One of the neatest "Aha!" moments I had growing up was when I finally discovered just how much the entire world is based on mathematics.  My dad used to say that mathematics was its own language...the language of the universe.  Once I began to learn that math was so much more than just a few problems to solve on a piece of paper, but rather the building blocks of everything around us, I truly appreciated the subject.

The appreciation of understanding how the real world is integrated into the math we use everyday is the cornerstone of the Real World Folding Geometric Shapes toy from Learning Resources.  Keep reading to learn more!

Vivid, 3D Geometric Shapes for Kids from Learning Resources

The Real World Folding Geometric Shapes toy is a wonderful manipulative that helps kids make the connections between abstract ideas of geometry and real life examples of where these shapes are seen on a regular basis.  The set is designed for children ages 5 years old and up and includes the following:

• (8) Common Shapes in 3" Tall Clear Containers (Hexagonal Prism, Cylinder, Cube, Triangular Prism, Rectangular Prism, Square Pyramid, Triangular Pyramid and Cone)
• (24) Durable Inserts Which Fit Inside Clear Containers (Examples Include: Cheese Wedge, Gemstone, Tent, Soup Can)
• Activity Guide

Display shapes in their flat forms to show symmetry and surface area, and then fold them up inside the clear solid containers to show how geometry is indeed present in everyday life.  Whether they're visualizing soup cans in cylinders for the very first time or learning basic geometry concepts, your child will begin to discover the adventure of finding these shapes EVERYWHERE!

The Real World Folding Geometric Shapes set also comes with a handy activity guide, chocked full of great ideas on how to really utilize the power of this toy.  Riley loved stacking these geometric shapes for kids and walking around comparing them to other things in our house to see if she could "find a match."  I'm thrilled at just how interesting she thinks this toy is and how it's helped introduce a whole new set of vocabulary words to her, like angle, curve and vertex.

She's also amazed at how the flat forms look nothing like their 3D counterparts.  Now, wherever we go, we're always on the lookout for these basic geometric shapes in ordinary objects.  If you'd like to introduce your child to the wide world of geometry in a way that's both educational and fun, then be sure to check out the Real World Folding Geometric Shapes from Learning Resources.

Disclosure: I received the Real World Folding Geometric Shapes from Learning Resources in order to facilitate my review. No other compensation was received. This product review is based on my own personal experiences with this item and is completely honest and objective.