Educo Post the shape

Each wooden shape fits through one matching opening in the box, so the child looks at a shape, finds the hole it belongs to and posts it through. It is a clear match and drop action the child repeats with each piece, which is why posting toys hold a young child's attention.

Finding the right hole encourages the child to experiment with shapes and how they relate to one another, an early look at mathematical form. Comparing a shape to the openings, turning it and trying again builds the habit of noticing similarities and differences, which is useful thinking well beyond this toy.

A shape sorter toy like this asks the child to match what they see to what their hands do, lining a piece up with its opening and guiding it in. Doing this over and over sharpens eye-hand coordination and the fine motor control of the fingers, so placing the shapes gets smoother with practice.

Yes. A shape does not go in until it is turned the right way, so the child has to keep trying, which draws on perseverance and steady concentration. Working at one piece until it drops through gives a small, clear success that encourages the child to carry on to the next shape.

The game comes with several lids that increase in difficulty, so you can begin with an easier set of openings and swap to harder ones as your child gets the idea. This keeps the toy useful for longer, offering a fresh challenge rather than the same level every time.

Fit the shape is about joining two matching parts together, while Post the shape is about dropping shapes through matching holes. Many children enjoy joining two parts first, then move on to posting several different shapes. You can see the joining toy at /products/educo-fit-the-shape.

It suits toddlers who can pick up a shape, look for its opening and aim it in, usually the stage after simple grasping and stacking. Sit with your child, start with one or two easy shapes and let them keep the pieces they have posted, adding more as their matching improves.