OT Recommended Crafts with Shapes

Below are a few basic shape crafts. These crafts are great because they work on identifying shapes and colors while incorporating fine motor skills, visual-motor skills, and scissor skills. Plus, crafts are just a fun way to learn. You can amp up your activity by reading or telling stories about the vehicle, food, or thing you are making with basic shapes to make the craft even more engaging. 

Remember, you can modify the craft and provide assistance as needed based on your child's abilities and age. Check out the following shape crafts and get ready to have fun! 

School Bus

Supplies: 

• Yellow, black, & white paper

• Scissors

• Glue

• Writing utensil to draw shape before cutting

• Ruler (optional)

Directions: 

For most ages, it is most appropriate for you (the adult) to draw out shapes with or without a ruler and allow your child to cut the shapes out. Or older children may be able to draw the shape out for themself before cutting. A marker that makes a dark, thick mark creates an easier line to cut along. 

1. Yellow: Draw and cut out a long rectangle and a shorter rectangle

2. Black:

• Draw and cut out three small squares

• Draw and cut out a long strip

• Draw and cut out two circles

1. White: Draw and cut out two circles smaller than the black circles

2. Glue cut pieces together to form a bus!

House

Supplies: 

• Artist's choice of paper colors (3- 6 colors)

  • This is a great craft for using up scraps!

• Scissors

• Glue

• Cotton ball or additional paper for chimney smoke

• Writing utensil to draw shape before cutting

• Ruler (optional)

Directions: 

1. Draw and cut out: a triangle for the roof, a small rectangle for a chimney, two small squares for windows, a small rectangle for a door, and 5-7 long rectangles (slightly less wide than the triangle)

2. Assemble and glue to blank paper to form a house

Robot

Supplies: 

• Blank white paper

• 1-4+ colors of paint (Artist's choice)

• Drawing implement (Artist's choice/ crayon, maker, etc.)

• Googly eyes (optional)

• A few basic shape sponges (square, rectangle, circle)/ or fingers (a great sensory experience!) or paintbrush

Directions: 

1. Use sponges, fingers, or brush to paint shapes for the robot's body. Let paint dry

2. Use coloring utensils to add detail to shapes

3. Glue on eyes, if using

Shape Pizza

Supplies: 

• Paper plate

• 1+ colors of paper

• Glue

• Scissors

Directions: 

1. Draw various shapes on several different colors of paper (squares, rectangles, circles, triangles). Give each shape a different color of paper. You can make this more or less complicated based on your child's age. (Ex. One shape for a three-year-old, 2-3 for a four-year-old, etc.)

2. Cut out shape(s)

3. Glue shapes onto the paper plate assembled like a pizza.

4. Name shape or "topping" and record the number of each shape (optional)

If you and your child love these crafts, use your imagination to create even more things with shapes on your own!