Stuffed Shape Craft for Kids

We’ve been super busy unpacking and getting settled into our new home. Today my lovely friend, Chelsey, is stopping by to share a fun activity you can do to help kids learn about shapes. Over on her own site, Buggy and Buddy, you’ll find awesome science activities, gorgeous-yet easy-crafts, and creative learning activities. After you read about the stuffed shapes she’s sharing today, don’t forget to head over and check out her website. Enjoy!

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I’m so excited to be guest posting here on Fantastic Fun and Learning! I’m Chelsey, and I blog over at Buggy and Buddy about all kinds of learning activities for kids. I have a 3 year-old boy and 6 year-old girl who serve as my main inspiration. Today I’m sharing a fun shape themed craft for kids!

Over these past few months I’ve noticed my 3 year-old son, Theo, showing an interest in learning shapes and fine motor activities. I decided to combine the two by creating this stuffed shape craft for kids! And when you’re done making the craft, the shapes are lots of fun to play with too! (This post contains affiliate links.)

Stuffed Shape Craft for Kids

Materials for Shape Craft

• Brown paper grocery bag
• Single hole punch
• Scotch tape or masking tape
• Scissors
• Jumbo roving yarn or other thick yarn
• Old newspapers

Directions for Stuffed Shape Craft

For this tutorial we’ll be making a stuffed circle. Just follow the same procedure for making the other shapes.

1. Start by tracing two circles onto the brown grocery bag and cut them out. (I traced a lid I found in my kitchen to make my circles.)

2. Stack the two circles together and punch holes around the edge. (This part is kind of tricky for a young child to do on his or her own. I did this step for my child.)

3. Cut a large piece of yarn to use for sewing around the edge of the circle. Knot one end, and wrap some tape around the other end to make it easier to thread through the holes.

4.  Help your child sew around the edge of your shape. Be sure to leave a hole to stuff newspaper into! (You might want to lightly tape the shapes together to hold them in place as your child is sewing. You can remove the tape at the end.)

5. Crumple up pieces of newspaper and stuff your circle.

6. Sew the rest of the circle together. Tie your remaining yarn to the knotted beginning yarn and cut off any remaining yarn.

7. You’re finished!

Follow the same procedure for any other shapes you’d like to make!

Playing with the Stuffed Shape Craft

Theo loved picking up and feeling the different shapes. I started by letting him explore them on his own, then we described them to each other. We’d talk about the color of yarn we used for each and count the sides and corners.

Later we played a hide-and-seek game with the shapes! I’d hide the shapes somewhere in the room and he’d go look for them. It was a great way to encourage actually using the names of the shapes. “I find the circle, Mommy!”

We started out by making a circle, triangle, and square. Once Theo feels comfortable with those three, we’ll be making more to add to the collection!

Do you enjoy helping your children or students to be confident lifelong learners?  I’d love to invite you over to Buggy and Buddy where you can find many more ideas to create and play with your child in meaningful ways!

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