A Multi-Sensory Approach to Learning Colors!
Color wheels and flashcards are not the only way to go! There are so many other and more fun ways to teach colors. Colors are everywhere and we can incorporate all kinds of objects around the house that catch your kid’s attention. Toys, books on colors, markers, crayons or paint…the list can go on and on! Sorting colored objects is a great hands-on activity that is usually done during the toddler years, so with kiddos a little older, we can bring in more advanced or intricate sorting activities. We can introduce secondary colors, color mixes, complementary and contrasting colors, or simply have kids distinguish between different shades of the same color.
All types of manipulatives can be used as well to give them that tactile input that most young children love! Pom-poms, small wooden blocks, pony beads, Lego, MathLink cubes and water beads are all items that are easy for the little hands of preschoolers to grab. Throw in some colorful tweezers and help build up those fine motor skills.
Painting can be a wonderful tool for not only teaching kids all about colors, but providing them with a multi-sensory, hands-on experience. It can be anything from structured paint-by-number or letter projects to process art to specific painting techniques. Using different tools to paint also helps develop motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Paintbrushes, Q-tips, leaves, twigs, sponges, stamps, cookie cutters, and fingers are options, but don’t stop there, use whatever sparks your child’s interest!
My kids are messy, so having a truly washable paint comes in very handy. Crayola washable paint has worked the best for us so far. It has been the easiest to wash off of clothing, tables and walls, yes, I said walls. I personally think finger painting is a great introduction to painting, but only if they are old enough to not eat the paint! My go-to are Crayola finger paints. I would also suggest getting the paper specially designed for finger paint, it holds together better than other types of paper. The Melissa & Doug brand is a great option. My two youngest love finger-painting, the messier they can get their hands the better, lol!
As you can see, my 8 & 4 yr old have wildly different styles when it comes to finger painting or should I say "hand painting" according to my youngest.
They seem to agree when sponge painting though. My 8yr old was teaching the little one about mixing colors to create new colors. Proud momma moment right here!
3-D Puffy paint is always a hit for a change in the look and texture of a painting! Just mix equal parts of regular shaving cream and white glue, then add a few drops of food coloring or pour in some washable tempera paint to make it whatever color you want.
Watercolor paint is such a versatile medium to use. You can simply use a paintbrush and paper or you can change it up a little by using straws, droppers, and even salt, just to name a few. I think it's the perfect type of paint to show how colors mix. As you add different colors to your paper, you can actually see how the colors bleed into each other to form new colors and when it dries, you can actually see more colors. Make sure to use a heavyweight paper so their works of art don't fall apart!
Blow art is when you use a straw to pick up liquid watercolors from a cup, drop it on a paper and blow the paint around. The kids absolutely love doing this but it is very messy, so be prepared! This a a great activity to teach color mixing. You can also use a dropper to help with transferring the watercolors to the paper for the younger ones.
Salt painting provides a really neat experience with a cool 3-D look and texture. It even adds a little sparkle too! Simply create a design on a paper with glue (clear or white works), then color the design with watercolors and a paintbrush or pipette. As the kiddos paint the salt they will notice how the salt crystals absorb and spread the color, it’s really cool to watch. It’s also a great springboard activity to teach kiddos the science of how salt absorbs moisture.
Have you ever used shaving cream and ice paint? This is a great activity that can be done for learning how mixing certain colors makes new ones! Find silicone ice cube trays, candy or soap molds then add washable tempera paint and freeze overnight. The next day, add at least one can of regular foam shaving cream to a bin and drop in the frozen ice paint.
Have the kiddos get their hands messy by grabbing the ice paint and moving them through the shaving cream. As the warmth of their hands start to melt the ice paint, beautiful streaks of color appear in the white shaving cream and create new colors once they start to blend together. I promise it’s so much fun!
Incorporating books along with hands-on activities and manipulatives offers a well-rounded approach to help reinforce and solidify learning as well as bring in early language arts instruction. Plus you get the added benefit of snuggles while reading with your kids! A few of my kids favorite books about colors are:
We haven't read these two books yet, but they are definitely on our list of books to get. What Can Colors Do? by Liz Yohlin Baill, discusses color theory as well as how artists use colors to convey emotions. How Colour Works by Catherine Barr (Author) and Yuliya Gwilym (Illustrator) promises to dive into the science of color and offer kids a STEAM centered approach to learning. We can't wait to check them out!
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