Guides for Grownups​

Whilst the name “Colour Theory” may seem overly technical, it’s as simple as helping children recognise colours and here’s how you can break it down.
To effectively teach colour names to toddlers, it helps to integrate learning into daily routines. For example, pointing out the colours of everyday objects, engaging children in sorting activities by colour, and by incorporating books that vividly explore the colour spectrum. Encouraging toddlers to express themselves through colourful art is also key, allowing them to experiment with primary colours like red, blue, and yellow, before gradually introducing a wider palette. This approach ensures a solid foundation in recognising and naming colours, making learning enjoyable and natural.

If you’re up to a slightly messier version of teaching, you can set up your very own Colour Mixing Lab. For this you’ll need to designate a specific area for the activities, such as a wipe-clean tablecloth or a plastic tray to contain spills. Make sure to use washable materials and protect clothing with aprons or old shirts for a safe and tidy environment.
This setup not only keeps the exploration stress-free for parents but also encourages toddlers to experiment and learn through sensory play without any boundaries. We’ve listed 3 activities that include child-friendly materials like edible paints, watercolours, food colouring, and coloured ice cubes that are non-toxic and easy to clean.

• Magic Milk Colour Experiment: This fascinating activity involves adding drops of food colouring to a shallow dish of milk. Introduce a drop of dish soap to the mix and watch the colours dance and swirl in response to the chemical reaction, captivating young minds and introducing them to colour mixing in an almost magical way.
• Ice Cube Melting Fun: Fill ice trays with water tinted with primary food colourings and freeze. Once solid, let toddlers play with the ice cubes on a tray or in a warm bath, observing as they melt and blend into new secondary colours. This activity not only teaches colour mixing but also introduces basic concepts of solids and liquids.
• Edible Finger Paint Mixing: Create a safe and tasty painting experience by mixing yoghurt with natural food colourings to make edible finger paints. This sensory activity allows toddlers to explore colours hands-on, mixing them on paper or a tray to see the creative possibilities of colour blending while ensuring a worry-free playtime for parents regarding taste tests.

If mess is’nt your style, we’ve also got 2 exciting games that you can play. These games will introduce colours and open up a whole new world of exploration for your children.

• Colour Scavenger Hunt: Spark excitement by setting up a scavenger hunt around the house for objects in specific colours or combinations. This active game not only reinforces colour recognition but also encourages observation skills and physical activity as toddlers search for items matching the given colours.
• Colour Matching Memory Game: Create a set of coloured cards, with each colour represented twice, and lay them face down. Taking turns, players flip two cards at a time, aiming to find matching pairs. When a pair is found, discuss the colour or, for an advanced twist, mix pairs to talk about the new colours they could create. This game enhances memory skills while deepening understanding of colours and their combinations.