence: Nurturing Essential Traits:
The trial-and-error nature of shape sorting instills patience and persistence in toddlers and helps us realise what sorting toys are. Each attempt, whether successful or not, contributes to the development of resilience and determination – qualities that will serve them well in various aspects of life. Social Interaction: Learning Through Play: Shape-sorter toy activities often evolve into shared adventures. Whether with a parent, sibling, or playmate, the collaborative nature of the game introduces toddlers to the joy of shared accomplishments.
