How do I teach my 3 year old son colors?

Question

I've been trying to teach my son his colors since he was 2. I have bought several preschool work books, played on the computer, and various other activities and he is still having a hard time. We even attend a playgroup where we learn about a different color every week. Nothing has worked. He knows orange, brown, black, and white. Could he be color blind? Is there anything else I can do to teach him?

Answer 1

I was trying to teach my little daughter colors, who is 1 1/2 yrs old, and she learned them within  9 days. I didn't use any books or activities. Instead, while we were having fun and walking or something, I'll show her something, and say the color and ask her to repeat it. For example, I'll take an apple and say red and ask her to say red, which she usually do. Do this every day for about a week, and your sonn will do it!

Answer 2

Ditch the workbooks! Just be descriptive with your language. Use colors in your everday conversation. Look at that big blue truck! What color is that school-bus? Look at these apples one is red, one is green, one is yellow.

It could be color blindness, here is a link it was difficult to find one for children but this one uses shapes and common objects.

http://colorvisiontesting.com/online%20t...

Answer 3

he's still young give him time put bright colors around the house he'll get used to it

Answer 4

Don't bother with the books and computer.  The best way to teach your son colors is to actively show him and say what the colors are.  A good way to teach colors is to read an easy book and point out specific colors.  This is a good way for your son to learn his colors.

Answer 5

Try the Montessori teaching guide at http://www.montessori-book.com/ and you'll never run out of ideas or activities again.....give your child the competitive edge!

Answer 6

I wouldn't panic quite yet, but he could be color blind it is possible, but color ID starts to emerge in preschool so he could just be a tad slow and no worries. They do have simple tests for color blindness at the doctors also. One way to check is can he match things by color. If you have a pile of sorting bears that are all the same size and shape but different colors can he put the red bears in one pile, blue in another and so on. Matching is usually a skill the develops prior to being able to identify. If he can't match after a little practice there may be a color blind issue. If he can match a fun way to teach colors is with M&Ms or, fruit loops or another favorite food that comes in colors that would be motivating. Ask him which M&M do you want and he has to tell to you a color then let him reach for the one of that color if he picks the right one try again. Or you can say you can have a red M&M and only let him take a red one. The increased motivation might speed things up.

Answer 7

I wouldn't stress so much about him not knowing colors.  I teach pre-k and a lot of my children come in not knowing colors and by the end of the year they walk away knowing them all.  Some children are just not ready when we want them to be and they just need more time to mature.  it's really not a big deal.  If you want some suggestions, however, i can try to give you some.  I would suggest that since your method to teach the colors hasn't worked, just try incorperating them into his daily routine.  For example, lay out two shirts for him to wear and ask if he wants to wear the green one or the yellow one.  If he says he wants the yellow one - put it on him.  If he doesn't know his colors and throws a fit because he really wanted the green one - oh well.  Next time he might remember what color is which.  Also, children love helping.  make a big deal out of him being mommies big boy helper and tell him to get you the red dustpan (or whatever object you can pretend to need).  Or go on walks around the neighborhood and say how much you love green grass, red stop signs, and purple flowers.  Eventually he'll pick up on the colors or if he already knows them he might chime in and say how cool the yellow car looks!  You might be surprised!  i have found that incorperating things into everyday life this way really helps some children pick up concepts that they are otherwise not able to grasp!  good luck - and remember, he's only 3, don't worry too much!

Answer 8

all of these answers are good. my boy just turned three and i had the same problem.. he was early with letters and numbers. he spoke very early and we used asl and spanish..he soaked up everything but colors.  i really thought he might be color blind, but lately, he's pretty much getting them all right. he was just slower at that.  don't fret. and if he does prove to be color blind........that's no big deal either.  i know many men that are.  i don't know women, though. it's very common in men

Answer 9

On the website. He HAFT TO press the color of the word and NOT the word.

Answer 10

Why not make it fun.....my pre-k class uses this poem and has actions for it....using flashcards with the colors while you do the poem.

Orange, orange eat an orange

White, white turn off the light

Black, black scratch your back

Purple, purple make a little circle

Blue, blue tie your shoe

Brown, brown touch the ground

Pink, pink it will make you think

Red, red touch your head

Green, green wipe your face nice and clean

Answer 11

It is possible that like someone else mentioned, that he knows them he just will not perform.

As someone who is going to school and majoring in early childhood education this is my suggestion.  

Anything you do with your child mention colors.  When you pour milk say something like "lets get your BLUE cup and pour you some milk"  or "Put on your WHITE socks."

Even if he is just not performing for you which is typically saying colors a lot with everything you do will only strengthen whatever knowledge he may and likely already has.

I hope this helps you.

Answer 12

A preschool age child should be able to match reds with reds,and blue with blues.

Gather red toys and place them in a basket.

Gather blue toys place them in a basket.

Tell the child,"This basket has red toys in it, and  this basket has blue toys in it."

Dump the toys/items out and have the child sort and match by color. Practice this activity many times and when you are confident he knows the difference between blue and red, add another color to this game. Play this game with all the colors.

If the child can't see the difference in red and blue after repeated tries, consult an eye doctor to check for color blindness.

Answer 13

I don't think he's color blind if he can tell the difference if he can tell the difference between orange and brown.  Just use something like m&ms or skittles.  If he can get the color, give him the candy.  I wouldn't worry.  Every child has things that are hard for them.  Before k-5 (like his age), I couldn't see yellow.  If something would be colored yellow and white, I would think it was all white.  Now I can see it fine, just like anyone else.  So, don't worry, it'll come in time.

Answer 14

You have nothing to worry about. I'm a Kindergarten teacher and the first weeks of school I do beginning assessments to see where my students stand. There are always kids who don't know all the colors. It's developmental and the best thing you can do is continue to teach your child, repetition is important. If you are worried about your child's sight you could take him to the optometrist but I have a feeling your son just needs more time. Best wishes!

Answer 15

My daughter knew her colors from the time she was just a little more than two. However, she refused to "perform" for me- she only told me the colors when she wanted to- not when asked, or prompted by any one

Consider that he may know them, he just might not be "in the mood" to tell them to you- just a thought