Paddlepop stick shape patterns

Visual perception is the process of extracting and organising information, giving meaning to what we see.  It is required to perform everyday tasks, such as reading, copying information from a board or understanding symbols.  Read more about visual perception on the Visual Perceptual Skills homepage.

This simple shape matching activity is great for toddlers and preschoolers.  It helps kids to become familiar with shapes and understand how to position something in space to match the picture given. This is a really important skill when they learn to draw and write, as they need to "figure out" where lines are in relation to each other to form a picture or letter. 

What you need:

• Coloured paddlepop sticks 
  
• Printout of Paddlepop stick shapes pattern sheet found at the Your Kids OT shop.  Purchase, print and laminate the sheets.

{Note: Instead of paddlepop sticks you could use crayons, pencils, pipecleaners, wool, ribbon, strips of paper, playdogh, etc).

Match paddlepop sticks with shape pattern sheet found at the Your Kids OT Shop.

How to use:
Simply match the paddlepop stick {or other item} to the shape pattern sheets.  Your child can match the appropriate colour as well.

But wait, there's more.... here are suggestions to progress this with your child.  The list below is also useful for therapists who may carry this one activity in their "tool kit" and vary it for various children seen within a day according to their skills.

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1. Ask your child to copy the shape with the paddle pop stick next to the picture rather than on top of the picture. You may ask your child to trace over the shape with their finger first.

2. a) Ask your child to draw on the laminated shape pattern sheets with a dry-erase marker.
b) When your child is familiar with this, ask your child to draw a copy on paper or a whiteboard with the shape pattern sheet as a model.  Try to place the pattern sheet at the same orientation as the position it is being drawn.  (eg. flat on the table for drawing on paper, vertically for a whiteboard easel).
c) Place the shape pattern sheet at a different orientation to the position being drawn (eg. vertically on stand when drawing on paper at a table).
d) Cut out the picture drawn and match it back to the shape pattern sheet.

3. Apply visual memory by showing the child the shape pattern sheet, removing the page and (a) asking them to reproduce the pattern with paddlepop sticks and (b) drawing a copy of the shape.

Copy shape beside picture, draw on shapes and draw beside shapes.

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Did you know you could do so many things with one set of shape patterns?  If you have an older child having difficulty with letter formation, then it is worth re-visiting shapes and pattern making.  Don't forget to visit theYour Kids OT shop for your copy of these shape pattern sheets.