Learning Colours, Sorting and Matching Through Play

One of the most important skills children begin to develop before entering Kinder 1 is colour recognition and simple sorting. The good news is that these skills don’t need worksheets or formal lessons – they can be learned naturally through fun, hands-on play at home.

Here are some easy and engaging ways to help your child learn colours and sorting skills using simple materials.

Colour Counters

Colour counters are a wonderful tool for little hands. You can:

• Ask your child to sort the counters by colour

• Count how many counters are in each colour group

• Create simple patterns (red, blue, red, blue) to encourage sequencing

• Use tweezers to practice fine motor skills which not only make sorting more challenging but also fun

• You can ask your child to sort counters according to type, so for example if you have animal counters, ask your child to sort all sheep together, all cows together etc

This activity supports colour recognition, early maths skills, and fine motor development

Flash Cards

Using colour flash cards helps children connect colour names with visual cues.
You can:

• Name the colour together and repeat it out loud

• Ask your child to point to a specific colour

• Match flash cards to counters or objects of the same colour

Keep sessions short and fun, a few minutes at a time is perfect for this age.

Sorting with Coloured Bowls

Place coloured bowls on the floor or table and give your child mixed items (counters, pom poms, blocks, buttons, or toys). Encourage them to place each item into the matching coloured bowl.

This activity builds:

• Sorting and classification skills

• Concentration

• Independence and confidence

• Use tweezers to practice fine motor skills

Everyday Colour Hunt

Turn learning into a game by going on a colour hunt around the house.
For example:

• “Can you find something red?”

• “Let’s look for three blue items.”

• Discuss Colours of fruit and vegetables 

This helps children understand that colours exist all around them, not just in learning materials.

Art and Creative Play

Art is one of the best ways for young children to explore colours.

• Finger painting with one or two colours at a time

• Sorting crayons or markers by colour

• Creating a collage using coloured paper

Creative activities strengthen colour recognition while encouraging self-expression.

Sensory Play

•  Coloured Sensory Bins -Fill small containers with rice, pasta, or sand dyed in different colours. Add scoops or cups and let children sort items by colour.
• Gelli Play - Use different coloured gelli and hide counters and objects of the same colour in the gelli

Water Play Colour Sort

Drop coloured toys or floating lids into a water tub and ask children to scoop and sort them into matching containers.

Movement and Gross Motor Activities

Colour Hop Game
Place coloured paper or mats on the floor. Call out a colour and have children jump to it.

Throw the Colour
Label baskets with colours and let children toss matching balls or beanbags into them.

Colour Obstacle Course
Create a simple course where children must collect a coloured object at each station.

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