Carmen Knight, M.A.T., Early Childhood and Special Education

Children learn so many things while they explore shapes and colors. Doing so allows them to make associations with everyday items and situations. Children can relate that the shape of a triangle is the same shape as a piece of pizza and a rectangle is the same shape as a book. Colors do the same thing; children relate red with danger and green means to go. The world of shapes and colors open a world of learning and important preschool skills that can help children be successful in the classroom and beyond.

SmileMakers has an amazing assortment of wooden shape and color blocks. This 30 Piece Rainbow Block Set focuses on primary colors and basic shapes. Early Interventionists and Therapists can use this set to create so many different fun ideas that will help children learn about shapes and colors. An idea that I use with this set is creating a large pizza using the different color triangle pieces.  The child will have so much fun eating and sharing their pretend pizza when it is complete. Work on color identification as well as counting when you use this block set. Encourage your patient to mix and match the shapes to create a variety of things. With this set, they are only limited by their imagination!

Using these blocks to create different things also encourages development of fine motor skills. Stacking blocks allows the child to work on their pincer grasp and that will help the child with everyday tasks like feeding themselves and holding a crayon or pencil. You can also work on receptive and expressive language skills by allowing the child to name the shape and color and then request that they give you a specific shape or color to add to your latest creation.

The quality of this product cannot be beat! This is a set that you will be able to use for years with the children that you serve. It is such a great well-rounded set that will be a great addition to your toolbox and will help your patients in many different areas of development. Look to SmileMakers for all of items you need to help your patients meet their developmental needs.