Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Shape Monster Parade: Free Printable Worksheet for Ages 2 to 4
- ForAges 2 to 4
- StageEarly Years
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Shape Monster Parade is a free printable art worksheet for Ages 2 to 4 in Early Years. Children draw a big shape, then give it eyes, horns and wiggly legs. It needs only paper and a chunky pencil or crayon, and page 2 gives the grown up notes, help ideas, a stretch idea and the answers.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children meet a circle monster, a square monster and a triangle monster, then make a monster of their own from any shape they like. For each one they draw a big shape and add eyes, horns and wiggly legs. There are boxes for drawing. Children name the shapes, practise holding a pencil and invent silly monsters.
- Circle monster. Round and round, no corners.
- Square monster. 4 straight sides.
- Triangle monster. 3 pointy corners.
- My own monster. Pick any shape.
Ways to build the parade
Start with the shape
Draw the big shape first. Say its name as you draw. Talk about what makes it special, such as round sides or pointy corners.
Add the monster parts
Give the shape eyes, horns and wiggly legs. Ask your child where each part should go and how many they want.
Name and colour
Let your child choose a name and the colours. Talk about what the monster likes to eat and where it is marching to.
Make it a parade
Put the finished monsters side by side and tell a short story about the parade. Let your child lead the story.
Why draw monsters to learn shapes?
Young children learn shapes best by looking, touching, drawing and talking. A monster gives a plain shape a personality, so a circle becomes a round, rolling creature and a triangle becomes a spiky one. When a shape has a story, children are more likely to remember its name and notice what makes it different from the others.
Drawing also builds the small hand movements children need for writing later. Big shapes and chunky crayons suit small hands, and there is no wrong answer when the monster is made up. That makes it a relaxed way to practise pencil control. Children can try, change their minds and feel proud of what they have made.
Skills and curriculum link
- Pencil control
- Naming shapes
- Imaginative drawing
- Talking about pictures
- Counting features
Ideas to help your child
- Shapes all aroundLook for circles, squares and triangles around the house. Plates, windows and road signs all have shapes your child can point to and name.
- Corners and sidesRun a finger around each shape together. Feel whether it is smooth or has corners, and count the straight sides out loud.
- Big arm movementsLet your child draw big shapes in the air first. Large movements help the hand get ready for smaller marks on paper.
- Talk while drawingAsk open questions such as, "What will your monster do next?" Talking helps children find words for shapes and parts.
Key words
- CircleA round shape with no corners and no straight sides.
- SquareA shape with four equal straight sides and four square corners.
- TriangleA shape with three straight sides and three corners.
- MonsterAn imaginary creature. Your child can make it as silly as they like.
- HornA pointed part that sticks out from the top of a head.
- WigglyBending one way, then the other, like a wave.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
- Give your child a chunky pencil or crayon. Look at the first monster together and say its shape name.
- Work through the activity together the first time. Let your child draw the eyes, horns and wiggly legs and talk about each choice.
- Let your child choose the monster colours afterwards. Check the shapes against page 2 and talk about what each monster likes to eat.
- Come back to it another day. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Draw a faint shape for your child to go over, or let them trace around a cup or block. Sit beside them and draw one part together, such as a single eye. Let them add the rest at their own pace.
To stretch confident children
Ask your child to count the eyes, legs and horns on each monster, then say which monster has the most. They can then make up a name for their favourite monster and tell you what it likes to eat.
Make it a game
Ask an adult to cut out the monsters with safety scissors. Then march them across the table in a parade, making silly noises. Line them up by shape, or call out a shape and let your child hold up that monster.
Talk about it
- What shape is your monster? How do you know?
- Does your monster have corners or is it round?
- Where will you put the eyes? Why there?
- What noise does your monster make?
- What does your monster like to eat?
- Which monster would you like to meet most?
Take it off the page
Shape hunt
Walk around the house or garden and point out circles, squares and triangles. Say each name together and take turns to spot the next one.
Playdough monsters
Roll playdough into a circle, flatten it into a square or pinch it into a triangle. Add eyes and horns with small pieces.
Monster march
Move like each monster. Roll round and slow like the circle monster, stomp like the square monster and tiptoe like the triangle monster.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first monster, then let them lead. Keep sessions short and stop while it is still fun. Praise effort and ideas, and enjoy the silly stories they tell.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, a table activity, an early finisher task or a supply resource. It needs no preparation beyond printing. Page 2 gives support and stretch ideas, so it suits mixed groups in Early Years.
Home educators
Pair it with picture books about monsters, shape hunts and playdough. It is free to print again for brothers and sisters, so younger and older children can draw their own parades side by side.
Where this fits in learning
Before this sheet, children play with blocks, sort objects and notice that things have different shapes. They scribble, make marks and begin to control a crayon. These early experiences prepare them to draw simple shapes and talk about them.
After this sheet, children can draw shapes more carefully and learn more shape names. They can sort shapes by their sides and corners, and begin to use shapes in pictures and patterns. Pencil control built here also supports early writing.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Shape Monster Parade for?
It is written for Ages 2 to 4, in Early Years. Younger children can go over faint shapes with a grown up. Older ones can draw their own shapes and add more detail to their monsters.
- What will children practise?
Children practise drawing and naming circles, squares and triangles. They also use pencil control and imagination to invent silly monsters in art. Talking about each monster helps them find words for shapes.
- How do I use it?
Use a chunky pencil or crayon and sit beside your child. Draw each shape, add eyes, horns and wiggly legs, then let your child choose the colours. Talk about what each monster likes to eat.
- What if it feels too hard?
Draw a faint shape for your child to go over, or let them trace around a cup or block. Draw one part together first. Short, relaxed sessions work best, and you can try again another day.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or another group of children whenever you like.
- Is this a screen free activity?
Yes. It needs only paper and a pencil or crayon, so it works well for quiet time, rainy days and school holidays. It gets children talking, thinking and drawing by hand.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Children add the colour themselves with crayons or pencils, which is part of the fun of making their own monsters.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.