Tupperware Shape-O Toy Puzzle Ball

The Tupperware Shape-O is one of the most recognizable toys in the history of developmental products. This odd looking red and blue plastic sphere has long been a fixture of children’s playrooms. We’ve all seen those little yellow shapes scattered across the floor and many of us have had the pleasure of repeatedly opening and closing this contraption for excited toddlers.

For those of you who do not already own a Tupperware Shape-O, here are some of the product highlights and developmental benefits.

The coloring of the Shape-O is a bold palette of primary colors. The sphere is half red and half blue with assorted yellow pieces. These colors contrast well, which makes the toy attractive to small children and simple to use.

There are ten of the yellow pieces. Each piece represents a different shape (e.g., circle, triangle, square, etc.) On the surface of the sphere are ten corresponding holes. The object of the puzzle is to get each piece into its proper hole. This appears to simply be a game, but it is much more. The Shape-O is a tool for teaching the important developmental behavior of matching. As the child matches each piece to its corresponding hole, the child learns to study and compare each shape. By recognizing the differences and similarities between each shape, the child begins to build an understanding of space and proportion. This is a crucial step in developing the ability to interpret and differentiate more complex shapes.

Each yellow shape piece is numbered with digits and a corresponding quantity of dots. The numbers and dots make the Shape-O a helpful tool in teaching the child the concepts of numbers and counting.

The one negative feature of this product is the opening and closing mechanism. To open the sphere, you must pull handles at the poles of the sphere and twist the hemispheres in opposing directions for many rotations. The Shape-O’s red and blue hemispheres will eventually separate just enough for you to turn the Shape-O horizontal and vigorously shake the toy until all of the pieces fall to the floor. To close the empty Shape-O, you must spin the hemispheres in the opposite direction until the toy tightens down and the two hemispheres fit together snuggly. This procedure may sound simple, but you will quickly grow tired of all the work. Once your child masters this puzzle, you will start experiencing conflicting feelings. On one hand, you’ll be happy that your child is getting smarter, but you will grow to dread opening and closing the toy.

The good news is that the Shape-O is worth the effort. It is a wonderful developmental toy that will provide your child with hours of fun and some valuable lessons in shape, differentiation, counting, sorting, and memory.

Oh, and by the way, it’s Tupperware, so when your child’s Shape-O gets dirty (and it will), you can always toss the whole toy (pieces inside) into the dishwasher.