They say that kids are sponges….soaking up everything around them. My son is 20 months old and it’s incredible all of the new things he learns on a daily basis. Something I will always strive to do in our home is make learning fun for him….rather than it being an arduous task or forced endeavor.
Recently, puzzles have been his new inquisition. Simple shapes, the ABC’s, animals….he’s attempting to figure out what each one is and how the pieces fit. To make it more exciting for him, I decided to make some magnets for the fridge…..
The kid LOVES magnets….and they have really helped him acquire a ton of new words in a non-pressure some way. You can make these bad boys, too. It’s really quite simple. I’ve included a tutorial for you to follow. All you have to do is download the free file for the 9 shape cutouts and make sure to have the following materials prior to making:
Cork board/disks (ArtMinds from Michaels is what I used)
Magnetic Adhesive Sheets (the business card size is too small).
Black Marker (permanent provides better quality)
Sharp Scissors (or exacto knife to be more precise)
Adhesive Paper or White Colored Vinyl
After seeing this project through to the end, there is a change I would have made to improve the overall quality of the finished magnet. Initially, I used adhesive paper to peel back and stick onto the cork disk. But, after a few days of my child playing with the magnets, the corners began to peel away. I realized I needed a slightly more durable type of paper and I didn’t want to have to use glue. This is a perfectly fine option, to use glue, but I wanted it to be quick and easy. So, I decided to use white vinyl to print out the shapes on and then cut them out. This worked out MUCH better!
To download the free shape cutouts, click on the image above for the PDF version or below for the free Silhouette Cut file!
SHAPE MAGNET TUTORIAL
Step 1: Cut out shape card and place (with adhesive still on) on top of the cork disk.
Step 2: Trace the square using a fine tip pen and cut it out with your sheers or exacto knife.
Step 3: Use a black marker and color the border of the cork square to match the magnet
Step 4: Peel off the backing and place the
shape sticker on the cork square.
Step 5: Trace the square onto the magnet and cut. Peel the adhesive away and place on the back of the cork square. Press down firmly. 
Now you have yourself some early learning magnets that kids
can use to learn their shapes in a fun way!
They are bright and colorful and easy to grasp! Your little one will love sliding
these on and off your refrigerator or any other type of magnetic surface!
They really pop nicely against our black fridge! My son loves to practice saying the words…..”TAR!” or “SARE” or “OVUH”. I love hearing him attempt to say them 🙂
Be on the lookout for more magnet sets in the near future! I plan to share the ABC’s, animals, and everyday items that can be found in the house.
I sure hope you find this to be a simple, yet fun learning experience for your wee ones!
For more shape fun, be sure to check out these wonderful resources we LOVE!
For more shape fun, be sure to check out these wonderful resources we LOVE!
(Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Your support is genuinely appreciated!)
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