In this short clip, 22 month old Aspen is stacking wooden unit blocks. Although she does not yet have the language to ask her mom for help finding a "square" block, she points and does her best to say "square." When mom hands her a rectangular shaped block, she repeats her word for "square." When handed a wedge shaped block, she again repeats her word for "square" and begins to dig for the square shape she wants to add to her tower of same-shaped "squares." "Whoa!" Aspen exclaims when she places the "square" block, showing she is quite pleased with herself!
It is hard to believe that children at this early age can identify shapes. Typically, we see toddlers working to fit various shapes into a traditional shape sorter by trial and error. They usually don't have the words to explain what they are doing, but with close adult observation, you can begin to see how fast they learn which shape goes into which same-shaped opening. Helping children match the word for the shape helps to build their vocabulary.
It's important for those working with young children to understand two- and three-dimensional shape vocabulary. What Aspen is identifying as a "square" is really a three dimensional rectangular solid that has six surfaces, two of which are square. A cube is a three dimensional solid that has six surfaces, all of which are square. So while most of us recognize that a square is actually a two-dimensional shape, we can begin to help children understand the differences when they are ready. Researchers have shown that involvement by adults in a discussion of math ideas and modeling math vocabulary during block play can influence the math abilities of children.
For now, Aspen does not seem to be the least bit interested in understanding the correct name for each block. In stacking the blocks, she is engaging in a sorting activity where she is on a mission to find blocks that are all the same.
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