We have the Tupperware Shape-O Toy. It has been a favorite of all the toddlers who have lived with us. What’s funny is that as much as the children love the toy, we try to hide it.
Children love repetition. They are more than happy to hear the same stories, listen to the same songs, and watch the same movies over and over again. When the children want to play with the shape sorting ball we have to play too. We love the children and love playing with them, but it gets tiring having to repeat the actions with them more than a few times.
We bought a shape sorter box for the last baby placed with us. The age on the box and the baby were a perfect match, but the baby didn’t care about the shapes or sorting at all.
Now Jessie has become a master at sorting shapes. It is such a joy to watch her put the shapes in the Shape-O Toy over and over again. She carries around the box by its handle and can’t wait to show off her shape sorting skills to whoever happens to be nearby.
This newfound ability has opened up a whole world with the other toys. We have the Vtech Sit to Stand Alphabet Train. By herself she can put the letter blocks in the slots that talk about the letters and pictures instead of just dropping them down the chute. She can put the Leapfrog Fridge Phonics letters in the letter reader without any trouble.
Both of these sorting toys are labeled for six months and older. None of the children in our care have really gotten the joy of the toy until they’re well over two. That year or so of exploration and getting mommy and daddy to do the work pays off.