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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Shape sorter question................................?

24 replies

mumfor1sttime · 16/01/2006 14:56

Sorry if I am repeating a thread, have searched, honest.
My ds is 1 and he has no interest in things like shape sorters or stacking rings etc. He has a tomy shape sorter with triangles/balls/squares - he chews the shapes and he doesnt want to know about the rest! Is he too young? I have no idea about what age/stage of development he should be at least paying an interest.
He has just started cruising, so is always busy!

OP posts:

VeniVidiVickiQV · 16/01/2006 15:01

My DD never did either. I guess she found it pointless . She was always too busy walking or investigating.

Dinosaur · 16/01/2006 15:02

We've got that same shape sorter. DS1 was interested in and good at doing it from a very early age, DS2 had no interest in shape-sorting etc at all until much later, certainly well past his 1st birthday. DS3 can do them now, aged nearly 18 months. Qutie a variatioin really. Doesn't sound like there's any need to worry abou thim, he's probably just too busy with other stuff.

Original poster

mumfor1sttime · 16/01/2006 15:08

Thanks. He seems to like blocks and shapes, just wants to throw and chew them. He will put them in a soft box with no lid, but not the shape sorter!

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Meanoldmummy · 16/01/2006 15:09

DS1 never showed the remotest inclination to do these. But he's very bright and there's nothing wrong with him. DS2 loves them and could do them all from about 8 months. I don't think it means anything - some adults like jigsaws, others find them deadly boring!!!!!

DebsCee · 16/01/2006 15:16

My DS sounds like yours! He had a shape sorter given for his 1st birthday but had no interest in using it 'properly', just used to love throwing the shapes and chasing after them. Then at around 14 months he started to post them and now at 17 months can do it pretty well, and enjoys it.

I posted a similar message to yours about his apparent lack of interest, and mentioned it to a developmental peadiatrician who said that you can show them how to do it all you like, but until their cognitive ability reaches the stage at which they are capable, it won't happen. I guess in laymans terms, they'll do it when they are good and ready and not before!

I now have the same issue with building blocks/bricks - not interested at all, just loves throwing and kicking them and has shown absolutely no interest/ability in stacking or building with them! It's so hard not to compare when you seem to be surrounded by other LO's who can do all these things better and earlier than yours though. As my DH loves to remind me, everything I've ever worried about him not doing he has eventually gone on to do, just in his own time, and I move to the next 'worry'

Original poster

mumfor1sttime · 16/01/2006 15:20

Thanks debscee, I have been worrying about it, silly really.
He loves to throw the shapes into the kitchen (hard floor) and chase them, think he likes the noise on the floor too.
I bought him a Fisher Price stacking ring, one that lights up and plays music - he takes the shapes off and chews them, puts one in each hand and 'skates' on the kitchen floor!!

OP posts:

MrsBigD · 16/01/2006 15:25

well my ds (17 months) has loved and still loves sorting cubes/stackers etc. Has done so for ages and actually does it very well... I was shocked! because... dd... couldn't even be bothered with them EVER

Every child has different focusses

georginars · 16/01/2006 15:26

I don't know if many children shape sort properly at this age. My 13 month old will only shape sort round things - everything else is posted out of the catflap

DebsCee · 16/01/2006 15:28

I know about the worrying, it never stops, especially if you are a born worrier like me

We have the same FP ring stacker, he just used to take all the rings off and then press the button on top until it played Twinkle Twinkle and then he would dance to it - as for putting the rings back on, that took another month to get to grips with, and although he can now do it, he's not really interested TBH. Like you say, there are others things to be doing!

beansprout · 16/01/2006 15:29

Ds is 14 months and will "sort" the round one and then look at me as if to say "hah, that's easy and boring, what's next then?"

Original poster

mumfor1sttime · 16/01/2006 15:32

Debscee - LOL! DS presses the button on top and dances to music! He got very confused when the batteries ran out!

Thanks for the reassurance from all, feeling better now. He has got good dexterity - he loves moving small things with his finger tips.

OP posts:

Original poster

mumfor1sttime · 16/01/2006 15:33

He will 'sort' his left over rusk though.

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expatinscotland · 16/01/2006 15:34

DD1 never had any real interest in it, but now at 2.5 she can draw the shapes. She'll sit and draw or colour for a long while for a toddler.

PeachyClair · 16/01/2006 16:36

DS3 had no interest either, we figured he was not into problem solving but he has latched onto puzzles instead and can do them in a way even his Childminder describes as odd and amazing simultaneously!

Which reminds me, what is the best size for a jigsaw for a 2.5 year old? He can do his 32 piece ones in ten minutes unaided, keeps trying to do DS1's 200 ELC Egyptian Jigsaw but even I cannot do that

Original poster

mumfor1sttime · 16/01/2006 16:50

peachyclair, good point! His new interest is banging his shapes on the tv screen, so not sure what that means!

Was thinking of getting some basic 'lift out' puzzles - can someone recommend any?

OP posts:

DebsCee · 16/01/2006 19:37

I can recommend some ELC (wooden) ones. One has 4 pieces - triangle, circle, square and star shapes. The other is animals, bit trickier, but the pieces play the relevant animal noises when they are put back in - a big hit in this house

Original poster

mumfor1sttime · 16/01/2006 21:08

Thanks will have a look!

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bobbybobbobbingalong · 17/01/2006 05:40

I think a year is too young to do more that put the round shape in accidentally sometimes, or as you have found chew them!

Ds was interested from 15 months (couldn't walk, but boy could the bobster sort out shapes). Was obsessively excited by shape sorting for 2 months and then gave it up in favour of wooden peg jigsaws, then gave those up when he discovered real jigsaw. Currently he is mad about making Thomas wooden track (I guess it's like a 3D jigsaw with no right answers). So he is mad on these sort of puzzles and he wouldn't have been interested at a year.

SalJxx · 17/01/2006 10:07

I think all kids develop their skills at their own speed, DS1 couldn't do his shape sorter 'til he was nearly 2.DS2 is 11 months and can manipulate the shapes into the holes and seems to be trying to find to right hole for the shapes. He has a fisher price peek a blok one where the shapes are round the side. DS1 really enjoyed his jigsaws and now has quite a collection of difficult ones.

singersgirl · 17/01/2006 11:46

DS1 liked those things and was good at them - around 13-14 months he was doing the 3-shape sorter and early inset puzzles, and by 18-20 months he was doing a 12 shape sorter. By 2 he was doing 24 piece jigsaws, but then he abruptly lost interest and hasn't done a puzzle since!

DS2 was never interested in shape sorters or puzzles and even now at 4 is very much at the low end of ages for puzzle doing.

coppertop · 17/01/2006 11:51

Ds1 was never particularly interested in shape-sorters, although he developed an interest in jigsaw puzzles at about 3.5yrs.

Ds2 (2.11yrs) will do shape-sorters and puzzles very quickly if offered them but won't actively look for one to do.

staceym11 · 17/01/2006 12:51

my dd isnt interested in shape sorter either, she is much happier to talk or 'read' a book or climb the stairs, im not bothered as i know she could do it if she tried but she finds it a bit pointless! lol

maisiemog · 26/02/2006 00:19

My ds started to play with his shape sorter and stacking hen at 12 months and at 15 months has become obsessed with them. Oh, and stacking cups, obsessed!
He only says mumum and dad and ta, so I reckon the speech development has taken a burton, or at least a definate back seat to the shape sorter, so I agree they do have preferences which override other skills.

RachD · 26/02/2006 00:46

I agree with bobby and think that 12 mths is a bit young.
DS has loved his for many months now, but not at 12 mths.

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