When Mia was really little I would just point out different colours in books and all around us. But about month ago I decided to start using the Montessori Colour Tablets to provide more invitations to colour sort and to highlight this language, specifically the primary colours: red, yellow, and blue.
When working with colour, it’s important to isolate just the colour. In other words, objects, shapes, and materials should be identical. Only the colour should be different. This way the toddler understands the adjective is being explored, not the noun. If you examined a blue socks, red bag, and yellow flower, the difference of nouns (things) would be more prominent than the difference in colour.
Colour Box 1 – box contains six colour tablets: two blue, two red, two yellow (the primary colours). This is an individual presentation which should be carried out on a neutral coloured table or a neutral mat. I take out the colour tablets one at the time showing her how to hold them by the edge. Than I give her opportunity to help taking all the tablets out. After that I pick up one tablet and put it at the bottom of the mat or table. She now finds another tablet, compares the colour, and puts them together if appropriate. We continue in this way until the three pairs of tablets are matched. Colour Box 1 is perfect for an introductory Three Period Lesson (parts one and two only) for the language.
It is about a month since I have introduced colour tablets to Mia, at the moment she can identify only one colour by name. She says ”lu” (blue). To support her learning I have created few more Montessori inspired activities to discover primary colours.
Threading Large Beads – to develop and refine threading skills. Children need good eye/hand co-ordination and the ability to use both hands for threading. It is about finding ways to include the language of the colours in interests and work she would already be using.
Coloured Disc on 3 Colourded Dowels from Absorbent Minds Montessori – this educational activity focuses on hand-eye co-ordination and manipulative skills. It also develops colour recognition and distinction. In the beginning (about a 10 months ago) Mia wasn’t very interested into this activity because it was difficult for her. Since she is able to place disc on dowels she loves it. She is now able to sort them out by the colours.
Circle, Square and Triangle Puzzle from Tower High Learning – very simple puzzles designed for the young toddler who has developed a gross level of eye-hand coordination. Like so much of the work for this discovery, it’s about finding ways to include the language of the colors in interests and work she would already be using.
Sensory Bean Bags – I’ve made those when Mia was 6 months old and still she loves them. For this occasion I selected red, blue and yellow bean bag. They are simple open-ended toys that allow baby/toddler to experience many different textures, sounds, and colors as they play. Now we use them to practice gross motor skills (balance) by placing them on top of our heads. Such a simple and fun game.
Toddler Colour Books – Can be used in either card or book form – book requires assembly. I assembled them very simple but if you have book binding machine than you can make a proper little book.
DIY Colour Wheel – This is one of Mia’s favourite activities. I printed out Colour Wheel and laminated. As for the coloured items used to match the coloured triangles, I just collected them from around the house. As you can see here, I tried to get some different shapes in too.
Pom Pom Colour Sort – This simple set up is great for developing fine motor skills and match activity. I’ve made those coloured bowls by using colouring paper and glue. Tongs or tweezers are a great way to encourage fine motor skills, strengthening muscles in little hand and building dexterity in little fingers.
And that’s it! There’s usually 3-4 of these out at one time, I rotate as Mia loses interest in what’s on the shelves, or if I notice that she is gravitating toward a specific skill.
Don’t forget to pin this for later!
L xoxo
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