Introducing preschoolers to the fascinating world of colors is both fun and educational for teachers. Colors play an integral part in our human lives!
In fact, they can change the way we feel, think, and even react.
Do you know that research has already proved that 80% of our total human experience is filtered through our eyes?
Yes!
So, for many obvious reasons like this, the knowledge of colors is imperative for a child.
According to ‘The National Library of Medicine’ (operated by the United States government) identifying colors is a part of important development milestones that a baby must reach by the age of 4 years. Hence, this responsibility is with the preschool teachers in collaboration with the parents.
It may sound easy to teach colors to toddlers, but in reality, it can be difficult and daunting for many teachers. If you have also faced challenges in understanding the best ways for teaching colors to preschoolers, let’s simplify this task for you!
Read on for some realistic and easy ways to teach colors to preschoolers.
Start with the color activities for preschoolers to help them recognize colors well. You can make use of simple material/props that is readily available. And still, manage to achieve great learning outcomes. For example, you can use some jars with water and a dropper to add drops of color to these. Explain the colors to the kids. And let them participate at the next level. Get the kids involved by asking them to sort different colors from the scattered pieces of paper or clothes. All this can also be done by using methods like pinning, threading, or pasting on a chart paper, etc. Once you engage your kids in these activities you will be able to create some colorful decorative pieces for your classroom as well. Do not forget to pin up some of these in your classroom and let your little stars take pride in their work!
Let me share some interesting facts from a leading news website with you!
The reason why our senses and physical movements help learning is because they help in building non-declarative (implicit) memory. This memory does not require much of our conscious thoughts. For instance, most of us learned counting through the fingers. And we simply never unlearn how to ride a bike.
Hands-on learning is ideal to teach colors to toddlers. In fact, it is both easy and effective to plan color activities for preschoolers. Add some fun activities like mixing paints, and colors or making use of clay. You can also try paper flowers, ice crème sticks (colored), fish cutouts and get the little ones going with some fun sorting activities. Give them enough time to segregate colors and place similar ones together. Do not hesitate to try creative ways of challenging the kids with puzzles.
Flipping the pages of a colorful book, and planning related activities is another way that can answer your question, ‘how to teach colors to preschoolers?’
Try some engaging pic hunt games. For example, read aloud a book, and ask your students to find the pinpointed color in the room. You can also try such activities in the playground, garden, or any open space. Let the child explore natural surroundings. And wait for a seamless learning process to follow. Similar activities can be planned by asking kids to find particular colors from the images in the book. You can always take your activities to the next level by creating collages, pinwheels or charts with the cutouts of the correct responses. Relate these activities to some pasting or craft work once you are done with the initial part. And it’s even better to use a couple of reinforcement strategies with your students (proven to support student’s learning).
Color activities for kindergarten can also be planned through opportunities for exploration. For instance, a garden has ample opportunities to teach colors like green (grass), red (a red rose) brown (stem of a tree) blue (sky), etc. Similarly, you can make use of colorful food items for the same purpose.
Multisensory learning through exploration and games is great to create opportunities for kids to discover fascinating things in the natural world. Plan a couple of these activities. And help your students discover the innate joy of exploring the colorful world around them. You can also mix teaching music for preschoolers with color activities. Make use of fun songs to teach colors. It will be a happy learning experience as the kids will learn while dancing and humming tunes effortlessly.
Before we wrap up, let’s discuss some quick tips and tricks.
The journey of teaching colors to preschoolers can be super fun and exciting. If you plan your classes/lessons in a fun and engaging manner, half of the job is done. Remember that preschool teachers always have an edge in adding more creativity to their teaching. So be open to more and more creative ideas. And add unmatched elements of fun and innovation to your teaching.
By the preschool stage, many kids are already able to recognize colors. All you need to do is to help them open the sensory pathways for concept clarity. And once this is done, they will automatically indulge in the colorful world of endless creativity and fun. Colors play a crucial role in student engagement, as they have the power to influence mood, concentration, and overall learning experience.
Thanks for Reading!
Ans) At the preschool level, you can teach colors to kids through play, activities, exploration, nature walks, props etc.
2. What are some golden rules that help to teach colors to toddlers?
Ans) While teaching colors to preschoolers you must keep everything simple and avoid confusion. Ensure that you separate all similar-looking shades from each other (in different groups). Always go slow and repeat clearly for the kids. And try to involve the senses. most importantly, feel free to interact with the parents to know the child’s level of existing knowledge.
Author Bio: Hi there! I am Vijay Kumar, a former elementary school teacher, personality development trainer, and a father of 2 curious kids. I love to unleash my creative side and share insights about the education industry through my write-ups. I genuinely believe that the future of our kids is highly dependent on the level of our knowledge as stakeholders. Let’s delve into our roles and add more value to the lives of our kids!
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