Circles are everywhere. Once you start looking, you’ll see them on cups, wheels, buttons, and more! This simple play plan helps your toddler explore the shape through puzzles, play, and everyday movements.
Circles are everywhere: on toys, in books, in the sky, and right under curious little fingers!
About This Play Plan:
Introducing the concept of circles helps toddlers begin to notice shapes in their everyday world: from the sun to a plate to the wheels on a toy. At this stage, learning through touch, sight, and movement is key. Circles are especially fun because they’re easy to work with; no matter how you turn them, they still fit. They can roll, spin, and slide into puzzles, making them great for building fine motor skills, language, and early categorization in a natural, hands-on way.
While your toddler may not be saying “circle” yet, repeating the word during play and pointing out circles in everyday life (like on plates, wheels, or lids) helps build familiarity. You can also model tracing the shape with your finger as you name it, giving your child a clear, sensory-rich way to connect the word to the shape over time.
How to Use This Plan:
- Gather Your Materials: Check the list below for everything you’ll need.
- Follow the 5E Tabs: Each tab provides step-by-step guidance, creative ideas, and reflection prompts to make the experience more meaningful.
- Let Your Child Lead: Observe how your child interacts with the materials and adjust based on their interests and developmental stage.
Spark your child’s curiosity:
Start by reading a toddler-friendly board book that features shapes.
Point to each circle and say, “Circle!” with a gentle tap.
You can also show Lovevery’s textured cards that feature circles, such as the moon and mirror cards, saying, “This is a circle too!”
Let your toddler see your mouth when you say the word “circle”.
Encourage hands-on exploration:
Offer your toddler Lovevery’s circle puzzles and let them freely remove and replace the pieces.
Encourage them to explore the different sizes. Say things like “You stacked a circle!” or “This circle is big, that one is small.”
Let them handle the objects as they wish.
Provide simple, age-appropriate explanations:
As your toddler continues to play, use clear and slow speech to name what they’re playing with.
Say things like, “You’re holding a circle,” or “That circle rolled away!”
Repeating the word circle often, in the same calm tone, helps your child begin to connect the shape with the word. The key is to make the word circle familiar and meaningful through repetition and real play.
Expand on the activity:
Gather a few safe, round objects from around the house, such as round lids, Lovevery’s Animal Metronome (from the Music Set), Copy Me Cups, and the Pull Puzzle (from the Adventurer Play Kit).
Let your toddler interact with them as you say things that you observe about how the circle behaves, such as “This is shaped like a circle. See how it rolls!”
Reflect on how your child responded to the play:
- Which objects drew their attention most, the puzzles, flashcards, or circles in motion?
- Were they curious about rolling, spinning, or fitting the circular pieces?
- Did you notice any moments where they responded to the word “circle” or pointed it out on their own?
- Were there repeated actions, like stacking or spinning, that seemed intentional?
Simple, open-ended play like this lays the groundwork for shape recognition, language, and fine motor skills… without needing to rush the process.
Materials List:
- Circle puzzles, such as the Lovevery puzzles from the Explorer, Thinker, and Babbler Play Kits
- Flashcards featuring circles, such as the Lovevery Textured Cards (moon, ball, mirror)
- A toddler-friendly board book that features shapes, especially circles
- A soft play mat or blanket for comfortable floor play
- Various circular-shaped items, such as Lovevery’s Animal Metronome (from the Music Set), Copy Me Cups, and the Pull Puzzle (from the Adventurer Play Kit)
Tips for the Grown-Ups:
Follow the Child’s Lead:
Observe how your child interacts with the playthings. Let them guide the session by following their interests. If they show a preference for exploring textures, sounds, or colors, embrace it. Be a silent observer, ready to expand their learning with gentle, supportive language.
Create a Calm, Inviting Space:
Set up a clutter-free area that encourages focused exploration. Use natural light and simple setups to inspire curiosity. If the weather permits, take the play outside for a richer sensory experience, connecting with the natural world.
Encourage Open-Ended Play:
Embrace imaginative twists and unexpected uses for the toys. If the activity takes a surprising turn, celebrate this as a sign of growing cognitive flexibility and problem-solving.
Our Own Play Experience
When we received our first Lovevery play kit (the Explorer), our daughter was just 7 months old. At first, I thought that the First Puzzle (a simple circle with a handle and a baby’s photo underneath) would be a dud, but to my surprise, it was quickly her favorite item. It was designed to support grasping skills, and she enjoying banging the lid over the wooden piece. In the process, she figured out how the lid would fit back into place, and that early success really stuck with her.
A few months later, we introduced the pincer puzzle from the Thinker Kit. It had a deeper, more cylindrical shape, and her grasp was more refined by then, thanks to all that time spent with the first one.
By her first birthday, we gave her the Circle of Friends Puzzle. She struggled a bit at first to match the varying disc sizes, but soon developed her own method: sliding the pieces around until they found the right fit.
At 14 months, I had the Adventurer and Realist kits shipped early since she was progressing quickly. That’s when we received the Geo Shapes Puzzle, a trio of nesting pieces: circle, square, and triangle.
She hasn’t said the word “circle” yet, and I’m still watching to see if she can tell it apart from other shapes, but that’s okay. We’ll keep repeating the word “circle” during play and in daily moments, tracing the shape with our finger on plates, wheels, and lids to help her connect the word to what she sees. For now, it’s all about exposure, enjoyment, and building that early sense of familiarity.
Please Note: I am a proud Lovevery subscriber and fan, and many of the play plans shared here feature Lovevery playthings. However, this site is not affiliated with or endorsed by Lovevery. All ideas and recommendations are my own, based on my experiences as a mom who values meaningful, play-based learning.
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