In any way, shape, or form? Toddlers' understanding of shapes

•Toddlers shape discrimination ability was examined using eye gazes.•Toddlers can discriminate valid squares, triangles, and circles from invalid distractors.•Toddlers have difficulty discriminating rectangles.•Factors that contribute to spatial skills do not predict shape discrimination ability.

Using the intermodal preferential looking paradigm, two-year-old children's ability to discriminate valid (typical and atypical) squares, rectangles, triangles, and circles from invalid distractors was examined. The cognitive and environmental factors that might predict this ability were also investigated. Two-year-old children (N = 33) were able to discriminate squares, triangles, and circles, but not rectangles. No significant cognitive or environmental predictors of this ability were found. The results suggest that the ability to shape discriminate at age two is under considerable development and that other factors may be responsible for children's ability to discriminate shapes.