Recognizing and distinguishing colors is one of the cognitive abilities your child will develop in his second year. Around the age of 18 months, children might begin to learn colors.
The simplest methods of learning colors are color matching and sorting (placing the red toy with all the other red toys). They will occur first, along with recognizing and choosing colors when asked for them (handing you the red toy when you say give me the red toy). Lastly comes naming colors (being able to say red when asked what color is this?).
The first color exercises your child will be able to perform are color matching and sorting, which are addressed in this activity. We used MegaBlocks, but any set of building blocks or colorful toys will work. Get a set of MegaBlocks, though, if you don’t already have one or are unaware of what they are. From the age of one to preschool, your toddler will love building and creating with you.
So go ahead and let them enjoy themselves while learning their colors with the blocks!
Activity Sneak Peak:
- 1 minute set-up time
- No cleanup
- Works on color recognition and matching
- For 18+ months
What You Need:
- MegaBlocks, Legos, or any toys/items with different colors
- Construction paper
- Painter’s Tape
What To Do:
- Tape down construction paper pieces with Painter’s Tape to represent the colors of the blocks or toys you’ll be using. Red, yellow, blue, and green MegaBlocks are required if using the standard set.
- Show your youngster how to complete the exercise. Show them that you should add each color block to the paper one at a time.
- Allow children to arrange the blocks on the paper and match the colors, offering assistance as needed.
- Have them repeat what you say as you say it, or have them mention the color as they pick it up to introduce language. Additionally, you may ask them to choose a hue by calling it out.
- You can use fewer colors if you want to make the exercise simpler. Try only two colors at once, and make sure they are in stark contrast. For instance, use only red and yellow instead of blue and green (which are closer in hue). Starting with a few blocks on each paper will allow them to see a lot more colors to match.
- Add more colors, or even hues for which there is no paper, for greater difficulty. Additionally, you may ask them to describe an object that is that color, such as the blue sky or the green grass.
Skills That This Activity Addresses:
This is an enjoyable activity that targets a number of skills. Your child will enhance the following abilities as they practice color sorting and matching:
- Language/Vocabulary: Hearing and talking about different objects (color names, paper, blocks)
- Cognition: Learning and understanding new concepts (sort, match)
- Multi-sensory learning: using the whole body as a hands-on approach to learning
- Visual Scanning: Locating the colors that they need to match.
Ways to Incorporate Cognition and Language:
Any activity you perform with your child may and SHOULD include elements of cognition (knowledge) and language. Talking through the actions they take will help them expand their vocabulary and gain a better understanding of new terms and concepts.
Keep in mind that your child is always listening and taking in everything around them, including language. Here are some strategies for enhancing language and cognition during this activity:
- Point to the paper and ask, What color is this?
- Have them say or repeat the color that they pick it up.
- Ask them to point to the green paper, blue paper, etc.
- Tell them to name an object that is the same color.
- Work on opposite concepts like on, off, above, below, big, and small
- Vocabulary words such as color, paper, tape, match, sort
The capacity to recognize colors may be present in your child as early as 18 months, but it won’t be a required skill until they are two. Make learning enjoyable, and don’t worry too much about educating them.
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