Here are 5 hands on and FUN activities that you and your little can do together to learn all of the main colors. I would focus on the following colors: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, Pink, Black, White, Brown and Gray. These activities can be repeated as many times as you would like.

When teaching your child colors, one of the best ways, if not THE best way, is just to talk about colors while you are out and about and around your home. Make it a part of your everyday conversation. You can comment on the color of their clothes for the day, the color of cars passing by, the colors of flowers and nature outside, the color of food you are eating, and items around your home.

Do not get frustrated if your child is not getting it right away or gets a little mixed up at first. Lilly Belle could not remember the color yellow for the longest time. Eventually, when she was ready, in her own time, she figured it out. And now, just a year later, she knows all her colors as if it is something she has known forever.

When doing these activities, if you notice your child resisting and pulling away, put the activity away and try again later. Later could be in an hour, a few weeks, or even a few months. You’ll know when they are ready. No one knows them as well as you do, Mama. Trust your instinct. Have fun!

• Color Match
  • Supplies
    • Construction Paper, Stickers
  • Instructions
    • Place each color of construction paper out on the floor or on the table. Point to each color while saying the name of each color aloud and then have your child repeat you. Give your child stickers and have them match the stickers to the correct colored sheet of paper. If your child is not quite ready to peel the stickers themselves, you can peel the stickers off the sheet for them and they can stick them on.
  • Money Saving Tip
    • To save construction paper, you can cut the sheets of construction paper into 1/4 sheets so you are not using so much. Children this age will not have the patience to fill an entire sheet of construction paper. A 1/4 sheet of each color will be plenty! Then you can save the remaining paper for future projects.

• Color Hop
  • Supplies
    • Construction Paper, Clear Tape
  • Instructions
    • Tape pieces of construction paper down onto the floor. This will work better on a hard floor surface. Tape down one of each color. Call out a color and have your child jump to that color. You can mix it up and add two or more of each color and then play “hot lava” telling your child they can step on any color except “________”! You can also add things like hop on one foot, jump with your feet together, walk on your tip toes to “__________”, walk backwards to “_________”.
  • Money Saving Tip
    • To save construction paper, you can cut the sheets of construction paper into 1/4 sheets so you are not using so much. Children this age will not have the patience to fill an entire sheet of construction paper. A 1/4 sheet of each color will be plenty! Then you can save the remaining paper for future projects.

• Color Hunt
  • Supplies
    • Construction Paper
  • Instructions
    • Place one of each color of construction paper out on a table or large surface. Have your child go around your home and collect things that match each color. Create little piles of things that are all of the same color. Have your child call out each color as he or she finds the items.

• Color Me a Story!
  • Supplies
    • Notebook, Crayons or Markers
  • Instructions
    • Set out your child’s notebook and some crayons or markers (one of each color). Have your child choose a crayon. You and your child can then think of things that are the color they chose. Have your child draw those things using that color and start creating a story. As your child colors with different colors, talk about things that are that color to add to your story. To add to the fun, you can then have your child narrate the story and you can write it down to read together later.
• Handprint Masterpieces
  • Supplies
    • Plain White Printer Paper, Washable Paint, Paintbrush, Tape
  • Instructions
    • Using washable paint, paint the palm of your child’s hand with one color. Press your child’s hand down onto the paper to make their handprint. Then you can write the name of the color below their handprint. You can do this with each color. If you are up for a little mess, you can allow them to finger paint with that color since the paint is on their hand already. Be sure to talk about that color as they are using it. Ask your child if they can think of anything else that may be that color. You can even do BOTH of your handprints, your child AND yours, together on the paper. Want to get really crazy? You can do this activity as a family – what an adorable keepsake! Once the handprints and art are all dry, hang them using the clear tape. You can then use these almost as flashcards with your little one. Point to each work of art and have your child tell you the name of the color.
  • Money Saving Tip
    • If you add a bit of water to the paint, it will last you a bit longer.

Alright, Mama – you’re ready. You can teach your child! No one can love them and teach them better than you can. You’ve got your supplies and now 5 fun color activities to do together.

Happy Learning!

-Chelsea, Let’s Play School