My girls are OBSESSED with accessories. We cannot make it out of the house without bracelets, necklaces, headbands, you name it. So when I saw these adorable button bracelets from Meaningful Mama, I knew they would love them. When I discovered a box of assorted buttons in varied shapes and colors, I decided to turn it into a game to continue to work with my preschooler on her shape recognition and fine motor skills.

 Learning Shapes and Colors Through Play

The easiest way to support your child’s learning is to incorporate it into play through things they already love. Why? Because then it doesn’t seem like ‘work’ or a chore – it’s just pure fun, and they learn at the same time.

We have been working with my 3 year old on naming and recognizing all her shapes. She and her older sister are currently obsessed with playing dress-up and playing card games, so this simple activity leverages both of those to help her learn her shapes and colors, while she just thinks we are all playing a game and making bracelets!

Bracelet Supplies

To play this simple preschool learning game, you only need 3 things – buttons in assorted geometric shapes and colors, pipe cleaners and shape flash cards. I found our buttons in the craft section at Wal-Mart, and our Dr. Seuss shape and color flashcards in the Dollar Spot at Target. We also used my favorite Dollar Store appetizer tray, aka sorting tray.

Start out by instructing your child to sort the buttons. Encourage them to define the sorting system – your preschooler may choose to sort by shape or color.

Build a Bracelet by Shape and Color

Now, for the simple game. Give each player a pipe cleaner to build their bracelet. Use the shape and color flashcards like playing cards. On each players turn, they will turn over one card. They can then choose a button that matches the shape and color on the card to add to their bracelet.

Now for the tough part – they must string their button on the pipe cleaner. It’s a great fine motor challenge for little hands!

Each player takes turns drawing a card and adding a button to their bracelet, until their bracelet is full.

Related Post: Beaded Bendable Shapes

How many shapes does your preschooler recognize? If you play this at home and build your own bracelets – we’d love to see them! Share them with me on Instagram – tag me @PGPBMeghan.

This is a fun way to learn shapes and colors and play together as a family. For more independent learning, try this one simple method for teaching your preschooler shapes. You can find both of these posts, and many more, on our STEM for Kids – Math and Preschool boards on Pinterest.

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