How do you teach a 21 month old colors?

Question

I really want to teach my 21 month old son colors in a fun way. Any ideas?

Answer 1

Devote a different day to each of the 8 main crayola colors.  For example, have a red day, talk about his read shirt, sort socks and find the red socks, point to red things in the picture books your read, stack the red blocks, etc.  

On day two introduce blue (for example, the order is up to you), go through the same pointing out everything blue, but then you can play the "Which is it game?" ("Is the ball red or blue?"  "Is the car red or blue?" etc.)  This is great for early classifying, but even after you've introduced more colors, don't offer more than two choices, eg. "Is the pumpkin orange or blue?"  Not, "Is the pumpkin red, orange, or blue?" Cheer excitedly and say, "Yes, that's right!  The pumpkin is orange." or say, "No, the pumpkin is orange, the sky is blue" if your son is wrong.  Redo familiar items so that your child learns.

Next, you can start reviewing by playing a "Let's Find" game. (eg. Let's find something red!  The balloon is red.)  At first you can point out items in a book and if your son doesn't answer or point, you can pause and answer your own questions.  Alternately, you can run around his room picking up/pointing to actual objects.

Enjoy!  Remember, toddlers learn through observation and play, just keep a running commentary going throughout your day.

Answer 2

Take nature walks and talk about colors "ooh look at the blue sky".  "The grass is so green"...etc.  The more you talk about colors, point them out and relate them to his world, the better he will retain the info.  Let him help you in the kitchen or grocery shopping.  Talk about how we love red strawberries.  Ask him what we could buy that's orange or yellow...involve him.

Answer 3

Easy as a healthy snack !!!

Just start with the basics:red,yellow,green,blue,purple.

Apples peels,bananna peels,grapes or celery,blueberries,grapes or popsicle then;

Just point and say red,red,look the apple peel is red,then;

Repeat for all the above colors and all colors...take it slow make it a point to eat these colors and verbaly recognize them after a couple of weeks (taking in consideration your childs verbal capabilities) your child should openly recognize these colors without prompting.

Along with taking it slow have just one color  a day for a three day span,still sticking with the basics,then repeat as time goes on you can begin to incorparate one new color every 10-14 days.

Initial color incorparation color sugestions are:

Orange;orange peels,pumpkin,carrots.

Black;chocolate,pavement,ink

White;paint,paper,bunnies

Use familiar objects and people/characters;Square blocks may be brown or one side may be primarally red with an A on it,Teletubbies all have designated colors for easy identification and their tummies have square televisions on them.

This can quickly and very easily turn into an extened learning experiance,just take advantage of every shape,color,and capital letter (to start with) every time,be clear and distinct,most importantlly be consistant,verbally rewarding/proud,and never pressuring or disappointed...this is quite important for your childs confidence and drive to learn,to know its okay to make a mistake or to forget,to be uninterested right now,and know  "Hey I'm still loved and good enough...WOW".

I hope this helps and is alot of fun for all,GOOD LUCK,you'll all be wonderful.

Answer 4

Use your environment.  Discuss what you see around you.  How many blue cars can we count?  Let's find your yellow shirt.  Look at that red flower.  He won't even know he's learning.  The same will work for the alphabet and numbers.  Just remember not to push him too hard, it doesn't make a long term difference.  Studies show that children who enter kindergarten reading are not any further ahead by 3rd grade.  The most important thing is to instill the love of learning.