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Let's Learn Our Colors!
Tips and Ideas to Help Toddlers and Preschoolers with Color Recognition
By Alexandria Powell
by Bill Martin Jr., made chocolate pudding and glued coffee grounds (used and dried) on the shape of a bear."
Here are some general tips for making your little one's world more colorful:
- Label the color of objects in everyday conversation, Hunt O'Brien says. For example, "Put your blue cup in the sink."
- Take time to observe the world with your child. Discuss what you see while on a walk, or while driving in the car, and be sure to point out the little details.
Offer plenty of matching practice, Hunt O'Brien says. Your child can help match socks while folding laundry, or help pick up all the toys of one color while cleaning up. Use phrases such as 'Find the ones that look the same.' - Keep plenty of art supplies on hand – crayons, markers, chalk, and paint – in a rainbow of colors.
- Allow your child to mix colors while drawing, painting and working with play dough (kneading different colors of play dough together will build hand strength as well).
- For a special bath time treat, fill two plastic bowls with inexpensive shaving cream and add a few drops of food coloring to each, Hunt O'Brien says. Then let your little one go wild "painting" the tub, tile and himself (make sure to closely supervise).
And for focusing on a specific color, try these:
- Go through old magazines or catalogs with your child and look for items in a targeted color, McTaggart says. Let them cut out the items and paste them on manuscript paper or poster board for a color collage. (Younger ones will need lots of grown-up help with this!)
