Colors are an essential part of our world, and introducing them to young children can be an exciting and educational experience. One creative way to engage kids in learning about colors is through a Color Wheel Sensory Activity. This hands-on, colorful adventure can be made even more engaging by using a matching bin full of loose, colorful rainbow parts. In this blog post, we will explore the benefits of color activities for kids and the advantages of incorporating sensory play using the FLISAT play table, while drawing insights from reputable sources in kids' education.
The Power of Color Activities for Kids
Color activities are a wonderful way to stimulate a child's cognitive and sensory development. Here are some key benefits:
1. Color Recognition: Learning to identify and differentiate between colors is an essential early skill. Color activities help children recognize and name different colors, laying the foundation for more advanced learning.
2. Language Development: These activities encourage kids to express themselves verbally as they describe the colors they see and engage in discussions about their creations.
3. Fine Motor Skills: Activities like sorting and manipulating colorful objects in the sensory bin promote fine motor skill development, aiding in hand-eye coordination.
4. Creativity and Imagination: Exploring colors in a fun and unstructured manner allows kids to use their imagination and creativity, fostering artistic expression.
5. Conceptual Understanding: By combining colors in various ways, children can grasp fundamental concepts like color mixing, patterns, and more.
1.Shapes Matching Sensory Play
For our first activity, we used our amazing resin shapes from Creating Adventures Co (get 10% off). They match perfectly with our Colors & Shapes Match game and our Shapes Placemat. We filled the bin with these awesome resin shapes along with our cards and Sofie set about organizing them all along the edges of the play table. After that, we began practicing matching each of the shapes to the cards and matching them by color. This is great practice for early learners especially in the 12mo-16mo range.
2.Color sand slime
If you haven’t tried sand slime, you’re missing out. This is one of my all time favorite sensory textures. It’s not as crumbly as kinetic sand, but it’s also not sticky like slime. It’s the perfect sanding/smooth texture for molding and playing. We used one of each color from this amazing set SlimyGoop Set — which is also perfect for classroom gifts or birthday favors since it’s a large pack of 48. We started by keeping the colors separated and matching them with other elements of the table. And then Sofie could help herself by to mix and combine all of the colors.
3.Color Object Matching
For our 3rd bin, we used our Lovevery texture panels, wool balls from Wonder Years Play Shop, and these adorable little candy kisses from Creating Adventures Co. We mixed them all up in a bin and then used our Color Wheel Spinner Poster to choose a color and find the matching object. Sofie gets so much joy each time we use the spinner to land on a color. And then she set about gathering all of the objects in that color. Including a bin of colored popsicle sticks!
More Color themed sensory bins
1.Color Matching
For our littlest learnings, practicing the names of colors and matching objects of the same color is a great way to build a foundation of what color is and what color means. For this activity, I recommend assembling the Color Wheel activity spinner. Sofia absolutely loves playing with these spinners and it’s a great way to make matching more engaging. Challenge your little one to spin the spinner. Then, with a sensory bin full of colorful toys like these silicon blocks from Bannor Toys, resin letters & fruits from @BusyLittles, poms from Amazon, wooden blocks from Lovevery, task your kiddo with finding something from the bin that matches the selected color.
2.CUPCAKE Color Sort
For this activity, fill one bin with rainbow colored silicone cupcake holders. Fill another bin with matching rainbow color wool or felt balls. Challenge your little one with a set of pinchers to grasp the colored balls and fill the holders on the other side. If this is too easy, challenge them further by setting a timer and seeing how quickly they can do it. After one try, they can try to beat their previous score!
3. WOODEN PEG DOLL COLOR SHADE SORTING
For this activity, fill one bin with rainbow colored silicone cupcake holders. Fill another bin with matching rainbow color wool or felt balls. Challenge your little one with a set of pinchers to grasp the colored balls and fill the holders on the other side. If this is too easy, challenge them further by setting a timer and seeing how quickly they can do it. After one try, they can try to beat their previous score!
4. WOOL BALL PATTERN MATCH
For this activity, use the 12 frame and ball pattern matching cards to practice creating colorful patterns with wool balls. This is a great activity for the 3-4 year old age range because it’s a bit more challenge and requires more visual concentration. With this flashcard kit, you get 10 different patterns to challenge your kiddo.
5. Rainbow activity insert board
For this activity, you’ll need this fabulous rainbow Trofast insert from Wonder Years Play. This board features three different activities in one. Your toddler can use colored popsicle sticks to match the colors of the rainbow. They can use Q-Tips to fill in the whites of the clouds and finally they can use wool colored balls to pop into each raindrop shaped hole. This activity also pairs well with the Weather Station setup!
6. Rainbow Spaghetti PLay
For this activity, you’ll want to use food coloring and cooked pasta to create a fabulous sensory play experience. Start by putting the colored noodles into a separated tray. This will help aid in practicing color recognition before digging in and making a sensory mess! This one is a great taste safe alternative and it’s just so much fun. For all of the instructions check out this Spaghetti Play Blog Post.
7. Rainbow NOODLE SHAPES
To combine texture and shape with color matching, check out this awesome noodle shapes color matching activity. If you have extra pasta on hand, this is super simple and a great taste safe option for younger kiddos. Simply cook the pasta and separate by shape. Then dye with food coloring and toss into a Trofast bin. Using the color placemat, challenge your toddler to pick out one noodle at a time and place it on the associated color. For more details, check out this Rainbow Noodles Blog Post.
Engaging kids in a Color Wheel Sensory Activity with a matching bin full of loose, colorful rainbow parts is a fantastic way to introduce them to the world of colors and stimulate their cognitive and sensory development. Using the FLISAT play table enhances the experience by providing a practical and versatile platform for these activities. By referencing reliable sources in kids' education, we can confidently say that such activities not only bring joy but also promote learning and growth in young minds. So, go ahead and explore the rainbow with your little one; the benefits are as colorful as the activity itself!
For more great lessons in color, check out this blog post on Basic Color Theory for Kids.