Teaching your kids colors can be a frustrating process. It requires patience and understanding. Many parents fail to realize that their kids are merely in the beginning stages and the entire learning process is not a straight forward one. In order to help kids learn colors, parents should know when to teach kids colors, how kids learn colors and how they can teach colors to kids. This page will answer all of these questions.
When Do Kids Learn Colors?
Learning colors coincides with your child’s cognitive development and their ability to differentiate colors normally begins to take shape at 18 months. This is also the same time the child will begin to notice the differences and similarities between textures, sizes and shapes. Although they can tell the differences, it takes a much longer time for kids to fully understand the different colors and name them. Most children are able to name one color by the time they are 36 months.
How Do Kids Learn Colors?
1. Matching Colors
The first step to learning colors is matching them. You can help your child learn colors faster by matching them in blocks. For example, you can ask your child to help you pick up blocks of the same color. In this way, they can concentrate on that one color and learn to differentiate it from the rest. The next day, pick blocks from a different color. You can make the activity even more fun by having the child point out the color in random objects at the grocery store or on the road. If your child can comfortably match six colors, you can proceed to the next step.
2. Pointing Colors
The next step to learning colors is pointing colors. This broadens their understanding of the color since you are not only working with blocks but real life scenarios. You can come up with a “store game” where you ask your child to point out red clothes and pretend to buy them. Another fun game is “I Spy” and with this game, you can have your child point out colors. These games help your child master colors without much pressure and can be played anywhere and at anytime.
3. Naming Colors
Naming colors is essential in the learning process and is the most important step. However, your child may not be able to learn naming colors until they are about 3 years old. At this time, you can buy books about colors and play coloring games. The library is a great resource for children’s books and it costs you nothing.
When it comes to learning colors, patience is essential and while it can be a long process, it is productive and you can make it fun.
How Can Parents Teach Kids Colors?
After learning when do kids learn colors, the next is to teach them to learn colors. Teaching kids colors does not have age limits and you can learn to teach your young ones the art of identifying and differentiating colors throughout their childhood. Read on for more information on this.
1. Babies
Babies are aware of their surroundings and they learn quite fast. One of the best ways to help your baby learn to understand colors is to have bright colors dominate their rooms. As opposed to having pastels and neutral colors with your decor, vibrant colors such as red, pink, blue and green could help. You can fill up their world with color by having bright beddings and toys. When handing your baby their toys, teach them colors by mentioning the color of the toy.
2. Toddlers
Toddlers are more aware of their surrounding and their brains are developing and helping them understand colors better. You should use mealtime to teach your child about colors and you can talk about the color of the food such as red apples, orange carrots and more. Ask the toddler to find the color in another room and praise them when they manage to get it correctly. Find colors in everyday scenarios and you can use your walks to point out colors such as the blue sky and green trees. You can also use the parking lot to identify colors and have them point out the different colors. Books are great, especially those that have colored themes. Point out colors in books and pictures.
3. Preschoolers
Preschoolers are at an age when they are able to easily point out different colors and teaching them colors at this stage can help them learn better. Teach your young one to talk about colors he or she uses to make paper designs and encourage them to finger paint. You can make the learning process more exciting by making up songs that teach the names of colors. Flash cards provide an exciting way to learn and you can use them as well. Have your toddler match same colored items. This teaches them to identify the differences and you can also delve into teaching the different shades such as light green and dark green.
4. Kindergarteners
Kids in kindergarten are still at the learning stage and while they may already know the basics and differences, this doesn’t mean that you should stop. There are plenty of books and computer programs that you can use to teach your child colors and at this stage the kids are able to identify that items can be different in size, shape and texture yet still be green or red or any other color.
When do kids learn colors? Learn more about teaching kids colors by watching this video:
How Do I Know If My Kid Is Color Blind?
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Have difficulty in learning colors
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If your child is struggling with learning colors, they might be color blind. Studies show that men have a higher likelihood of being born color blind than women. Although being color blind is not a disability that will affect a person’s quality of life, it’s still important to inform teachers on this so as to modify the child’s learning with color-enhanced objects so as to accommodate their special needs. |
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Observe when teaching your kid colors |
Parents can easily identify if their children are color blind when teaching them colors. 99% of people who are colorblind cannot identify red, green and other bright colors such as blue, purple and lavender. These colors all appear to be the same. |
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Take a test |
You can also take a test for accurate diagnoses of the condition. There are various color vision tests you can use including cards. There are also free online tests such as the one offered by ColorVisionTesting.com. On your own, you can check for color weakness by placing a crayon that is red in a row of orange, green and yellow. If your child is having a hard time identifying these vibrant colors, he or she may be color blind. |
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Take medical diagnosis |
The most important you can do is get medical diagnosis as this helps to rule out neurological or optic nerve disorders that may affect your child’s vision. |
Now you know when do kids learn colors and how to teach them in the right way.
